back to article Apple finally grabs apple.co.uk – after just 16 years

Apple has finally taken control of the internet domain name apple.co.uk, which has been in third-party hands since at least 1996. The change of ownership, which appears to have occurred on 6 July, means visitors to the URL are now bounced to the UK version of the official Apple website at apple.com. Previously, the domain was …

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  1. ukgnome
    Coat

    Whenever I read apple and cybersquatting in the same sentence I automatically think of a cyborg crapping in a vat of cider.

    *mine? it's the coat matey, not the mac!

  2. eSeM

    Must be wrong ....

    I don't see any referrence to Samsung not copying their iPdad design.

  3. Wize

    If you can guess what Apple will call their next product...

    ...and register the domain before they announce it, you could make a few pennies.

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: If you can guess what Apple will call their next product...

      Unlikely...

      "In recent months, it filed cybersquatting complaints about ipad3.com and iphone5.com, but both of those domains were voluntarily transferred to Apple before the cases could be heard."

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: If you can guess what Apple will call their next product...

        What constitutes voluntarily? Could just mean an out of court settlement for a product or so. I mean, it's nothing to Apple and more simplistic than involving lawyers.

    2. Rameses Niblick the Third (KKWWMT)
      Boffin

      Re: If you can guess what Apple will call their next product...

      iGlasses might be worth a punt...

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        Re: If you can guess what Apple will call their next product...

        iglasses.com - maybe if you had checked you would have seen it is already registered.

        1. wowfood

          Re: If you can guess what Apple will call their next product...

          okay, now I gotta go register iPorn, iTelevision and iBox.

        2. Rameses Niblick the Third (KKWWMT)
          Trollface

          Re: If you can guess what Apple will call their next product...

          Well I'm hardly going to suggest a great money-making idea for someone else to do, am I?

    3. ukgnome
      Joke

      Re: If you can guess what Apple will call their next product...

      Hmm - iCantbelieveitsnotbutter.com

      1. TRT Silver badge

        Re: If you can guess what Apple will call their next product...

        iTV?

        Oh...

        1. JassMan
          Pint

          Re: If you can guess what Apple will call their next product...

          Since they are out to make more money than some corporation of penis enviers called "micro soft", it has got to be iWannaMegaHardOne.com

      2. ukgnome
        Coffee/keyboard

        Re: If you can guess what Apple will call their next product...

        LOL iCantbelieveitsnotbutter.com actually connects to the that well known margarine site.

        1. Fibbles

          Re: ukgnome

          Because that's the margarine manufacturer's catchphrase? URL doesn't give a damn about capitalisation.

  4. Andus McCoatover
    Windows

    Bit like when Nokia Siemens Networks formed...

    They wanted "NSN.COM" (which they got) but it was already taken by a Northampton sports and fitness club. I sincerely hope much wedge and sports equipment was included in the deal...

  5. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    ivegotbetterthingstodowithmytime.com

  6. Purlieu

    re: ivegotbetterthingstodowithmytime.com

    like posting on here LOL

  7. Anonymous Coward
    FAIL

    Who wants to bet

    They they acquired this, they their groveling Samsung apology can appear here, but not on Apple.com

    1. Jediben
      Pint

      Re: Who wants to bet

      Great minds Barry, great minds; less than 60 seconds seperate our enlightening posts about The Way Things Are.

    2. This post has been deleted by its author

    3. Arctic fox
      Terminator

      In cyberspace nobody can...............

      .................avoid hearing Barry Shitpeas scream.

  8. [My Handle]
    Happy

    At last ITV might have something of value.

  9. Jediben
    Devil

    Just in time to avoid that Samsung climbdown in the UK

    Yes, the Lord doth smile down upon the Appleites, for no sooner has the court of law deigned that they shall provide a retraction of claims that Samsung copied them on their website, then they reveal a brand spanking new ownership of a different url that would work just as good.

    What are the chances that suddenly apple.co.uk will become the new home of Apple UK on the internet, and the site which Judge Birss ordered to carry the notice will be isolated, thus eliminating all the traffic to it and significantly lessening the impact of aforementioned court order?

    1. Sean Timarco Baggaley
      WTF?

      Re: Just in time to avoid that Samsung climbdown in the UK

      Oh, please! Judge Birss gave Apple a very, very obvious "out" here:

      ...

      APOLOGY TO SAMSUNG AND SAMSUNG CUSTOMERS.

      We hereby apologise to Samsung and their customers for any suggestion on our part that Samsung's Tab product was a copy of our own iPad.

      According to UK law, we were wrong to imply that Samsung's tablet device was as cool as our own iPad. Judge Birss himself declared, in his ruling on the matter, that Samsung's products clearly did not copy the iPad as they 'do not have the same understated and extreme simplicity which is possessed by the Apple design. They are not as cool.'

      Apple make cool products. Samsung's product is officially uncool. Therefore, Samsung did not copy Apple's products. QED.

      This legal ruling means our own product is therefore too cool to be confused with Samsung's less cool product and that Samsung therefore were not copying our product. Any customers who inadvertently purchased Samsung's Galaxy Tab product in the—clearly mistaken—belief that it was as cool as our own iPad should therefore contact Samsung customer services directly for a refund.

