{{notability|Companies|date=May 2017}} {{Infobox company | name = Future Media Architects, Inc. | logo = Future Media Architects logo.png | logo_size = 150px | type = Private | founded = British Virgin Islands <br /> (2002) | industry = Internet | key_people = Thunayan K. Al-Ghanim, Founder and former CEO | services = | revenue = | operating_income = | net_income = | num_employees = }}
'''Future Media Architects''' is a defunct internet development company founded in 2002 and focused on acquiring and developing premiere domain names and web properties. Future Media Architects is primarily known for its large portfolio of internet domain names, estimated to exceed 120,000 in 2011. Future Media Architects has faced several lawsuits related to cybersquatting activities.
== History == Future Media Architects 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".<ref name="dsj">{{cite web |url=http://www.dnjournal.com/columns/coverstory2.htm |title=Elequa Unmasked: Unveiling the World's Most Prolific "Domain Artist" }}</ref>
By mid-2003, Future Media Architects 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.<ref name="dsj" />
By 2011, Future Media Architects held over 120,000 domain names, though Al-Ghanim said, "I haven't been an active buyer lately."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Hackney |first1=Raymond |title=Quick chat with Thunayan Khalid AL-Ghanim (elequa) |url=https://tldinvestors.com/2011/07/quick-chat-with-thunayan-khalid-al-ghanim-elequa.html |website=TLDInvestors |date=25 July 2011 |accessdate=2011-07-25}}</ref>
In 2016, Future Media Architects reversed a longstanding policy not to sell domain names,<ref name="dsj" /> and began offloading parts of its domain portfolio. Notably, it sold a number of four-letter domain names in the Chinese market.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://domaingang.com/domain-news/fma-future-media-architects-domain-sales-to-china/ |website=Future Media Architects : Future Media Architects domain sales to China |publisher=DomainGang |accessdate=2016-12-02|title=Future Media Architects : Future Media Architects domain sales to China |date=2 December 2016 }}</ref> In 2017, Future Media Architects listed almost 10,000 domain names for sale on the Uniregistry market.<ref>{{cite web |title=Future Media Architects liquidation : Elequa adds almost 10,000 domains to the Uniregistry Market |url=https://domaingang.com/domain-news/fma-liquidation-elequa-adds-almost-10000-domains-to-the-uniregistry-market/ |website=Domain Gang |date=3 June 2017 |accessdate=2017-06-03}}</ref> Between 2014 and 2018, Future Media Architects's domain name sales were estimated at $24M.<ref>{{cite web |title=Uniregistry : Exclusive Broker Of Existing Future Media Architects Domain Portfolio |url=https://article.wn.com/view/2019/04/11/Uniregistry_Exclusive_Broker_Of_Existing_FMA_Domain_Portfoli/ |publisher=wn.com}}</ref>
In March 2019, after "a dispute that lasted four years", Al-Ghanim was removed as an officer of Future Media Architects. 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 Future Media Architects. The two siblings were equal partners in the company with a 50% stake each."<ref>{{cite web |title=Elequa's #domain portfolio company is under new management |url=https://domaingang.com/domain-news/future-media-architects-elequas-domain-portfolio-company-is-under-new-management/ |website=DomainGang |date=25 March 2019 |accessdate=2019-03-25}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=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) |url=https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/6258835/in-re-ex-parte-application-of-shareefah-khalid-alghanim-for-an-order-to/?filed_after=&filed_before=&entry_gte=&entry_lte=&order_by=desc |accessdate=2019-07-31}}</ref>
== Lawsuits & Controversy == Future Media Architects and Al-Ghanim have faced several lawsuits related to cybersquatting activities, with judgements found both for and against Future Media Architects. Examples of disputed domains include kiwi.com,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://internationalentertainment.blogspot.com/2005/01/future-media-architects-prevails-over.html |title=Future Media Architects Prevails Over Corporate Giant Sara Lee in Domain Name Challenge }}</ref> jackass.com,<ref>{{cite news |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/digits/2008/12/22/the-battle-over-jackasscom/ |title=The Battle Over Jackass.com | work=The Wall Street Journal | first=Andrew | last=LaVallee | date=2008-12-22}}</ref> and calcar.org.<ref>{{cite web |title=Calcar, Inc. v. Future Media Architects, Inc. c/o com fma |url=https://www.adrforum.com/domaindecisions/1080147.htm |accessdate=2007-10-24}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
Category:Companies established in 2002