{
 "name": "The dead brand index",
 "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/dead-brand-index.html",
 "updated": "2026-10-25",
 "licence": "Free to reuse with credit and a link to the source page.",
 "count": 203,
 "brands": [
  {
   "name": "3dfx",
   "started": "1994, San Jose, California, by three Silicon Graphics engineers",
   "status2026": "Defunct. Operations ended December 2000, bankruptcy filing in 2002",
   "owner2026": "Nvidia, which bought the patents, trademarks and brand names in December 2000",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-3dfx-voodoo-graphics-card.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "3DO",
   "started": "October 4, 1993, as the Panasonic FZ-1",
   "status2026": "Discontinued since 1996; a 2026 relaunch collapsed in a week",
   "owner2026": "Throwback Entertainment, Toronto (trademark, designs, 3do.com)",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-3do-700-dollar-console.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Adobe Flash",
   "started": "August 19, 1996 as FutureSplash Animator, renamed Flash 1.0 in 1997",
   "status2026": "Discontinued. Flash Player ended on December 31, 2020 and was blocked from January 12, 2021",
   "owner2026": "Adobe, which bought Macromedia for about $3.4 billion in 2005",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/definitive-history-macromedia-flash.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "AltaVista",
   "started": "December 15, 1995, by Digital Equipment Corporation",
   "status2026": "Closed on July 8, 2013; altavista.com redirects to Yahoo Search",
   "owner2026": "Yahoo Inc., majority-owned by Apollo Global Management funds since 2021",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-altavista-search-engine.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Amazon",
   "started": "",
   "status2026": "Still public as AMZN; market value passed $3 trillion in August 2026",
   "owner2026": "",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/how-amazon-survived-dot-com-crash.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Anbernic",
   "started": "",
   "status2026": "Still trading in 2026, but direct China-to-US shipping was suspended on April 21, 2025, so US orders depend on warehouse stock",
   "owner2026": "",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/anbernic-handheld-worth-it-game-boy.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Angelfire",
   "started": "1996, as a combined website builder and medical transcription service",
   "status2026": "Shut down April 24, 2026; hosted pages purged, nothing running",
   "owner2026": "Lycos, Inc.; control contested since 2013 between Brightcom Group, formerly Ybrant Digital, and Daum",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/is-angelfire-still-online.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "AOL",
   "started": "",
   "status2026": "Active: free AOL Mail, news portal and paid plans",
   "owner2026": "Bending Spoons (Milan), since January 2, 2026",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/does-aol-still-exist-today.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "AOL Instant Messenger",
   "started": "May 1997, by America Online",
   "status2026": "Shut down. No official service since December 15, 2017",
   "owner2026": "AOL brand held by Bending Spoons, since January 2, 2026",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-aim-aol-instant-messenger.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "AOL Time Warner",
   "started": "",
   "status2026": "Dissolved. AOL was spun off in 2009 and the name is gone",
   "owner2026": "AOL: Bending Spoons. Time Warner assets: Warner Bros. Discovery",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/aol-time-warner-merger-worst-deal-in-history.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Apple",
   "started": "",
   "status2026": "Apple Inc. is public on Nasdaq as AAPL; market value crossed $4 trillion on October 28, 2025",
   "owner2026": "Shareholders. Microsoft sold its entire Apple stake by 2003",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/when-apple-almost-went-bankrupt-1997.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Apple Newton",
   "started": "August 2, 1993, Apple Computer, $699",
   "status2026": "Discontinued February 27, 1998; no Newton device or Newton OS release since",
   "owner2026": "Apple Inc., which still owns the Newton name",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-apple-newton.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Arcades",
   "started": "",
   "status2026": "Still operating: 7,113 US arcade, food and entertainment businesses in 2026",
   "owner2026": "",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-arcades-golden-age-gaming.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Ask Jeeves",
   "started": "Beta in April 1997, full launch June 1, 1997",
   "status2026": "Closed. Ask.com went dark on May 1, 2026",
   "owner2026": "IAC, which shut the search business down",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-ask-jeeves-search-engine.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Atari Jaguar",
   "started": "November 23, 1993, Atari Corporation, $249.99",
   "status2026": "Discontinued in 1996; Atari Corporation no longer exists",
   "owner2026": "Atari SA, Euronext Paris, run by CEO Wade Rosen since 2021",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-atari-jaguar-64-bit-console.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Atari Lynx",
   "started": "September 1989, Atari Corporation, $179.99",
   "status2026": "Discontinued in 1995, never reissued as hardware",
   "owner2026": "Atari SA, chaired by Wade Rosen",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-atari-lynx-handheld.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Barnes and Noble",
   "started": "",
   "status2026": "Open and expanding, with more than 720 US bookstores in 2026",
   "owner2026": "Elliott Investment Management, which paid about $683 million in 2019",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/is-barnes-and-noble-still-open.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Beanie Babies",
   "started": "8 February 1993, nine designs shown by Ty Inc. at the New York Toy Fair",
   "status2026": "Ty Inc. is still in business and still sells Beanie Babies",
   "owner2026": "Ty Warner, sole owner of Ty Inc.",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/beanie-babies-bubble-what-happened.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Betamax vs VHS",
   "started": "May 10, 1975 in Tokyo, November 1975 in the United States",
   "status2026": "Dead format. Recorders ended in 2002, the last blank cassettes shipped in March 2016",
   "owner2026": "Sony",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/betamax-vs-vhs-format-war.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "BlackBerry",
   "started": "1984 in Waterloo, Ontario, as Research In Motion",
   "status2026": "Active software company; no BlackBerry phones since 2016",
   "owner2026": "Publicly traded, no parent company (NYSE: BB, TSX: BB)",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-blackberry-smartphone.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Bliss wallpaper",
   "started": "",
   "status2026": "Vineyard land; briefly bare and green again on 18 February 2026",
   "owner2026": "",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/windows-xp-wallpaper-bliss-story.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Blockbuster",
   "started": "",
   "status2026": "Open, one franchise store in Bend, Oregon",
   "owner2026": "Dish Network, part of EchoStar; Dish DBS filed Chapter 11 on June 30, 2026",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/is-blockbuster-still-open-last-store.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "BonziBuddy",
   "started": "1999, Bonzi Software Inc. (California)",
   "status2026": "Discontinued in 2004; no supported download",
   "owner2026": "Joe Bonzi and Jay Bonzi, who now run 2KDirect",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-bonzibuddy-spyware.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Boo.com",
   "started": "3 November 1999, London, in 18 countries at once",
   "status2026": "Dead since 18 May 2000; no store at boo.com",
   "owner2026": "Hostelworld Group plc, formerly Web Reservations International",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-boo-com-fashion-dot-com.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Borders",
   "started": "1971, Ann Arbor, Michigan, as a used bookstore run by Tom and Louis Borders",
   "status2026": "No Borders stores in the US since 2011. Borders-branded shops still trade in the Gulf under Al Maya Group",
   "owner2026": "Barnes & Noble, which paid $13.9 million in 2011 and is itself owned by Elliott Investment Management",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/who-owns-borders-now-bookstore.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Boston Market",
   "started": "1985 as Boston Chicken in Newton, Massachusetts",
   "status2026": "Still open in a few locations, and sold as frozen dinners in supermarkets",
