Apple Files Claim With WIPO to Gain Control of iPhone5.com Domain

Ever since Apple launched iPhone 4S, it has been widely debated if Apple will call the next generation iPhone "the new iPhone" like the new iPad, or iPhone 6 as its the sixth generation iPhone or call it iPhone 5, which still seems to be quite popular even though rumors of a redesigned iPhone 5 launch last year didn't turn out to be accurate.

Here's some interesting news. Fusible reports that Apple has filed a claim with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to gain control of the iPhone5.com domain.

Apple is planning ahead for the release of the fifth generation iPhone by filing a complaint (Case number: D2012-0951) with the World Intellectual Property Organization over iPhone5.com.  The domain dispute popped up on WIPO’s website this week.

iPhone5.com currently hosts a discussion forum for iPhone 5  that was launched in October 2010 with 275 members at the time of writing this post.

As MacRumors points out, it is quite odd to see Apple file a complaint for the iPhone5.com domain as it has typically pursued domain names for its products after the product is launched:

Apple's pursuit of the iPhone5.com domain is interesting given how slow the company has been to take action to secure domains related to its previous products. Apple didn't gain control of iPhone4.com until nearly a year after that device launched and Apple didn't seek to gain control of iPhone4S.com until several weeks after that device debuted last October. In the latter case, Apple was likely extremely motivated to take control of the domain because it was being used to forward visitors to pornography sites. 

While the news has sparked off speculations that Apple may be pursuing it in preparation for the next generation iPhone launch later this year, it is quite possible that Apple is looking to gain control of the domain as it is still in popular use.

What's your take? Will Apple call the next iPhone - iPhone 5, iPhone 6 or the new iPhone?