      1. This post has been deleted by its author

      2. stucs201

        Re: Just in time to avoid that Samsung climbdown in the UK

        Ignoring that any product trying to point out its own coolness looks desperate and becomes uncool the Samsung response in their adverts would also be simple "Samsung: For when you need more than just a fashion accessory".

  10. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    dot.apple tld

    This will probably become a bit redundant when they get the ".apple" GTLD under ICANN's plans.

    Actually, Apple would be doing ICANN (or at least the other registrants) a huge favour if they immediately switch to their new GTLD exclusively. It will take one of the big actors (Apple, Google...) to do so before the world starts to take the new GTLDs seriously.

  11. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    nice in theory

    but no doubt there will be links all over the web pointing to this "news" announcement.

    Or maybe they'll serve that site from an underpowered iMac and it'll just crash until the iphone 5 is out.

  12. andy gibson

    And over in the Android world....

    www.orangesanfrancisco.co.uk is a fan site offering lots of advice and tips on using and getting the most from the budget Android phone, and is allowed to continue without molestation or hassle.

    1. Sean Timarco Baggaley

      Re: And over in the Android world....

      Apple didn't "molest" or "hassle" anyone either. Or did you fail to read the article?

      Your point...?

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Trollface

        Re: Apple didn't "molest" or "hassle" anyone either.

        What, never?

        Are you sure about that?

        1. Sean Timarco Baggaley
          FAIL

          Re: Apple didn't "molest" or "hassle" anyone either.

          Clearly, as far as you're concerned, "context" is just something that happens to other people.

          Like "reading comprehension".

  13. MikeyD85

    Post Jobs Apple

    Already doing things differently.

  14. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    convenient

    Well thats going to be a convenient place for them to put that samsung statement - and no one will even notice!

    So, im guessing www.apple.co.uk will have the samsung statement, and www.apple.com/uk wont....... ;)

  15. Kevin7
    Go

    No doubt the original owners were glad to get rid - can you imagine how much unwanted traffic apple.co.uk must have generated?

  16. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Notorious?

    "Apple is notorious for not particularly caring about domain names. The company has a habit of launching products and brands before it owns the appropriate domains or even trademarks."

    For us youngsters, which products (incl. domain name and trademark) did Apple previously release which demonstrate to this "habit"

    1. Stig2k
      FAIL

      Re: Notorious?

      Well you could try going to google.co.uk and searching 'stormfront', then try the same search on google.com#

      I literaly (and yes I do know what the word means) did a double-take when I saw the huge STORMFRONT shop sign a year or so ago in Bury St Edmunds.

      1. Anonymous Coward
        Anonymous Coward

        "literaly"

        Interesting. You claim to know what it means. Unfortunately you don't, however, know how to spell it.

  17. Anonymous Coward 15

    What about the whole Beatles thing? Is that company still around, and if so what is their domain name?

  18. Graham Lee
    Trollface

    Exchange of prisoners

    While they probably ended up paying handsomely for the domain, I'm sure they could've come to some arrangement where the US gets apple.co.uk in return for the UK getting next.com. It turns out that "warmed-over UNIX" workstations aren't as successful a business as chav trousers.

  19. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    @AC The Beatles thing

    Their record company is called Apple Corps although it was often shortened to just Apple which is where the trouble started.

    The domain is http://www.thebeatles.com/

    1. pctechxp

      Re: @AC The Beatles thing

      Sorry the domain is www.applecorps.com which redirects to http://www.thebeatles.com/

    2. DavCrav

      Re: @AC The Beatles thing

      "Their record company is called Apple Corps although it was often shortened to just Apple which is where the trouble started."

      Tweak required:

      "The computer company was called Apple Computer although it was often shortened to just Apple which is where the trouble started."

      Fixed.

    3. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: @AC The Beatles thing

      The reply button, it's next to the vote buttons.

  20. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Apple apology

    The best way they can apologise to Samsung on the front page of their website is to just rerun that picture they had when Steve Jobs died, but turn it 45 degrees then have it rotating constantly.

    “I’m going to destroy Android, because it’s a stolen product. I’m willing to go thermonuclear war on this.”

    1. Anonymous Coward
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Apple apology

      I'd rather have a nice game of chess.

  21. Zog The Undeniable
    Happy

    "A" level business studies anecdote

    In pre-internet days, oil behemoth Exxon famously paid a large sum of money (as in, enough to retire on) to the owners of the pre-existing Exxon Strip Club in Southampton, just because they wanted worldwide exclusivity on the name. Maybe the slightly seedy association is why they kept the old "Esso" brand for their UK petrol stations.

  22. Christian Berger

    Finally...

    Finally a way to buy records online.

  23. wireplay

    apple correction

    Here's one for the apple fans ...

    ahy-pad.co.uk or ahypad.com

    Phontics ahy :-)

  24. toadwarrior
    Facepalm

    Is the register that hard up to mention apple a million times a day that this is considered news?

    Find another way to get hits rather than having to mention apple all the time.

  25. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Reminder to the author

    It is considered bad style to use the the same word too often in a sentence or a paragraph and using it ad infinitum on the same page suggests a severe lack of vocabulary.

    When that word happens to be "Apple," ...

  26. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    citylink.co.uk

    can that be next please. thanks.

  27. J.G.Harston Silver badge

    So, that's 16 years of apple.co.uk URLs in millions of pages across the intenet all broken.

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