   "owner2026": "Engage Brands, controlled by Jay Pandya since April 2020",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/boston-market-locations-left.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Broadcast.com",
   "started": "September 1995 in Dallas as AudioNet; renamed Broadcast.com in 1998",
   "status2026": "Discontinued in 2002; no service at the address in 2026",
   "owner2026": "Yahoo, run by Apollo Global Management funds since 2021",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/broadcast-com-yahoo-billion-dollar-deal.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Chuck E. Cheese",
   "started": "1977, founded by Atari co-founder Nolan Bushnell",
   "status2026": "Animatronics in 5 US stores; removed chain-wide by the end of 2024",
   "owner2026": "CEC Entertainment, about 90 percent held by six private equity groups (2026)",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/chuck-e-cheese-animatronics-still-there.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Circuit City",
   "started": "1949 in Richmond, Virginia, as Wards, by Samuel Wurtzel",
   "status2026": "Online-only brand. No stores since March 8, 2009",
   "owner2026": "Circuit City Corporation, led by Ronny Shmoel (bought the brand from Systemax in 2016)",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-circuit-city-electronics.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Claire's",
   "started": "1961 as Fashion Tress Industries, a wig company, renamed after buying Claire's Boutiques in 1973",
   "status2026": "Open and still piercing ears, with more than 131 million piercings claimed since 1978",
   "owner2026": "Ames Watson, since September 19, 2025",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/who-owns-claires-now.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Clippy",
   "started": "November 19, 1996, in Microsoft Office 97",
   "status2026": "Not a feature. A Microsoft 365 emoji and a hidden Copilot avatar",
   "owner2026": "",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-clippy-microsoft.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Club Penguin",
   "started": "October 24, 2005, New Horizon Interactive, Kelowna, BC",
   "status2026": "Closed since March 29, 2017; no official version since 2018",
   "owner2026": "The Walt Disney Company, which bought it on August 1, 2007",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-club-penguin.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Columbia House",
   "started": "1955, as the Columbia Record Club",
   "status2026": "Closed. No new orders accepted after September 15, 2026",
   "owner2026": "Edge Line Ventures, John Lippman's company; Sony Music Entertainment holds the trademark",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/is-columbia-house-still-around.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Commodore",
   "started": "1954 by Jack Tramiel; the Commodore 64 launched August 1982 at $595",
   "status2026": "Trading again as Commodore Corporation B.V. since July 2025",
   "owner2026": "Investor group led by Christian Simpson (Peri Fractic)",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-commodore-computers.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Compaq",
   "started": "February 1982, Houston, by three ex-Texas Instruments managers",
   "status2026": "Not a company since May 3, 2002; HP retired the brand in 2013",
   "owner2026": "HP Inc., which licenses the name to other manufacturers",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/compaq-lost-pc-business-hp-merger.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "CompUSA",
   "started": "1984 as Soft Warehouse, Inc. in Dallas; renamed CompUSA in March 1991",
   "status2026": "Dormant brand. No CompUSA store since 2008, no CompUSA retailer since 2012",
   "owner2026": "",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/is-compusa-still-around.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "CompuServe",
   "started": "1969, Columbus, Ohio, as a Golden United Life Insurance subsidiary",
   "status2026": "No online service; compuserve.com runs as a news portal",
   "owner2026": "Yahoo, owned by Apollo Global Management funds since September 2021",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-compuserve-online-service.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Counter-Strike",
   "started": "",
   "status2026": "Live as Counter-Strike 2, released September 27, 2023",
   "owner2026": "Valve Corporation, since 2000",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-counter-strike-half-life-mod.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Craigslist",
   "started": "1995 as Craig Newmark's San Francisco email list; incorporated 1999",
   "status2026": "Still operating, in more than 570 cities in over 70 countries",
   "owner2026": "Private; founder Craig Newmark and CEO Jim Buckmaster",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-craigslist-ugliest-website-worth-billions.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Dial-Up Internet",
   "started": "",
   "status2026": "Still sold in the US in 2026 by NetZero, Juno and MSN Dial-Up Internet Access",
   "owner2026": "NetZero and Juno are United Online brands, owned by BRC Group Holdings, the company renamed from B. Riley Financial on January 1, 2026",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/dial-up-internet-still-available-2026.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Dial-Up Sound",
   "started": "",
   "status2026": "AOL ended dial-up on September 30, 2025; NetZero and Juno still sell it, and about 100,277 US households used dial-up in the 2024 ACS",
   "owner2026": "",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/dial-up-modem-sound-explained.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Dial-Up Speed",
   "started": "",
   "status2026": "Still sold by NetZero and Juno; AOL ended dial-up on September 30, 2025",
   "owner2026": "",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/dialup-speed-then-vs-now.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Digg",
   "started": "December 5, 2004, by Kevin Rose and three co-founders",
   "status2026": "Live at digg.com as an AI news aggregator, in alpha since May 2026",
   "owner2026": "Kevin Rose and Alexis Ohanian, who bought Digg in March 2025",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-digg-social-news.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Digitize VHS Tapes",
   "started": "",
   "status2026": "Still doable at home; Legacybox, Southtree and Kodak Digitizing are one Chattanooga company, AMB Media LLC",
   "owner2026": "",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/how-to-digitize-vhs-tapes-2026.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Discovery Zone",
   "started": "1989; first center in Kansas City, Missouri, October 1989",
   "status2026": "Original chain liquidated; last locations closed by the end of 2001",
   "owner2026": "CEC Entertainment bought the trademarks in 1999; an unaffiliated operator runs one Discovery Zone at Florence Mall, Kentucky",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/discovery-zone-failed-indoor-playground.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Disney Store",
   "started": "March 28, 1987, at the Glendale Galleria in Glendale, California",
   "status2026": "Open, with selling shifted to shopDisney and Target shop-in-shops, plus two Disney Store Limited Time pop-ups",
   "owner2026": "The Walt Disney Company",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/is-disney-store-still-open.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "DIVX",
   "started": "June 8, 1998 in test markets; national rollout September 25, 1998",
   "status2026": "Dead. Discontinued June 16, 1999; no disc has played since June 30, 2001",
   "owner2026": "",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/divx-circuit-city-dvd-format.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Doom",
   "started": "December 10, 1993, by id Software, as shareware",
   "status2026": "Active series; Doom: The Dark Ages shipped May 15, 2025",
   "owner2026": "Microsoft, through ZeniMax Media and id Software",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/how-doom-changed-pc-gaming-internet.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "EarthLink",
   "started": "1994, EarthLink Network, Los Angeles",
   "status2026": "Private, run from Atlanta, more than 500,000 customers",
   "owner2026": "A WaveDivision Capital consortium, since October 20, 2026",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/who-owns-earthlink-now.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "eBay",
   "started": "September 1995, as AuctionWeb, by Pierre Omidyar",
   "status2026": "Still operating, public on Nasdaq as EBAY",
   "owner2026": "Public shareholders; no single owner",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/ebay-broken-laser-pointer-to-global-marketplace.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Eee PC",
   "started": "October 2007, Asus Eee PC, $299.99 to $399.99 in the US",
   "status2026": "Dead category. No major brand has sold a netbook since 2013",
