MyWindowsClub.com is re branding to Techulator.com
I would like to inform all members a news that we are changing our domain name MyWindowsClub.com
UPDATE: Read latest information on the domain dispute between Microsoft and SpiderWorks Technologies Pvt Ltd.
Dear members,
MyWindowsClub.com was launched in June 2010, on the same day my baby boy was born. From that day, I nurtured this site and took care of it just like my own baby. When I write articles in this site with my baby boy sitting on my lap, I used to tell him "This site is same old as you, but see how fast it is growing". I ate my breakfast, lunch and dinner with My WindowsClub and slept on the office chair many days enjoying the traffic reports at Google Analytics and growth chart at Alexa. After about 20 months of hard work, MyWindowsClub.com is one of the most visited websites that serve the technology community. We received about 80,000 page views per day during the peak traffic last week.
We have been covering a wide range of technologies in this website. I covered many product releases and emerging technology news. I did not sleep few days following the Window 8 Consumer Preview release last week because I was busy working with the Windows 8 and writing articles/blogs promoting Microsoft products. Of course, I had the intention to monetize the traffic, even though I work on Microsoft technologies with passion. I was happy at the great traffic received by MyWindowsClub.com during last few days.
On 2 March 2012, I woke up to see my dreams shattered by a UDRP notice by Microsoft Attorneys.
My immediate reaction was "what the ____" and "I will fight back". But after some thinking, I changed my mind. I have been in great relation with Microsoft for several years and they even appreciated my community efforts by awarding me Microsoft MVP status for several years. Why spoil the relationship at this moment? I decided to explore opportunities to convince Microsoft and continue my business.UDRP Complaint from Microsoft Corp
Here are the relevant points from the UDRP complaint from Microsoft:
1. The domain name MyWindowsClub is confusingly similar to Microsoft's trademark "Windows".
2. We have no rights or legitimate interests in this domain name. I am not affiliated with Microsoft in any ways and so should not use the name "Windows".
3. The disputed websites rely on search engine traffic and user confusion by using Microsoft trademarks to derive revenue.
4. We offer remuneration to members to contribute content.
5. We use Windows logo to cause confusion.
6. Advertise products or services of parties not affiliated with Microsoft, which include competitor products like Google Chrome and our own software.
7. Prominent and pervasive use of Microsoft trademarks which are likely to lead visitors and search engines to believe the site is affiliated with Microsoft in order to generate advertising revenue or sell our software.
8. Some other domains in which I use the trademark "Windows" are parked domains, which means I am not making use of them. Failure to develop those sites (example: Windows9Laptops.com) demonstrate lack of genuine interest in the domain names.
9. We registered the domain with bad faith and intentionally adopted names to create an association with Microsoft and its products.
10. We have attempted to commercially benefit from the goodwill of Microsoft.
11. We have other domain names containing other famous brands which is further evidence of bad faith pattern of conduct by us.
(Here is an example of such a site: www.GooglePlusTips.com)
(There is a lot more in the documents I received, but I think the above items contain the essence of it).My Views on complaints from Microsoft
It is true that I chose the name "MyWindowsClub", which include "Windows" - a trademark of Microsoft. However, I have added a word before and after the Windows trade name so that it would look significantly different and will not confuse any users. My Windows Club is my windows to the technology world. Have you read the famous poem 'Tree At My Window' by Robert Frost? The name MyWindowsClub was inspired by this poem.
Some of my sites are developed and promoted around the same technologies it is named after. For example, GooglePlusTips.com is my website in which I write articles on Google+ platform and provide tips to make the best use of it. I have been running SilverlightClub.com last few years without any significant monetary benefits but just to provide a platform for Silverlight application developers to host their Silverlight Apps and monetize it. However, MyWindowsClub is my window to the technology world and I have been covering a wide range of technologies here.
Regarding advertisements and monetization: We use Google AdSense revenue sharing in those sites and members are given 90% of AdSense revenue share from the contributed content pages. Google AdSense is one of the most trusted Ad networks in the world. We believe they do not use any unethical advertising practices. Adverting competitor products like Ads of Google Chrome in MyWindowsClub does not come under "bad faith" use of the site. However, Microsoft attorneys think it is not appropriate to advertise competitor products like Google Chrome in MyWindowsClub.com
I do monetize the website traffic and that is what I do for living, just like hundreds of thousands of other webmasters.
The trademark "Windows" is so popular that no one can be confused that Windows is a product my small company. Everyone who knows Windows OS know it is from Microsoft. I personally believe using the word "Windows" in my domain name with a strong prefix and suffix would not cause any confusion to the users.
I have been a Microsoft MVP for last few years. Each year, I submitted my websites MyWindowsClub.com and SilverlightClub.com to Microsoft as my community achievements. Microsoft recognized my efforts and contribution to the community through my websites by rewarding me the Microsoft MVP award, until it was taken away in January 2012. Microsoft has appreciated and encouraged me with MVP and Community Star awards for my contribution through the technology websites.
Tony John
Founder & Webmaster - MyWindowsClub.com
Microsoft MVP-Alumni
Managing Director - SpiderWorks Technologies Pvt Ltd, Kochi, India
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Hello sir,
Its really a sad news sir. Is there any chance of changing the domain name or is there any possibility to open a different site and transfer this content over there so that we get the same traffic.
Regards,
Karthik.