ARBITRATIONANDMEDIATION CENTER

EXPERT DETERMINATION LEGAL RIGHTS OBJECTION
Defender Security Company v. Charleston Road Registry Inc.
Case No. LRO2013-0032

1. The Parties
The Objector is Defender Security Company of Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America, represented
by Maginot, Moore & Beck, United States.
The Respondent/Applicant is Charleston Road Registry Inc. of Mountain View, California, United States(“Respondent”), represented by Steptoe & Johnson LLP, United States.

2. The applied-for gTLD string
The applied-for gTLD string is <.home>.

3. Procedural History
The Objection was filed by with the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center (the “WIPO Center”) on
March 13, 2013 pursuant to the New gTLD Dispute Resolution Procedure (the Procedure).
In accordance with Article 9 of the Procedure, the WIPO Center has completed the review of the Objection
on March 26, 2013 and has determined that the Objection complies with the requirements of the Procedureand the World Intellectual Property Organization Rules for New gTLD Dispute Resolution for Existing Legal
Rights Objections (the WIPO Rules for New gTLD Dispute Resolution).
In accordance with Article 11(a) of the Procedure, the WIPO Center formally notified the Respondent of the
Objection, and the proceedings commenced on April 17, 2013. In accordance with Article 11(b) and relevant
communication provisions of the Procedure, the Response was timely filed with the WIPO Center on
May 16, 2013.
The WIPO Center appointed M. Scott Donahey as the Panel in this matter on June 10, 2013. The Panelfinds that it was properly constituted. The Panel has submitted the Statement of Acceptance andDeclaration of Impartiality and Independence, as required by the WIPO Center to ensure compliance with
Article 13(c) of the Procedure and Paragraph 9 of WIPO Rules for New gTLD Dispute Resolution.

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4. Factual BackgroundA. Objector
i. Facts Established in Objector’s Annexes
DotHome Limited (the purported subsidiary of Objector) is the current holder of a certificate of registration
No. 010535201 issued by the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market, Trademark and Designs of theEuropean Community (the “E.C. trademark”). The application was filed December 30, 2011, and thecertificate issued on June 22, 2012. The certificate is for a word and design mark utilizing four colors andconsisting of the word .HOME in stylized capital letters together with a drawing of a home in a balloon likedesign. Dot Home Limited gives an address in Limassol, Cyprus. Objection, Annex 1.

Objector is the present owner of the registration of the standard character mark TRUE HOME with the
USPTO for use in conjunction with environmental testing and inspection consulting service in relation toheating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment. The serial number of the registration
is 3404246. The application was filed on December 21, 2006, by one Carl Simpson of Wylie, Texas andshows a first use in commerce of June 15, 2006. The registration issued on April 1, 2008. The registration
indicates that an assignment has been recorded. Objection, Annex 1.
Objector is the applicant of a design plus words, letters, and/or numbers mark with the USPTO for “TRUE.” inwhite against a black background of a five-sided figure and just below “TRUE.” is “HOME” in white against
the same black background. The serial number for the application is 85588370, and the application was filedon April 3, 2012. The printout of the application included in Annex 1 to the Objection indicates that anassignment of the application was recorded and states as a disclaimer: “NO CLAIM IS MADE TO THE
EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO USE “HOME” APART FROM THE MARK AS SHOWN.” Objection, Annex 1.

Objector is also the applicant for a Design plus words, letters, and/or numbers mark for the word TRUE inblack against a white background above the word HOME in black against a white background all below a
black stepped version that could be said to suggest a house. The serial number for the application is85588382, and the application was filed on April 3, 2012. The printout of the application included in Annex 1
to the Objection indicates that an assignment of the application was recorded and states as a disclaimer:“NO CLAIM IS MADE TO THE EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO USE “HOME” APART FROM THE MARK AS
SHOWN.” Objection, Annex 1.

page 3
Objector is also the applicant for a standard character mark with the USPTO for the character mark TRUE.
HOME. The serial number of the application is 85721554, and the application was filed on
September 5, 2012. The printout of the application included in Annex 1 to the Objection indicates that anassignment of the application was recorded. Objection, Annex 1.
Additionally, in Annex 1 to the Objection the Panel notes a further trademark application for a standard
character mark with the USPTO for the character mark TRUE HOME in the name of Objector which has notbeen referenced in the pleadings. The serial number of the application is 85721544, and the application was
filed on September 5, 2012. The printout of the application included in Annex 1 to the Objection states as adisclaimer: “NO CLAIM IS MADE TO THE EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO USE “HOME” APART FROM THE
MARK AS SHOWN.” No assignment of the application was recorded. Objection, Annex 1.
ii. Facts Alleged by Objector
Objector contends that it is the second largest provider of residential security systems in the United States.
Objector also contends that it offers domain name services through the web site to which the domain name<dothome.net> resolves. Objector alleges that more than 8 billion annual marketing impressions in print
media, millions of outbound sales and marketing calls, and millions of visitors to its various web sites result inseveral million calls annually to its three call centers.
Objector asserts that its acquisition and use of the trademark applications and registrations set out inAnnex 1 to the Objection occurred in the ordinary course of trade.
Objector contends that since December 2011, through its wholly owned subsidiary, Dothome LTD, it has
been a reseller of domain names and has used the .HOME mark to brand its domain reservation web site, towhich <dothome.net> resolves.
Objector alleges that its .HOME brand has 20,793 individuals that follow Objector’s more than 9,700 tweets
under the .HOME trademark as its avatar (username @dot_home). Objector asserts that it has over
2,700 Facebook followers, including followers in the United States, the European Union, and numerous other
territories throughout the world.
Objector contends that the TRUE.HOME trademarks that are the subject of USPTO application have been inuse since at least as early as April, 2012 in conjunction with advertising, promotion and marketing services in
the field of residential and commercial security systems and alarms.
Objector alleges that its use of the .HOME and TRUE.HOME marks are natural extensions of its branding
strategies, including its registered TRUE HOME mark, with a first use in 2006, and its TRUE BLUE mark with
its first use in 2011.
Objector asserts that it has spent in excess of USD 500,000 for expert brand research in connection with its
branding strategies.
Objector alleges that it has been a prominent and well known entity within the home services industry since
1998.
Objector contends that through its wholly owned subsidiary Dothome LTD, it has invested “significantly” in
the E.C. trademark .HOME, the associated business, and the marketing and promotion of the business andthe mark, including “trademark application fees and costs, operation of a website [sic] for promotion of the
trademark and business, and related costs and expenses.”