   "owner2026": "",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-netbooks-laptops.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Encarta",
   "started": "March 22, 1993, Microsoft",
   "status2026": "Discontinued. Disc sales ended June 2009, MSN Encarta closed October 31, 2009",
   "owner2026": "",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-microsoft-encarta.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "eToys",
   "started": "1997, founded by Toby Lenk in Santa Monica, California",
   "status2026": "Bankrupt since March 7, 2001; no eToys store operating in 2026",
   "owner2026": "Toys R Us, which bought the eToys.com name in February 2009 and has been controlled by WHP Global since March 2021",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/etoys-com-who-owns-it-now.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Eudora",
   "started": "",
   "status2026": "Discontinued; last release October 11, 2006",
   "owner2026": "Computer History Museum, since May 2018",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-eudora-email-client.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "EverQuest",
   "started": "March 16, 1999, by Verant Interactive for Sony Online Entertainment",
   "status2026": "Live in 2026. Newest server, Lethar, opened August 26, 2026",
   "owner2026": "Darkpaw Games, published by Daybreak Game Company, owned by Enad Global 7",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/everquest-still-active-2026.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Excite",
   "started": "October 1995, from Architext Software, incorporated June 1993 by six Stanford students",
   "status2026": "Gone. excite.com was shut down in August 2026",
   "owner2026": "IAC, which ran excite.com through Ask Media Group until the shutdown",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-excite-search-engine-google.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Excite@Home",
   "started": "@Home Network, 1995, by Milo Medin, William Randolph Hearst III and three cable operators",
   "status2026": "Gone. Chapter 11 on September 28, 2001; network switched off December 1, 2001",
   "owner2026": "excite.com is an IAC property, operated by Ask Media Group; search by System1",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-excite-at-home-broadband.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "FAO Schwarz",
   "started": "1862, as a toy bazaar in Baltimore; a New York store since 1870",
   "status2026": "Open and expanding, with FAO Schwarz toys on Nordstrom.com since June 2026",
   "owner2026": "ThreeSixty Group of Irvine, California, which bought the brand in October 2016",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/fao-schwarz-store-rockefeller-center.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Flickr",
   "started": "February 10, 2004, by Ludicorp in Vancouver",
   "status2026": "Still online and taking uploads in 2026",
   "owner2026": "SmugMug, since April 2018",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-flickr-yahoo-photo-sharing.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Flooz",
   "started": "Fall 1999, Flooz.Com, Inc.",
   "status2026": "Defunct; the bankruptcy case was terminated on July 27, 2012",
   "owner2026": "",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/flooz-com-internet-currency-collapse.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Floppy disk",
   "started": "",
   "status2026": "No factory anywhere makes floppy disks; every disk sold is pre-2011 stock",
   "owner2026": "",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/floppy-disks-still-made-today.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Flying Toasters",
   "started": "",
   "status2026": "Still built into Windows 11 and macOS; the boxed screensaver business is gone",
   "owner2026": "After Dark went to the Sierra On-Line division of CUC International in 1997, with no version sold since",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-screensavers-flying-toasters.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Friendster",
   "started": "Founded 2002 by Jonathan Abrams, public beta March 2003",
   "status2026": "Relaunched April 29, 2026 as an iOS-only app",
   "owner2026": "Friendster Labs Inc., run by programmer Mike Carson",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-friendster-social-network.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Fry's Electronics",
   "started": "May 17, 1985, Sunnyvale, California",
   "status2026": "Closed since February 24, 2021",
   "owner2026": "",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-frys-electronics.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Furbies",
   "started": "October 2, 1998, Tiger Electronics, $35",
   "status2026": "In production; Furby Vibes shipped July 15, 2026",
   "owner2026": "Hasbro",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/furby-history-nsa-ban.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "G4 TV",
   "started": "April 24, 2002, as a Comcast cable venture",
   "status2026": "Off the air since October 16, 2022; no channel or streaming feed",
   "owner2026": "Comcast Spectacor holds the G4 brand",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/g4-tv-failed-twice.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Game Boy",
   "started": "July 31, 1989 in the United States, $89.95, Nintendo",
   "status2026": "Used market only, no factory warranty since 2003",
   "owner2026": "",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/buy-working-game-boy-2026.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Game Genie",
   "started": "1990, designed by Codemasters, sold in the US by Galoob",
   "status2026": "Discontinued; Galoob owned by Hasbro since 1998; loose units about $22",
   "owner2026": "",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-game-genie-galoob-cheat-device.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Game Informer",
   "started": "1991, as a FuncoLand store handout",
   "status2026": "Publishing 10 print issues a year; issue 381 is the 35th anniversary",
   "owner2026": "Gunzilla Games, since March 25, 2025",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/who-owns-game-informer-now.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "GameStop",
   "started": "1984 in Dallas, Texas, as Babbage's; renamed GameStop in 1999",
   "status2026": "Open and profitable; reopening selected closed stores since September 11, 2026",
   "owner2026": "No parent company. Public on the New York Stock Exchange as GME, run by Ryan Cohen",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/is-gamestop-still-in-business.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Gateway Computers",
   "started": "September 5, 1985, on a cattle ranch near Sioux City, Iowa",
   "status2026": "A brand only: Walmart-exclusive laptops and tablets since September 2020",
   "owner2026": "Acer Inc., which bought Gateway in 2007 for $710 million",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-gateway-2000-cow-box-computer.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Geocaching",
   "started": "",
   "status2026": "Active, with more than 3.4 million caches in 191 countries",
   "owner2026": "Groundspeak, Inc. (Geocaching HQ), Seattle, privately held",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-geocaching-gps-treasure-hunt.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "GeoCities",
   "started": "1994 as Beverly Hills Internet, founded by David Bohnett and John Rezner",
   "status2026": "Closed. No GeoCities page has been served from geocities.com since 2009",
   "owner2026": "Yahoo Inc., owned by funds managed by affiliates of Apollo Global Management since September 2021",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/history-of-geocities-websites.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "GoldenEye 007",
   "started": "1997, developed by Rare, published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 64",
   "status2026": "Playable on Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack and Xbox Game Pass since January 27, 2023",
   "owner2026": "Microsoft owns Rare and the game code; Nintendo published the original; MGM and Eon Productions own James Bond",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-goldeneye-007-n64.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Google Glass",
   "started": "Explorer Edition, February 2013, $1,500",
   "status2026": "Discontinued. Sales ended March 15, 2023",
   "owner2026": "",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/why-google-glass-actually-failed.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Google Reader",
   "started": "October 7, 2005, through Google Labs",
   "status2026": "Gone. No revival announced as of September 2026",
   "owner2026": "",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-google-reader-rss.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Google+",
   "started": "June 28, 2011, invitation only",
   "status2026": "Shut down. The consumer version closed on April 2, 2019",
