Apple takes on porn sites in domain name dispute

Apple has filed a complaint with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) against seven domain names featuring the word iPhone that forward to mobile porn sites -- including one site called iPhone4s.com.

The latter is especially worrisome, since it matches the name of Apple's new and best-selling handset. The iPhone4s.com site was registered in August of 2008, well before the unveiling of the iPhone 4S in October of 2011. Apple owns domains for iPhone4.com, but iPhone3GS and iPhone 3G are actually non-Apple sites.

Some of the other domains targeted in the WIPO complaint include iphonecamforce.com, iphonecam4s, and porn4iphones. All are hardcore sites that Apple does not wish to be associated with, plus they use Apple's product name in the domain name. Apple has used WIPO successfully in domain name disputes, most recently when the organization ordered the owners of iPods.com to transfer the domain name to Apple.

Apple doesn't always resort to WIPO in these situations. Last year, they spent a rumored US$4.5 million to purchase the domain iCloud.com from Swedish cloud computing firm Xcerion. But in this case, the company obviously doesn't want potential customers to get a surprise when they're just looking for information about iPhones, so they're going to WIPO for satisfaction.