Once a console or a franchise is started, squatters often go in and attempt to register domain names very similar to those that already exist in an attempt to make some cash off of rights owners, who want to use the website to promote their next product. This was the case with the WiiU.com domain name. Registered in 2004, well before the Wii U was announced, the website came into existence and the owners recently took the rights to auction. No doubt, this alerted Nintendo who quickly filed a claim with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
Fusible, a website known for tracking news regarding domain names recently discovered that Nintendo has actually lost the dispute and will now need to fork over money if they want to purchase the rights to the website, assuming it will be for sale again. Currently, the site just displays sponsored ads related to Nintendo products.
It will be interesting to see how Microsoft and Sony will fare with their inevitable disputes over the rights to XboxOne.com and PlayStation4.com, as neither company currently owns either of those domains.