   "owner2026": "Google, which retired the last version, Google Currents, on July 5, 2023",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/why-google-plus-actually-failed.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Habbo Hotel",
   "started": "August 2000 in Finland as Hotelli Kultakala; the US hotel at habbo.com opened in September 2004",
   "status2026": "Online and free to play in 2026, with hundreds of thousands of monthly active users and Habbo Hotel: Origins on Steam since October 2025",
   "owner2026": "Azerion, sole owner since January 2021, which has classified Habbo Hotel as held for sale through August 2026",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/is-habbo-hotel-still-around.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "HD DVD",
   "started": "April 18, 2006, Toshiba HD-A1 at $499",
   "status2026": "Discontinued since February 19, 2008; existing discs and players still work",
   "owner2026": "Toshiba is private, bought out by a Japan Industrial Partners consortium in 2023",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-hd-dvd-format-war.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Heelys",
   "started": "2000, by Roger Adams through Heeling Sports Limited of Carrollton, Texas",
   "status2026": "Still made and sold new in 2026, about $60 to $75 a pair",
   "owner2026": "BBC International, which paid $11 million for the brand in April 2021",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/heelys-still-sold-2026.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Hollywood Video",
   "started": "1988, Hollywood Entertainment Corporation",
   "status2026": "Closed. The last stores shut on August 8, 2010",
   "owner2026": "MGIP, LLC of Hillside, New Jersey, holds the trademark",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/is-hollywood-video-still-around.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Homestar Runner",
   "started": "January 1, 2000, by Mike Chapman and Matt Chapman",
   "status2026": "Still updating in 2026, on no fixed schedule",
   "owner2026": "Mike Chapman and Matt Chapman, independent and ad-free",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/homestar-runner-still-updating.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Hotmail",
   "started": "July 4, 1996, by Sabeer Bhatia and Jack Smith",
   "status2026": "Brand retired May 2013; @hotmail.com addresses still work on Outlook.com",
   "owner2026": "Microsoft, since December 31, 1997",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/why-everyone-had-hotmail-account.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "HotWired",
   "started": "October 27, 1994, on HotWired",
   "status2026": "US display advertising worth $81.6 billion in 2025 (IAB and PwC)",
   "owner2026": "",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/first-banner-ad-hotwired-1994-history.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "HyperCard",
   "started": "August 11, 1987, Apple Computer, written by Bill Atkinson",
   "status2026": "Discontinued March 2004, stacks emulated free at the Internet Archive",
   "owner2026": "",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-hypercard-apple.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "ICQ",
   "started": "November 1996, by Mirabilis in Tel Aviv",
   "status2026": "Shut down on June 26, 2024, after 28 years",
   "owner2026": "VK Company Limited, formerly Mail.ru Group",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-icq-instant-messenger.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "iMac G3",
   "started": "Announced May 6, 1998; on sale August 15, 1998",
   "status2026": "Discontinued March 2003; the iMac line continues",
   "owner2026": "",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/how-imac-g3-saved-apple-killed-beige-box.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Iomega",
   "started": "March 1995, $199 drive and $19.95 100MB disks",
   "status2026": "Brand retired; the LenovoEMC line ended in 2018",
   "owner2026": "Dell Technologies, through EMC's 2008 purchase",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-iomega-zip-drives.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "iPod",
   "started": "",
   "status2026": "Discontinued. Apple ended the iPod line on May 10, 2022",
   "owner2026": "",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/ipod-wasnt-first-mp3-player-heres-why-it-won.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "IRC",
   "started": "August 1988, by Jarkko Oikarinen at the University of Oulu, Finland",
   "status2026": "Active. The top 100 IRC networks carried more than 162,000 users at a time in April 2026",
   "owner2026": "Nobody. IRC is an open protocol, and each network is run separately",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-irc-chat.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Iridium",
   "started": "Commercial service 1 November 1998, Iridium LLC, backed by Motorola",
   "status2026": "Still flying, 2,627,000 billable subscribers on 30 June 2026",
   "owner2026": "Iridium Communications (Nasdaq: IRDM); Rocket Lab purchase approved by stockholders 24 September 2026, closing expected mid-2027",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/iridium-satellite-phone-failure.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Kazaa",
   "started": "March 2001, by the Dutch company Consumer Empowerment",
   "status2026": "Shut down; the licensed service stopped in August 2012",
   "owner2026": "None active. Atrinsic held the license and filed for Chapter 11 in June 2012",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-kazaa-p2p-wars.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "KB Toys",
   "started": "April 1, 1922 in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, as Kaufman Brothers",
   "status2026": "Brand only. Collectibles online and convention booths, no stores",
   "owner2026": "Strategic Marks, LLC; licensing run by Firefly Brand Management since July 2024",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/kb-toys-stores-left.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Kinko's",
   "started": "1970 in Isla Vista, California, by Paul Orfalea",
   "status2026": "No US store carries the Kinko's name. FedEx Office ran about 2,000 US stores as of May 31, 2026",
   "owner2026": "FedEx owns FedEx Office; Konica Minolta owns Kinko's Japan",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/is-kinkos-still-around.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Kmart",
   "started": "",
   "status2026": "Open, plus Kmart.com shipping to the 50 states and APO/FPO addresses",
   "owner2026": "Transform SR Brands LLC (Transformco), tied to Edward Lampert",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/is-kmart-still-open-stores-left.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Kodak",
   "started": "",
   "status2026": "In business and profitable; Q2 2026 net income of 17 million dollars",
   "owner2026": "Independent, publicly traded as NYSE: KODK; no parent company",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-kodak-digital-camera-bankruptcy.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Kozmo",
   "started": "March 1998 in New York by Joseph Park and Yong Kang",
   "status2026": "Defunct since April 11, 2001; the domain is dark",
   "owner2026": "Yummy Foods, LLC (Yummy.com), Los Angeles, since January 2013",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-kozmo-com-delivery.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "LAN parties",
   "started": "",
   "status2026": "Still running: QuakeCon held its BYOC hall August 6 to 9, 2026",
   "owner2026": "",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/golden-age-of-lan-parties.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "LaserDisc",
   "started": "December 15, 1978 in Atlanta, as MCA DiscoVision, with Jaws as the first title",
   "status2026": "Dead format. No new discs since 2001, no new players since 2009",
   "owner2026": "",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/laserdisc-value-collector-market.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "LimeWire",
   "started": "August 2000, Lime Group LLC, on the Gnutella network",
   "status2026": "Brand active as an AI and storage platform; file sharing dead since 2010",
   "owner2026": "BabyDoge, since September 14, 2026",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-limewire-file-sharing.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "LiveJournal",
   "started": "April 15, 1999, by Brad Fitzpatrick",
   "status2026": "Online, mostly Russian-language",
   "owner2026": "Rambler Group, fully owned by Sber since October 2020",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-livejournal-blogging-platform.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Lotus 1-2-3",
   "started": "January 26, 1983, Lotus Development Corporation",
   "status2026": "Discontinued. Withdrawn from marketing June 11, 2013, support ended September 30, 2014",
   "owner2026": "IBM, which bought Lotus Development Corporation in 1995 for about $3.5 billion",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-lotus-1-2-3-spreadsheet.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Lycos",
   "started": "July 1994, Carnegie Mellon University, by Michael Mauldin",
