Future Media Architects (FMA) is an internet development company founded in 2002 and focused on acquiring and developing premiere domain names and web properties. FMA is primarily known for its large portfolio of internet domain names, estimated to exceed 120,000 in 2011. FMA has faced several lawsuits related to cybersquatting activities.
FMA was founded by Thunayan Khalid Al-Ghanim, known by his internet alias "elequa", in 2002. Born in 1970 in London, Al-Ghanim "comes from a respected Kuwaiti family that has international business interests".[1]
By mid-2003, FMA had "amassed more than 12,000 quality domains", including media.com, multimedia.com, fm.com, mp3.tv, dj.net, and oxide.com. The company purchased i.net, a major ICANN-approved internet registry, to process and manage its portfolio of domain names purchases.[1]
By 2011, FMA held over 120,000 domain names, though Al-Ghanim said, "I haven't been an active buyer lately."[2]
In 2016, FMA reversed a longstanding policy not to sell domain names,[1] and began offloading parts of its domain portfolio. Notably, it sold a number of four-letter domain names in the Chinese market.[3] In 2017, FMA listed almost 10,000 domain names for sale on the Uniregistry market.[4] Between 2014 and 2018, FMA's domain name sales were estimated at $24M.[5]
In March 2019, after "a dispute that lasted four years", Al-Ghanim was removed as an officer of FMA. The company is now under control of his sister, Shareefah Khalid Al-Ghanim. "According to court documents, Mrs. Alghanim asserted that her brother mismanaged the company, and indulged in a variety of vices impeding his judgement when making decisions about FMA. The two siblings were equal partners in the company with a 50% stake each."[6][7]
Lawsuits & Controversy
FMA and Al-Ghanim have faced several lawsuits related to cybersquatting activities, with judgements found both for and against FMA. Examples of disputed domains include kiwi.com,[8] jackass.com,[9] and calcar.org.[10]
References
^ abc"Elequa Unmasked: Unveiling the World's Most Prolific "Domain Artist"".
^Hackney, Raymond (25 July 2011). "Quick chat with Thunayan Khalid AL-Ghanim (elequa)". TLDInvestors. Retrieved 2011-07-25.
^"FMA : Future Media Architects domain sales to China". FMA : Future Media Architects domain sales to China. DomainGang. 2 December 2016. Retrieved 2016-12-02.
^"FMA liquidation : Elequa adds almost 10,000 domains to the Uniregistry Market". Domain Gang. 3 June 2017. Retrieved 2017-06-03.
^"Uniregistry : Exclusive Broker Of Existing FMA Domain Portfolio". wn.com.
^"Elequa's #domain portfolio company is under new management". DomainGang. 25 March 2019. Retrieved 2019-03-25.
^"In re Ex Parte Application of Shareefah Khalid Alghanim for an Order to Conduct Discovery for Use in Foreign Proceedings Pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 1782 (1:17-mc-00406)". Retrieved 2019-07-31.
^"Future Media Architects Prevails Over Corporate Giant Sara Lee in Domain Name Challenge".
^LaVallee, Andrew (2008-12-22). "The Battle Over Jackass.com". The Wall Street Journal.
^"Calcar, Inc. v. Future Media Architects, Inc. c/o com fma". Retrieved 2007-10-24.
January 12, 2023
future, media, architects, topic, this, article, meet, wikipedia, notability, guidelines, companies, organizations, please, help, demonstrate, notability, topic, citing, reliable, secondary, sources, that, independent, topic, provide, significant, coverage, be. The topic of this article may not meet Wikipedia s notability guidelines for companies and organizations Please help to demonstrate the notability of the topic by citing reliable secondary sources that are independent of the topic and provide significant coverage of it beyond a mere trivial mention If notability cannot be shown the article is likely to be merged redirected or deleted Find sources Future Media Architects news newspapers books scholar JSTOR May 2017 Learn how and when to remove this template message Future Media Architects FMA is an internet development company founded in 2002 and focused on acquiring and developing premiere domain names and web properties FMA is primarily known for its large portfolio of internet domain names estimated to exceed 120 000 in 2011 FMA has faced several lawsuits related to cybersquatting activities Future Media Architects Inc TypePrivateIndustryInternetFoundedBritish Virgin Islands 2002 Key peopleThunayan K Al Ghanim Founder and former CEOWebsitefma wbr comHistory EditFMA was founded by Thunayan Khalid Al Ghanim known by his internet alias elequa in 2002 Born in 1970 in London Al Ghanim comes from a respected Kuwaiti family that has international business interests 1 By mid 2003 FMA had amassed more than 12 000 quality domains including media com multimedia com fm com mp3 tv dj net and oxide com The company purchased i net a major ICANN approved internet registry to process and manage its portfolio of domain names purchases 1 By 2011 FMA held over 120 000 domain names though Al Ghanim said I haven t been an active buyer lately 2 In 2016 FMA reversed a longstanding policy not to sell domain names 1 and began offloading parts of its domain portfolio Notably it sold a number of four letter domain names in the Chinese market 3 In 2017 FMA listed almost 10 000 domain names for sale on the Uniregistry market 4 Between 2014 and 2018 FMA s domain name sales were estimated at 24M 5 In March 2019 after a dispute that lasted four years Al Ghanim was removed as an officer of FMA The company is now under control of his sister Shareefah Khalid Al Ghanim According to court documents Mrs Alghanim asserted that her brother mismanaged the company and indulged in a variety of vices impeding his judgement when making decisions about FMA The two siblings were equal partners in the company with a 50 stake each 6 7 Lawsuits amp Controversy EditFMA and Al Ghanim have faced several lawsuits related to cybersquatting activities with judgements found both for and against FMA Examples of disputed domains include kiwi com 8 jackass com 9 and calcar org 10 References Edit a b c Elequa Unmasked Unveiling the World s Most Prolific Domain Artist Hackney Raymond 25 July 2011 Quick chat with Thunayan Khalid AL Ghanim elequa TLDInvestors Retrieved 2011 07 25 FMA Future Media Architects domain sales to China FMA Future Media Architects domain sales to China DomainGang 2 December 2016 Retrieved 2016 12 02 FMA liquidation Elequa adds almost 10 000 domains to the Uniregistry Market Domain Gang 3 June 2017 Retrieved 2017 06 03 Uniregistry Exclusive Broker Of Existing FMA Domain Portfolio wn com Elequa s domain portfolio company is under new management DomainGang 25 March 2019 Retrieved 2019 03 25 In re Ex Parte Application of Shareefah Khalid Alghanim for an Order to Conduct Discovery for Use in Foreign Proceedings Pursuant to 28 U S C 1782 1 17 mc 00406 Retrieved 2019 07 31 Future Media Architects Prevails Over Corporate Giant Sara Lee in Domain Name Challenge LaVallee Andrew 2008 12 22 The Battle Over Jackass com The Wall Street Journal Calcar Inc v Future Media Architects Inc c o com fma Retrieved 2007 10 24 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Future Media Architects amp oldid 1094242439, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
