DomainTools Blog

The Villas.com Portfolio is one of the most complete domain portfolios that I have seen. It includes not only Domain Names but Registered Trademarks as well. As new TLDs get released these trademarks have been used to acquire the rights in future “Villas” brand in TLDs. Holding on to generic terms in multiple TLDs is virtual impossible. However Steve has managed to just that. He originally started the brand for his Villas magazine. The offline publication didn’t last long with the Invention of the Internet. Steve never got into the third party booking business online but this brand is begging for it.

The most valuable domain of them all is Villas.com. The second most valuable domain in the collection I personally think is Villas.eu. Europe has thousands of Villas and is the central place people think about when they discuss renting a Villa. There are plenty of Villas in Spain and of course Steve got Villas.es too. German’s love to go on Holiday and they also love dotInfo, so there is the domain Villas.info too.

With 13 trademarks centered on the classic generic word VILLAS this is a portfolio that allows the new owner plenty of room to grow the brand as new TLDs come on line. Villas.asia comes to mind. Later this year the trademark owner of Villas can apply before anyone else to own the domain. Trademark owners have first right of refusal on new TLDs.

This portfolio is being sold at a value based on branding potential, longevity in the marketplace and trademarks. The entire portfolio of domains, together with trademarks, presents a formidable barrier to entry. The key generic word VILLAS lends itself seamlessly to at least two of the Internet’s most lucrative and natural global markets: Real Estate and Travel. VILLAS is recognizable and has instant cognition in all western languages and cultures, as well as Hebraic, Asian, Slavic and Arabic cultures, without translation. Moreover, the word VILLAS has permeated everyday lexicon, in all international cultures, to mean exactly what it is with no marketing hype and expense needed to imbed the name into consumers’ top-of-mind cognition. It has meaning to the bargain hunter and luxury consumer alike. In short, VILLAS has natural, direct, low cost branding perfection and is a marketer’s dream generic.

VILLAS is instantly significant in the primary market of Travel — both Domestic and International — and as a revenue hook for the ancillary markets of: Vacation Rentals for consumers, owners and booking agents; Hotels and Resorts; Travel Agents; Air Bookings; Car Rental; Currency Exchange Services; Local Merchants and Service Providers; Tour Guides; Specialist/Exotic/High End Travel & Services; Bargain/Discount Travel Packages; “Last Minute” Bookers; etc.

VILLAS is instantly significant in the primary market of Real Estate & Property — both Domestic and International — and as a revenue hook for the ancillary markets of: Home Loans & Refinance; Insurance; Financial Services; VIP & Concierge Services; Currency Exchange Services; Decoration & Interior Design; Architects; Domestic and International Agents; Property Finders; Appraisals; Kitchens & Bathrooms; Home Entertainment and other Domestic Electronics; Landscaping and Swimming Pools; etc.

TRADEMARKS

All of the world’s goods and services are, for trademark purposes, categorized into 45 different segments, called “Classes”. Whereas anyone can assert that they have a “trademark” for a product, by simply using the ™ symbol in conjunction with a brand, logo, word phrase, etc., this right can be defeated quite easily, even if used for a long period of time. However, the Registered Trademark, denoted ®, grants absolute rights and protection to its owner, even defeating a trademark, ™, for the same or similar brand, logo, word phrase, etc.

Obtaining a Registered Trademark, ®, is a rigorous process of examination, public review and compliance with international standards. It is expensive and can take years to obtain, but it wields great power for its owner. For this reason, for example, in any Trademark Sunrise period for new gTLDs and ccTLDs a Registered Trademark is required. In any UDRP domain challenge, and other civil claims, a Registered Trademark ® will always prevail over a trademark ™. Moreover, the Seller has prevailed in one WIPO challenge, three Sunrise applications for the generic domain name “VILLAS”, and in the past month has prevailed in a precedent-setting trademark dispute over infringement by a large online gambling concern, based on the power of the 13 Registered Trademarks listed below (see also Annex 2):

Spanish Registered Trademark Nº 1.965.734 issued in 1995 for the “Word with Graphic” representation of “Villas &…” the ampersand and three dots are considered a “graphic”, in the Nice Class 16 pertaining, generally, to: printed matter including books and magazines, cardboard and paper products, photographs, etc. The trademark is for:

VILLAS&…®

A further four Spanish Registered Trademarks, 2.481.940 through 2.481.943, issued in 2002 to amplify the above original “Word with Graphic” trademark by including Class 36: Insurance; financial affairs; monetary affairs; real estate affairs; Class 38: All forms of telecommunications, including the internet; Class 39: Travel arrangement, transport, packaging and storage of goods; and Class 41: Entertainment, education, providing of training, sporting and cultural activities.