   "status2026": "Portal still online; Angelfire and Tripod closed April 24, 2026",
   "owner2026": "Lycos Inc., a Brightcom Group subsidiary; a 56 percent stake in receivership since 2018",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-lycos-search-engine.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "MapQuest",
   "started": "February 5, 1996, at mapquest.com",
   "status2026": "Still live at mapquest.com, with apps for iPhone and Android",
   "owner2026": "System1, which bought it from Verizon in October 2019",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/how-mapquest-lost-to-google-maps.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "MCI",
   "started": "",
   "status2026": "WorldCom gone; MCI still a wholly owned Verizon subsidiary in 2026",
   "owner2026": "Verizon Communications, which closed the MCI merger on January 6, 2006",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/worldcom-fraud-who-owns-mci-now.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Microsoft Bob",
   "started": "March 10, 1995, by Microsoft, at $99",
   "status2026": "Discontinued and unsupported; free disk images on the Internet Archive",
   "owner2026": "Microsoft still owns Bob; the bob.com domain went to collector Bob Kerstein in 1999",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-microsoft-bob-friendly-interface.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Microsoft Zune",
   "started": "November 14, 2006, $249.99 for 30 GB",
   "status2026": "Discontinued; hardware ended in 2011, services ended November 15, 2015",
   "owner2026": "Microsoft, which folded the brand into Xbox Music in 2012",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/why-microsoft-zune-actually-failed.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "MiniDisc",
   "started": "",
   "status2026": "Discontinued. Last players sold March 2013, blank discs ended February 2025",
   "owner2026": "Sony still owns the format and the trademark but sells nothing for it",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-minidisc-sony.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Montgomery Ward",
   "started": "August 1872, Chicago, by Aaron Montgomery Ward with $1,600 in capital and a one-sheet catalog",
   "status2026": "No stores anywhere. Montgomery Ward sells online at wards.com on installment credit",
   "owner2026": "Colony Brands Inc. of Monroe, Wisconsin, since 2008, bought for $15.5 million",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/montgomery-ward-failed-who-owns-it.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Motorola Razr V3",
   "started": "November 16, 2004, Motorola, exclusive to Cingular Wireless",
   "status2026": "Cannot make a call in the US; last 2G network shut off August 3, 2026",
   "owner2026": "Lenovo, which sells folding Razrs from $799 to $1,899",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/motorola-razr-v3-coolest-phone-ever-made.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "MSN Messenger",
   "started": "July 22, 1999, as MSN Messenger Service",
   "status2026": "Dead at Microsoft, playable for free on the fan server Escargot",
   "owner2026": "Microsoft still owns the MSN name; Escargot is independent of it",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-msn-messenger.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "MTV",
   "started": "August 1, 1981, with the Buggles' Video Killed the Radio Star",
   "status2026": "On air in the US and UK; five music-only channels closed December 31, 2025",
   "owner2026": "Paramount Skydance Corporation, since August 7, 2025",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/when-mtv-actually-played-music-rise-fall.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "MySpace",
   "started": "",
   "status2026": "Online at myspace.com, described as read-only in 2026",
   "owner2026": "Viant Technology Inc. (Nasdaq: DSP), Irvine, California",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/is-myspace-still-around-today.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Napster",
   "started": "",
   "status2026": "Music streaming shut down January 1, 2026; the company now sells AI agents at about one cent a minute",
   "owner2026": "Napster Corporation, called Infinite Reality until May 2025",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/who-owns-napster-now.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "NCSA Mosaic",
   "started": "January 23, 1993, by NCSA at the University of Illinois",
   "status2026": "Discontinued. Final release Mosaic 3.0, January 7, 1997",
   "owner2026": "University of Illinois holds the name and copyright",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-ncsa-mosaic-browser.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Neo Geo AES",
   "started": "April 26, 1990 in Japan, by SNK",
   "status2026": "Discontinued 1997; about $1,020 loose, AES+ reissue due September 16, 2027",
   "owner2026": "",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/neo-geo-aes-home-console-price.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Neopets",
   "started": "November 15, 1999, by Adam Powell and Donna Williams",
   "status2026": "Online and free to play at neopets.com",
   "owner2026": "World of Neopia, Inc., independent since July 2023",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-neopets-virtual-world.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "NES",
   "started": "Famicom in Japan July 15, 1983; NES tested in New York October 18, 1985",
   "status2026": "Hardware retired; 87 NES games on Nintendo Switch Online in September 2026",
   "owner2026": "",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/how-nintendo-nes-saved-video-games-1983-crash.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Netflix",
   "started": "April 14, 1998, as the first online DVD rental store",
   "status2026": "Closed since September 29, 2023. DVDInbox mails discs instead, from $9.99 a month in 2026",
   "owner2026": "",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/netflix-dvd-mail-service-shutdown.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Netscape",
   "started": "",
   "status2026": "Browser discontinued March 1, 2008. Netscape Internet Service closed November 30, 2025",
   "owner2026": "Bending Spoons S.p.A., which completed its purchase of AOL on January 2, 2026",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/is-netscape-still-around.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Netscape Navigator",
   "started": "Netscape Navigator, December 1994, Netscape Communications",
   "status2026": "Discontinued; AOL ended Netscape browser support March 1, 2008",
   "owner2026": "The NETSCAPE trademark (US Reg. 2027552) is held by Yahoo Inc.",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/how-netscape-lost-the-browser-war.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Newgrounds Is",
   "started": "July 6, 1995, by Tom Fulp, from a 1991 paper fanzine",
   "status2026": "Online and independent in 2026, 31 years after launch",
   "owner2026": "Newgrounds, Inc., never sold, no outside investors",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-newgrounds.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Nextel",
   "started": "Fleet Call, April 1987; renamed Nextel in 1993",
   "status2026": "Gone; iDEN decommissioning began June 30, 2013",
   "owner2026": "T-Mobile holds the Nextel trademarks, after buying Sprint",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/nextel-direct-connect-chirp-shutdown.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Nintendo GameCube",
   "started": "September 14, 2001 in Japan, November 18, 2001 in North America at $199.99",
   "status2026": "Out of production since 2007; the library runs on Nintendo Switch 2",
   "owner2026": "Nintendo, which launched GameCube Nintendo Classics on June 5, 2025",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/why-nintendo-gamecube-lost-console-war.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Nintendo Wii",
   "started": "November 19, 2006 in North America at $249.99",
   "status2026": "Discontinued October 21, 2013; consoles still play discs offline",
   "owner2026": "",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-nintendo-wii.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Nokia",
   "started": "",
   "status2026": "No Nokia-branded smartphones since the start of 2025; feature phones only, under a September 2025 license extension",
   "owner2026": "Nokia Corporation, Espoo, Finland, a network equipment maker with EUR 4.81 billion in Q2 2026 net sales",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/does-nokia-still-make-phones.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Nokia 3310",
   "started": "Announced September 1, 2000, on sale in the fourth quarter",
   "status2026": "Second-hand only, and it cannot place calls on a US network",
   "owner2026": "Nokia Corporation owns the brand; HMD Global's device licence ended in March 2026",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-nokia-3310.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Nokia N-Gage",
   "started": "October 7, 2003, $299.99 in the United States",
