Apple Files Claim to Seize iPhone4S.com and Related Domains from Porn Operators

As noted by Domain Name Wire, Apple has filed a complaint under the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy in an attempt to gain control of the iPhone4S.com domain name and six other iPhone-related domain names. All seven of the domains currently forward to pornography sites, meaning that readers should obviously exercise caution in visiting the sites.

The complaint is case number D2011-1897 with the World Intellectual Property Organization.

Apple did not gain control of the iPhone4.com domain name until July of this year, a transfer that appears to have been made outside of any formal dispute resolution process. Apple does occasionally turn to UDRP complaints in order to win control of domain names related to its products, although it is unclear why Apple chose that route in this case.

It is possible that the domain name's owner demanded more compensation than Apple was willing to offer or perhaps was unresponsive to Apple's attempts at contact. Alternatively, Apple may simply have proceeded directly to a UDRP complaint due to a sense of urgency given the nature of the sites involved.