A further five Spanish Registered Trademarks, 2.481.944 through 2.481.948, issued in 2002 to amplify the figurative marks noted above with the “Textual” or actual word phrase VILLAS&… in Classes 16, 36, 38, 39 and 41, already described above.

VILLAS&…®

A further Spanish Registered Trademark, 2.522.493, issued in 2003 for the “Textual” or actual word phrase: VILLASDOTCOM VILLAS.COM, in Classes 16, 36, 38, 39 and 41, already described above, and in the additional Class 35: Advertising, business management, business administration and office functions.

VILLASDOTCOM VILLAS.COM®

A further Spanish Registered Trademark, 2.597.146, issued in 2004, for VILLAS.EU, in Classes 16, 36 and 38, described above, which is:

VILLAS.EU®

A further European Community Registered Trademark (CTM), 772020, issued in 1999, for the Villas &… “Word with Graphic” or “figurative mark”, in Classes 16, 36 and 38, already mentioned above. This gives protection in all 26 member-states of the European Community (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Holland, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and United Kingdom).

VILLAS&…®

The above 13 trademarks and the bulk of the domain portfolio were originally obtained to secure and protect the brand of the Seller’s magazine of the same name, Villas &… This magazine was dedicated to high-end property, décor and lifestyle on the Mediterranean coasts, and was published continuously from 1995 until 2004. The magazine is registered in the National Libraries of Spain and the United Kingdom as well as the Registry of Periodicals in Spain. It was distributed on sale throughout Europe, and had subscribers all over the world. By default, as the Seller is divesting of all protecting Intellectual Property and domains, the “title” and the exclusive right to commence publication again to the magazine Villas &… is included in the portfolio.

Based on what is called, in trademark parlance, “priority”, dating back to 1995, and with 13 prior Registered Trademarks, one could further amplify these trademarks into other international jurisdictions with little or no effort aside from the filing procedures.

Although originally intended to protect a magazine title, the Seller foresaw many other future applications for branding and hence trademarked into many other commercial functions. That is, the future owner of these marks can apply the branding not only to the Internet but also into what are some of the most lucrative global industrial sectors, e.g., Real Estate, Travel, Entertainment, Insurance and Financial Affairs, to name but a few.

Top Level: Brand “Super Villas” (German):
VILLAS.COM UBERVILLAS.COM
VILLAS.EU UBERVILLAS.DE
VILLAS.MOBI UBER-VILLAS.COM
VILLAS.INFO UBER-VILLAS.DE
VILLAS.PRO UBER-VILLEN.COM
VILLAS.IN UBER-VILLEN.DE
VILLAS.ES
VILLAS.EU.COM Travel and/or Real Estate:
VILLAS.BZ VILLASONLINE.NET
VILLAS.FM VILLASONLINE.ORG
VILLA.FM VILLASONLINE.INFO
VILLASONLINE.BIZ

IP Protection and/or Brand: VILLASONLINE.CC
VILLASDOTCOM.COM VILLAS-ONLINE.COM
VILLASDOTCOM.NET VILLAS-ONLINE.ORG
VILLASDOTCOM.ORG VILLAS-ONLINE.INFO
VILLASDOTCOM.INFO VILLAS-ONLINE.BIZ
VILLASDOTCOM.BIZ VILLAS-ONLINE.CC
VILLASDOT.COM VILLASOFTHEWORLD.NET
VILLASDOT.NET VILLASOFTHEWORLD.ORG
VILLASDOT.ORG VILLASOFTHEWORLD.INFO
VILLASDOT.INFO VILLASOFTHEWORLD.BIZ
VILLASDOT.BIZ VILLAS-OF-THE-WORLD.COM
VILLASEU.COM VILLAS-OF-THE-WORLD.NET
VILLASEU.NET VILLAS-OF-THE-WORLD.ORG
VILLASEU.ORG VILLAS-OF-THE-WORLD.INFO
VILLASEU.INFO VILLAS-OF-THE-WORLD.BIZ
VILLASEU.BIZ VILLASRICHE.COM
VILLAS-EU.COM VILLASSITE.COM
VILLAS-EU.NET VILLASTV.COM
VILLAS-EU.INFO VILLASTV.EU
VILLAS-EU.BIZ