   "status2026": "Discontinued; hardware ended November 2005, service closed September 2010",
   "owner2026": "Nokia Corporation, which still holds the N-Gage trademark",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-nokia-ngage-gaming-phone.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Nortel",
   "started": "1895, as the Northern Electric and Manufacturing Company",
   "status2026": "Defunct; businesses absorbed by Ericsson, Avaya and Ciena",
   "owner2026": "",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/nortel-networks-bankruptcy-patents-sold.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Oregon Trail",
   "started": "",
   "status2026": "Still sold new in 2026, on Steam, Switch, Xbox and Apple Arcade",
   "owner2026": "HarperCollins, through HarperCollins Productions; Gameloft holds the game license",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-oregon-trail-game.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Original Xbox",
   "started": "November 15, 2001 in the US, at $299",
   "status2026": "Discontinued; its Xbox Live service was switched off on April 15, 2010",
   "owner2026": "Microsoft, which still runs the Xbox brand",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-original-xbox-microsoft-gaming.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "OSRS",
   "started": "",
   "status2026": "Both games live, with Old School RuneScape the larger of the two",
   "owner2026": "CVC Capital Partners and Haveli Investments, since February 2024",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/is-runescape-still-popular-2026.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Packard Bell",
   "started": "1986, Packard Bell Electronics, Inc., built on a radio trademark bought in 1985",
   "status2026": "Relaunched September 2026 across Europe, the Middle East and Africa; the DotBook laptop starts at 499 euros",
   "owner2026": "Acer Inc., which reached Packard Bell through its 2007 purchase of Gateway",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/packard-bell-computer-brand-today.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Pager",
   "started": "",
   "status2026": "Still sold and serviced, mainly to hospitals and emergency services",
   "owner2026": "",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/pagers-still-used-today.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Palm",
   "started": "",
   "status2026": "Not a company. The Palm name is a dormant trademark, with no new Palm phone since November 2018",
   "owner2026": "TCL, which confirmed in January 2015 that it had bought the Palm trademark from HP",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/is-palm-still-a-company.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Palm Pilot",
   "started": "March 1996, Pilot 1000, $299, Palm Computing under U.S. Robotics",
   "status2026": "Discontinued. Trademark owned by TCL, webOS owned by LG",
   "owner2026": "",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-palm-pilot-pda.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Payphones",
   "started": "",
   "status2026": "Still operating, but uncounted since the FCC dropped payphone audits in 2018",
   "owner2026": "Pacific Telemanagement Services, the largest operator, which said it ran 20,000 phones in 2018",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/payphones-left-united-states.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Pets.com",
   "started": "Store opened November 1998; first financial year began February 1999",
   "status2026": "Gone as a company; pets.com redirects to petsmart.com",
   "owner2026": "PetSmart, which bought the domain and trademarks in December 2000",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/why-pets-com-failed-dot-com-bubble.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Philips CD-i",
   "started": "December 3, 1991 in the United States, by Philips",
   "status2026": "Discontinued in 1998, never revived",
   "owner2026": "",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/philips-cd-i-worth-today.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Photobucket",
   "started": "2003, by Alex Welch and Darren Crystal",
   "status2026": "Alive, subscription based. Free accounts ended June 2023; a limited free plan returned for new sign-ups in early 2026",
   "owner2026": "Photobucket Inc., privately held, based in Colorado",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/is-photobucket-still-around.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "PizzaNet",
   "started": "",
   "status2026": "PizzaNet is gone; Pizza Hut takes orders through its own site and app",
   "owner2026": "LongRange Capital, which completed its purchase from Yum! Brands on September 1, 2026",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/first-online-purchase-pizza.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "PointCast",
   "started": "February 13, 1996, in beta, by PointCast Inc.",
   "status2026": "Dead. The network sent its last push at the end of March 2000",
   "owner2026": "AOL, which bought successor company Infogate in March 2003",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-pointcast-push-technology.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Polaroid",
   "started": "1937 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, by Edwin Land",
   "status2026": "Still trading; cameras and film sold worldwide",
   "owner2026": "The Smolokowski family, through Polaroid B.V. in the Netherlands",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-polaroid-camera.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Power Glove",
   "started": "October 1989, Mattel in the US and PAX in Japan",
   "status2026": "Collector item and maker platform, about $100 loose and $216 boxed on PriceCharting in 2026",
   "owner2026": "",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-nintendo-power-glove.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Prodigy",
   "started": "September 6, 1990 nationwide, as an IBM and Sears joint venture",
   "status2026": "Closed. Prodigy Classic shut down October 1, 1999; the company was taken private in 2001",
   "owner2026": "AT&T holds prodigy.net; Telmex holds prodigy.net.mx",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-prodigy-online-service.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "PS2",
   "started": "March 4, 2000 in Japan; October 26, 2000 in North America at $299",
   "status2026": "Discontinued in January 2013; still the best-selling console ever",
   "owner2026": "",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/playstation-2-best-selling-console-ever.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "PSP",
   "started": "December 12, 2004 in Japan; March 24, 2005 in the US",
   "status2026": "Discontinued, no Sony support; PSP downloads run through the PS3 and PS Vita stores, closing in stages from August 2026 to July 2027",
   "owner2026": "",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-sony-psp-handheld.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Quake",
   "started": "Shareware episode, June 22, 1996, id Software",
   "status2026": "Still sold and still played. A free 19-map episode, Dawn of the Machine, shipped August 6, 2026 for the 30th anniversary",
   "owner2026": "id Software, part of ZeniMax Media, a Microsoft subsidiary since March 9, 2021",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-quake-online-fps.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "RadioShack",
   "started": "",
   "status2026": "Product brand and website; no US chain",
   "owner2026": "Unicomer Group, El Salvador, since May 2023",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-radioshack-electronics.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Rainforest Cafe",
   "started": "October 1994, Mall of America, Bloomington, Minnesota",
   "status2026": "Open and trading, not expanding; Disney Village closes by the end of 2026",
   "owner2026": "Landry's, owned by Tilman Fertitta",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/rainforest-cafe-locations-left.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "RealPlayer",
   "started": "April 1995, as RealAudio 1.0 from Progressive Networks",
   "status2026": "Still published; RealPlayer 25 for Windows shipped in 2026",
   "owner2026": "RealNetworks LLC, private and controlled by Rob Glaser since December 2022",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-realplayer-streaming.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Redbox",
   "started": "2002 inside McDonald's Ventures; DVD kiosks from 2004",
   "status2026": "Shut down. Parent liquidated in Chapter 7 on July 10, 2024",
   "owner2026": "No operator. Trademarks auctioned by the bankruptcy trustee on April 23, 2025",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/is-redbox-still-around-kiosks.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "RollerCoaster Tycoon",
   "started": "March 22, 1999 in North America, Hasbro Interactive under the MicroProse label",
   "status2026": "Active. RollerCoaster Tycoon Wonderworks in Steam early access, winter 2026",
