Reports have circulated that Apple’s (News - Alert) complaint filed with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) over an outside source’s ownership of the “iphone5.com” domain, and has ended in Apple’s favor.

Nobody seems to know who the previous owners were, but because the site has been running since 2008 and is just now dispelled, some speculate we’re close to the release of Apple’s latest model.

Below is the published status of WIPO case number D2012-0951:

WIPO Case Number:   D2012-0951
Domain name(s):         iphone5.com
Complainant:                 Apple Computer, Inc.
Decision:                        Terminated

CNET points out that the “terminated” status does not indicate how it was resolved or in whose favor, but if we consider how Apple successfully put in an end to iphone4.com and iphone4s.com and even iphonesex4s.com, Apple probably won this one too.

The previous owners of the iphone5.com domain have publicly expressed that they have “not endorsed, sponsored nor otherwise affiliated with Apple…[it was] for the sole purpose of entertainment and knowledge.”

This situation shows how seriously Apple is about maintaining its brand’s reputation. Although Apple has every right to object to others profiting from their trademark, their WIPO filing probably has more to do with maintaining control of the chaotic rumor mill.

It’s doubtful their future iPhone (News - Alert) will even be titled, “iPhone 5.” The latest iPad, after all, was not titled, “iPad 3” but “The Next-Generation iPad.” Apple probably avoided the title “iPad 3” for similar reasons.

As far as rumors about the release date of the iPhone 5, some predict it will launch during Apple’s Worldwide Developer Event, which takes place annually in June, alongside the launch of the latest version of OS X Mountain Lion.

But since 2011, people have been wrong about those dates, too.