Interior Design & Home:
Travel & Holiday: VILLASAIRCONDITIONING.COM
VILLASDESTINATIONS.COM VILLASART.COM
VILLASDESTINATIONS.CO.UK VILLASBATHROOMS.COM
VILLASHOLIDAYS.CO.UK VILLASBEDROOMS.COM
VILLASRENTAL.CO.UK VILLASDECORATIONS.COM
VILLASRENTALS.US VILLASDESIGNS.COM
VILLASFORRENT.BIZ VILLASFURNISHINGS.COM
VILLASFORRENT.INFO VILLASFURNITURE.COM
RENTALVILLAS.US VILLASHOMECINEMA.COM
FORVILLAS.COM VILLASHOMETHEATRE.COM
GOTOVILLAS.COM VILLASHOMETHEATRES.COM
SEARCHVILLAS.COM VILLASKITCHENS.COM
VILLASAUTORENTAL.COM VILLASMEDIAROOMS.COM
VILLASCARHIRE.COM
VILLASCARRENTAL.COM

Real Estate: Magazine:
LUXURY-VILLAS.BIZ VILLASMAGAZINE.COM
LUXURY-VILLAS.INFO VILLASMAGAZINE.NET
LUXURY-VILLAS.ORG VILLASMAGAZINE.ORG
VILLASFORSALE.INFO VILLASMAGAZINE.INFO
VILLASLOANS.COM VILLASMAGAZINE.BIZ
VILLASFORLEASE.COM VILLASMAGAZINE.US
VILLASFORLEASE.INFO VILLASMAGAZINE.CC

VILLAS-MAGAZINE.COM
VILLAS-MAGAZINE.NET
VILLAMAGAZINE.INFO
VILLA-MAGAZINE.BIZ

Originally IP, now Branding:
EURO-VILLAS.NET VILLAS-MAGAZINE.ORG
EURO-VILLAS.ORG VILLAS-MAGAZINE.INFO
EURO-VILLAS.INFO VILLAS-MAGAZINE.BIZ
EURO-VILLAS.BIZ VILLAS-MAGAZINE.US
EURO-VILLAS.US VILLAS-MAGAZINE.CC
EURO-VILLAS.TV
EURO-VILLAS.BZ VILLAMAGAZINE.COM
EURO-VILLAS.CC VILLAMAGAZINE.NET
EURO-VILLAS.WS VILLAMAGAZINE.ORG

VILLAS-AND.COM VILLAMAGAZINE.BIZ
VILLAS-AND.NET VILLA-MAGAZINE.COM
VILLAS-AND.ORG VILLA-MAGAZINE.NET
VILLAS-AND.INFO VILLA-MAGAZINE.ORG
VILLAS-AND.BIZ VILLA-MAGAZINE.INFO

Gambling:
VILLASCASINO.COM
VILLASCASINO.EU

Trademark Country Nº NICE Class Issue Date Renew Date
VILLAS (plus Graphic) Spain 1.965.734 16 06.11.1995 05.11.2015
Villas &… (figurative) EU 772020 16,36,38 24.08.1999 23.08.2009
Villas &… (Figurative) Spain 2.481.940 36 20.11.2002 19.11.2012
Villas &… (Figurative) Spain 2.481.941 38 20.11.2002 19.11.2012
Villas &… (Figurative) Spain 2.481.942 39 20.11.2002 19.11.2012
Villas &… (Figurative) Spain 2.481.943 41 20.11.2002 19.11.2012
Villas &… (Textual) Spain 2.481.944 16 20.11.2002 19.11.2012
Villas &… (Textual) Spain 2.481.945 36 20.11.2002 19.11.2012
Villas &… (Textual) Spain 2.481.946 38 20.11.2002 19.11.2012
Villas &… (Textual) Spain 2.481.947 39 20.11.2002 19.11.2012
Villas &… (Textual) Spain 2.481.948 41 20.11.2002 19.11.2012
VILLAS.COM Spain 2.522.493 16,35,36,38,39,41 07.07.2003 06.07.2013
VILLASDOTCOM Spain 2.522.493 16,35,36,38,39,41 07.07.2003 06.07.2013
VILLAS.EU Spain M2597146 16,36,38 16.11.2004 15.11.2014

To bid on this portfolio of domains and the trademarks, go to DomainTools Live auction for more information.