   "owner2026": "Chris Sawyer holds the trademark; Atari publishes under licence",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-rollercoaster-tycoon.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Sam Goody",
   "started": "1951, New York City, by Sam \"Goody\" Gutowitz",
   "status2026": "Gone as a chain. Most stores closed or became FYE between 2006 and 2008",
   "owner2026": "Sunrise Records and Entertainment, which bought the FYE chain in 2020",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/sam-goody-stores-left.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Screen Savers",
   "started": "May 11, 1998, as ZDTV, owned by Ziff-Davis",
   "status2026": "Off the air since February 15, 2005, with no revival announced",
   "owner2026": "Comcast, which has held the TechTV name since 2004",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-techtv-screen-savers-channel.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Sears",
   "started": "",
   "status2026": "Open and trading. Not in bankruptcy since the February 2019 sale",
   "owner2026": "Transform Holdco LLC, trading as Transformco, controlled by Eddie Lampert's ESL Investments",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/who-owns-sears-now-stores-left.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Second Life",
   "started": "June 23, 2003, by Linden Lab",
   "status2026": "Still running in 2026; daily concurrency in the mid-30,000s",
   "owner2026": "Linden Research, Inc., bought by an investor group led by Randy Waterfield and Brad Oberwager",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-second-life-virtual-world.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Sega",
   "started": "",
   "status2026": "Still publishing games, no home console since the Dreamcast",
   "owner2026": "Sega Sammy Holdings, formed October 1, 2004",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/is-sega-still-making-games.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Sega 32X",
   "started": "November 21, 1994 in North America, $159.99",
   "status2026": "Discontinued in 1996, no official support and no Sega re-release",
   "owner2026": "",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-sega-32x-add-on.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Sega CD",
   "started": "October 15, 1992 in North America, $299",
   "status2026": "Discontinued in 1996, never revived",
   "owner2026": "Sega, the entertainment division of Sega Sammy Holdings",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-sega-cd-add-on.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Sega Channel",
   "started": "December 12, 1994, by Sega of America with TCI and Time Warner",
   "status2026": "Dead since 1998, but 144 recovered ROMs were published free by Gaming Alexandria on December 15, 2025",
   "owner2026": "",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-sega-channel.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Sega Game Gear",
   "started": "October 6, 1990 in Japan; April 1991 in the US at $149.99",
   "status2026": "Discontinued April 30, 1997; no Sega handheld since",
   "owner2026": "Sega, inside Sega Sammy Holdings since the 2004 merger",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-sega-game-gear-handheld.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Sega Genesis",
   "started": "August 14, 1989 in North America, by Sega, at $189.99 with Altered Beast packed in",
   "status2026": "No new Sega Genesis hardware from Sega since the Sega Genesis Mini 2 in October 2022",
   "owner2026": "",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/sega-genesis-games-how-to-play-2026.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Sega Nomad",
   "started": "October 1995, Sega of America, North America only",
   "status2026": "Discontinued since 1999, second-hand only, no reissue",
   "owner2026": "",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/sega-nomad-handheld-genesis.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Sega Saturn",
   "started": "November 22, 1994 in Japan; May 11, 1995 in North America",
   "status2026": "Discontinued; dropped in the US in 1998, sold in Japan until 2000",
   "owner2026": "",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-sega-saturn-console.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Segway",
   "started": "",
   "status2026": "Brand active; Personal Transporter production ended July 15, 2020",
   "owner2026": "Segway-Ninebot of Beijing, listed in Shanghai as 689009",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-segway-personal-transporter.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Sharper Image",
   "started": "",
   "status2026": "A licensed brand selling through sharperimage.com, a catalog and other retailers, with the Axis 4D massage chair listed at $6,999 in 2026",
   "owner2026": "ThreeSixty Group of Irvine, California, which paid $100 million in December 2016",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/who-owns-sharper-image-now.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "SimCity",
   "started": "1989, by Maxis, founded by Will Wright and Jeff Braun in 1987",
   "status2026": "Franchise dormant on PC, alive on mobile through SimCity BuildIt",
   "owner2026": "Electronic Arts, taken private in August 2026 by a consortium led by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-simcity-ea.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Sims 1",
   "started": "February 4, 2000, by Maxis and Electronic Arts",
   "status2026": "Sold as The Sims: Legacy Collection since January 31, 2025",
   "owner2026": "Electronic Arts, private since August 4, 2026 under a PIF-led consortium",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/original-sims-best-selling-pc-game.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "SkyMall",
   "started": "1990, on Eastern Airlines, from Phoenix, Arizona",
   "status2026": "Online store at skymall.com plus a Walmart marketplace storefront; no seat-pocket catalog",
   "owner2026": "C+A Global, which bought SkyMall as C&A Marketing in 2015",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/skymall-still-around-who-owns-it.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Skype",
   "started": "2003, by Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis",
   "status2026": "Retired on May 5, 2025; the apps and the skype.com sign-in point to Microsoft Teams Free",
   "owner2026": "Microsoft, which paid $8.5 billion in cash in May 2011",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/skype-shut-down-what-replaced-it.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Sony Aibo",
   "started": "June 1, 1999 (ERS-110), Sony",
   "status2026": "Still made; Japan sales ended June 2026",
   "owner2026": "Sony, which never sold or licensed the brand",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/sony-aibo-robot-dog-today.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Sony Discman",
   "started": "November 1984, Sony D-50, 49,800 yen (about $350)",
   "status2026": "Discontinued; Sony ended portable CD players around 2010",
   "owner2026": "Sony Group Corporation still holds the Discman trademark",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-sony-discman-portable-cd-player.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Sound Blaster",
   "started": "1981 in Singapore, by Sim Wong Hoo and Ng Kai Wa",
   "status2026": "Still trading; listed on the Singapore Exchange as C76",
   "owner2026": "Independent public company; CEO Sim Li Ern since January 2026",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-creative-labs-sound-blaster.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Standalone GPS Devices",
   "started": "TomTom Go, March 2004, the first all-in-one car navigator",
   "status2026": "Still sold. Garmin Drive 53 at $149.99; TomTom exited US device sales",
   "owner2026": "Magellan brand held by MiTAC International since 2008",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-standalone-gps-tomtom-garmin-magellan.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "StarCraft",
   "started": "March 31, 1998, by Blizzard Entertainment",
   "status2026": "Still played; ASL Season 21 ran March to May 2026",
   "owner2026": "Microsoft, since the Activision Blizzard deal closed October 13, 2023",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-starcraft-birth-of-esports.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Sun Microsystems",
   "started": "February 24, 1982, in Santa Clara, California",
   "status2026": "Brand retired, no products sold under the name",
   "owner2026": "Oracle Corporation, as Oracle America, Inc.",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/sun-microsystems-oracle-acquisition-java.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "T-Mobile Sidekick",
   "started": "October 1, 2002, as the Danger Hiptop, sold by T-Mobile",
   "status2026": "Discontinued. Sales ended July 2, 2010, data service May 31, 2011, 2G August 3, 2026",
   "owner2026": "Microsoft absorbed Danger, Inc. in 2008; T-Mobile US keeps the Sidekick name",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/t-mobile-sidekick-danger-hiptop.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Tamagotchi",
