For some bizarre reason, Sony Ericsson has decided to rage against a couple of its most loyal online fan sites, with both XperiaBlog.net and XperiaX10.net receiving formal messages demanding they stop using the Xperia trademark and hand the domain names over to Sony Ericsson.
The site owner says:
“Sony Ericsson has filed a formal complaint about the use of the trademarked ‘Xperia’ name in our domain name and have requested that the domain names, including that of XperiaBlog.net, be transferred to them … Sony Ericsson is alleging that we have used the domain names in ‘bad faith’.
A bonkers move by Sony Ericsson, that, especially as the company has been doing such a good job with its own blogs, community tools and Android phones themselves of late. Both sites are currently claiming to be closed with immediate effect following the news.
Motorola’s latest flagship dual-core Android monster is a massive, original powerhouse, that’s a big improvement on previous MOTOBLUR mobiles – but still isn’t a total winner.
A slim and glamorous phone from Sony Ericsson, with the sharpest display around. It’s no powerhouse and the screen’s not the biggest out there, but we don’t mind. Because it’s cute.
LG’s first glasses-free 3D phone is a heavy, fat monster, with a clever 3D effect that works rather well. As a smartphone, though, it’s heavy and underwhelming.
A very shiny thing from Sony Ericsson, with a 3.7″ screen and Android 2.3.3 inside. But is it exciting enough to win fans in today’s spec-obsessed market? Can man live on one core alone?
INQ’s Android phone is an interesting “boutique” piece of hardware, packed with unique interface customisations that go far beyond the headline Facebook integration. We like it a lot.
John Drinkwater
/ October 19, 2011SonyEric have to or they lose their Xperia trademark. Unsurprising move, the blogs should have known better…
Simon
/ October 20, 2011Indeed, this is all about legalities, nothing less. If they don’t act, they lose the brand.
The real problem here is the law courts…
SebbesApa
/ October 20, 2011SE should focus their energy on updating their got dame phones instead!
Jeremy Spencer
/ October 20, 2011It amazes me that in this day and age there are marketing departments that just don’t get the huge value fanzine sites can bring to their business. Someone at Sony Ericsson needs a very big kick up the arse.
Peter
/ October 20, 2011I wouldn’t consider Sony if I was buying a new phone. This move is not exactly changing my mind.
Simon
/ October 20, 2011Errm, why The SE Arc S is one of the best smartphones out there, bar none.. It’s also very well priced.
Cutting off your nose to spite your face? Sounds like you need to listen less to the Microsoft driven Sony internet hate.
Peter
/ October 20, 2011That’s how brands work. You latch on to them out of shear luck or buzz and only let go when they let you down. Sony isn’t a brand I have ever noticed any Android buzz about (apart from the play) so adding in downers kills any chance of me randomly ending up with one. I started with HTC and Asus so barring any downers (nobody mention the Desire gingerbread update) I will probably stick with them.
Doubting Tom
/ October 20, 2011We only have the word of those site owners that Sony Ericsson have made this move. Bearing in mind that both sites are/were owned by the same people, we dont really know any more than the little bit of info they are telling us. Im starting to wonder if Sony Ericsson have said anything at all.
We also dont know what it is that Sony Ericsson are concerned about with regards to the “bad faith” comment – if the site/s named have done something negative that we arent aware of then we’re all jumping to conclusions that Sony Ericsson are the bad guys here.
We just dont know all that much. If its true then I’ll be just as down on Sony Ericsson as so many others are about this but, Id need to know more before Id trust one persons word against anothers, sorry.