   "started": "November 23, 1996, by Bandai in Japan",
   "status2026": "Still in production, with a 30th anniversary line in 2026",
   "owner2026": "Bandai, part of Bandai Namco Holdings since 2005",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/tamagotchi-digital-pet-that-made-us-feel.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "theGlobe.com",
   "started": "May 1, 1995, by Cornell students Stephan Paternot and Todd Krizelman",
   "status2026": "Shell company, ticker TGLO, no employees, $15,115 in cash (June 2026)",
   "owner2026": "",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-theglobe-com-dot-com-ipo.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "TiVo",
   "started": "March 31, 1999, built by Philips Electronics: $499 for 14 hours, $999 for 30 hours",
   "status2026": "DVR hardware discontinued October 1, 2025; TiVo OS ships on smart TVs",
   "owner2026": "Xperi Inc., through TiVo Platform Technologies LLC",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-tivo-dvr-pioneer.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Toonami",
   "started": "March 17, 1997, on Cartoon Network",
   "status2026": "On the air, Saturdays 12:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m. ET on Adult Swim",
   "owner2026": "Skydance, which closed its purchase of Warner Bros. Discovery on October 6, 2026",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/is-toonami-still-on-tv.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Tower Records",
   "started": "1960 in Sacramento, California, by Russ Solomon",
   "status2026": "Online only in the US since November 13, 2020",
   "owner2026": "Tower.com and the trademark sold for about $4.2 million in March 2007. Tower Records Japan is majority owned by NTT Docomo",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/tower-records-still-around.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Toys R Us",
   "started": "",
   "status2026": "Brand active; the original US retailer is gone",
   "owner2026": "WHP Global, controlling stake since March 15, 2021",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/is-toys-r-us-still-in-business.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Tumblr",
   "started": "2007, by David Karp",
   "status2026": "Online and free, about half a billion blogs, still unprofitable",
   "owner2026": "Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-tumblr-yahoo-billion-dollar-mistake.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "TurboGrafx-16 Won Japan",
   "started": "October 30, 1987 in Japan as the PC Engine; August 1989 in the United States",
   "status2026": "Discontinued in North America in May 1994. Konami's 99.99 dollar TurboGrafx-16 Mini from 2020 is the only official hardware; original consoles sell for about 207 dollars loose",
   "owner2026": "Konami, which merged Hudson Soft into its games arm in March 2012",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-turbografx-16-nec-forgotten-console.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Virgin Megastore",
   "started": "1992, first US store on Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles",
   "status2026": "No US store since 2009; 40-plus stores in the Middle East and North Africa",
   "owner2026": "Virgin Group licenses the name; Azadea Group operates the stores",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/virgin-megastore-stores-left.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Virtual Boy",
   "started": "July 21, 1995 in Japan; August 14, 1995 in North America at $179.95",
   "status2026": "Discontinued in 1996; back on Nintendo Switch since February 17, 2026",
   "owner2026": "",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-virtual-boy-nintendo.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Wade Rosen",
   "started": "",
   "status2026": "Active; revenue of 56.0 million euros for the year to March 2026, a decade high",
   "owner2026": "Atari SA, listed on Euronext Growth Paris as ALATA",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/who-owns-atari-now.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "WebTV",
   "started": "September 18, 1996, by WebTV Networks",
   "status2026": "Service shut down September 30, 2013; boxes run only on fan-built servers",
   "owner2026": "Microsoft, which bought WebTV Networks for about $425 million in 1997",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-webtv-internet-television.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Webvan",
   "started": "June 1999, San Francisco Bay Area",
   "status2026": "Closed. Shut down July 9, 2001 and liquidated in Chapter 11",
   "owner2026": "Amazon holds the Webvan name and the webvan.com address",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-webvan-grocery-delivery.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Winamp",
   "started": "1997, by Justin Frankel and Dmitry Boldyrev at Nullsoft",
   "status2026": "Active. Winamp 5.9.2 (April 2023) is still a free download",
   "owner2026": "Winamp Group, Belgium, bought from AOL in January 2014",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-winamp-mp3-player.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Windows 95 Launch",
   "started": "August 24, 1995, by Microsoft",
   "status2026": "Unsupported since December 31, 2001; runs only in emulators",
   "owner2026": "Microsoft, which still owns the code",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/the-night-windows-95-launched.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Windows Movie Maker",
   "started": "September 14, 2000, with Windows Me",
   "status2026": "Discontinued January 10, 2017; no official download since",
   "owner2026": "Microsoft",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/windows-movie-maker-still-available.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Wine.com",
   "started": "",
   "status2026": "Operating; privately held, San Francisco",
   "owner2026": "The private company founded as eVineyard, buyer of the brand in April 2001",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-wine-com-internet-wine-wars.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Woolworth",
   "started": "1879, Lancaster, Pennsylvania, by Frank Winfield Woolworth",
   "status2026": "No US Woolworth store since 1997; more than 1,000 Woolworth stores trading in Europe under a separate German company",
   "owner2026": "Dick's Sporting Goods, which completed its Foot Locker purchase on September 8, 2025",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/is-woolworth-still-in-business.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "WordPerfect",
   "started": "1979, by Alan Ashton and Bruce Bastian in Orem, Utah",
   "status2026": "Still sold; WordPerfect Office 2021 remains the latest version",
   "owner2026": "Corel Corporation, backed by Vector Capital since May 2026",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-wordperfect-word-processor.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Xanga",
   "started": "1999, by Marc Ginsburg, John Hiler and Dan Huddle in New York",
   "status2026": "Online as Xanga 2.0, closed to new members since 2013",
   "owner2026": "",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/what-happened-to-xanga-blogging-platform.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Y2K",
   "started": "",
   "status2026": "Fixed. Two-digit years are gone from mainstream systems, but date-overflow bugs still hit production software",
   "owner2026": "",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/y2k-bug-what-actually-happened.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Yahoo",
   "started": "",
   "status2026": "Private and operating in 2026: Yahoo Finance, Yahoo Mail, Yahoo Sports, Yahoo News, Yahoo Search and the Scout answer engine",
   "owner2026": "Funds managed by affiliates of Apollo Global Management, about 90 percent; Verizon holds the other 10 percent",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/who-owns-yahoo-now.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Yahoo Answers",
   "started": "December 8, 2005, as a public beta from Yahoo",
   "status2026": "Closed. answers.yahoo.com no longer serves questions and Yahoo has no replacement",
   "owner2026": "Apollo Global Management, which holds about 90 percent of Yahoo; Verizon keeps about 10 percent",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/does-yahoo-answers-still-exist.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "Yahoo Messenger",
   "started": "March 9, 1998, as Yahoo Pager; renamed Yahoo Messenger in 1999",
   "status2026": "Discontinued; Yahoo has run no chat service since April 2019",
   "owner2026": "Apollo Global Management, which bought Yahoo in September 2021",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/does-yahoo-messenger-still-exist.html"
  },
  {
   "name": "You've Got Mail",
   "started": "",
   "status2026": "Still AOL Mail's alert; no replacement voice announced",
   "owner2026": "Bending Spoons, which closed its $1.45 billion purchase of AOL on January 2, 2026",
   "source": "https://404memoryfound.com/posts/aol-youve-got-mail-voice-elwood-edwards.html"
  }
 ]
}