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B. Respondent
i. Facts Established in Respondent’s Annexes“Home” is a common English word for abode, domicile, or residence. Response, Annex 2.
“Home” has been registered as a second-level domain in three different gTLDs by three different registrants.
Response, Annex 3.
A web site has been established at the URL “www.dothome.net” that features E.C. trademark 010535201
and offers domain name registration services. The web site contains the following copyright notification:“© 2009-2012 dotHOME (.HOME) Generic Top Level Domain (gTLD) Extension Web Address – dot.HOME
TLD”. The capture of the web site was made on May 14, 2013. Response, Annex 4.
Apparently in 2010, according to a printout of an Internet Archive Search for the URL“www.truehomeenergysolutions.com”, a web site was “under construction” for TRUE HOME™ Energy
Solutions. Id.
Someone at some time apparently created a business card that included the following: “TRUE HOME™
Heating and Cooling, HVAC Consulting Services, Carl Simpson” and giving an address in Wylie, Texas, andincluding a URL of “www.truehomeenergysolutions.com”, and an email address of“[…]@truehomeenergysolutions.com”. Id.
A printout of the application of the Redirect Checker tool provided by InternetOfficer.com shows that at some
unknown time, but at least prior to May 15, 2013, when the printout was made, the URL“www.truehomeenergysolutions.com” had been redirected to the URL“www.assuredhomeperformance.com”. Id.
As of May 15, 2013, a web site had been established at “www.assuredhomeperformance.com” thatadvertised consulting services in the area of energy efficiency for home owners and home builders provided
by Assured Home Performance. The web site indicated that Assured Home Performance was the successor
to TRUE HOME Energy Solutions, providing email addresses of “[s...]@truehomeenergysolutions.com” and“[p...]@truehomeenergysolutions.com”. The web site indicated that Assured Home Performance was
located in Richardson, Texas. Id.
Searches of the web sites of the USPTO and of the OHIM, the Trademarks and Designs Registration Officeof the European Union, established that there are thousands of trademarks and design marks which include
the word “home.” Response, Annex 5.
Google maintains a web site with numerous and extensive provisions for the filing of copyright andtrademark complaints, and reports on and statistics regarding their handling and resolutions. Response,
Annex 6.
ii. Facts Alleged by Respondent
Respondent asserts that it is wholly owned by Google, Inc. an American multinational public corporation andglobal technology leader.
Respondent contends that Google intends to use the <.home> gTLD in its generic sense, to offer domainnames to potential registrants who want to provide information, goods or services related to “homes,” asused in its generic sense.
Respondent alleges that Google does not intend to profit from the goodwill established in the trademark of
Objector or of any third party.

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Respondent asserts that Objector is no longer using the TRUE HOME mark.
Respondent contends that Objector applied to register the domain name <dothome.net> where Objector isallegedly offering domain name services on December 29, 2011.
Respondent alleges that Objector failed to establish that its marks had acquired secondary meaning.
Respondent asserts that Respondent’s application for the <.home> gTLD shows that Respondent has madedemonstrable preparations to use the gTLD in connection with a bona fide offering of goods and services.
Respondent contends that it has promised to adopt rights protection mechanisms that exceed the ICANN
Guidebook requirements.

5. Legal Contentions
A. Objector
Objector contends that Objector has standing to pursue its Objection, since it is the owner of a European
Community mark for .HOME, the owner of four United States Trademark applications and one United States
trademark registration for the marks TRUE HOME and TRUE.HOME, as well as having common law rights in
those marks. Objector contends that the acquisition and use of the marks were bona fide, because theacquisitions occurred in the ordinary course of business and that the marks have been used in the ordinary
course of business, such that the use is not merely token use.
Objector contends that the Objection is valid and should be upheld, because Respondent’s use of theapplied-for gTLD <.home> would take unfair advantage of the distinctive character or reputation of Objector’smarks, would unjustly impair the distinctive character or reputation of the marks, and would create animpermissible likelihood of confusion between the applied-for <.home> gTLD and Objector’s marks.
B. Respondent
Respondent contends that Respondent’s intended use of the applied-for gTLD <.home> is in the common
generic sense that would not violate trademark law, as Respondent intends to use the <.home> gTLD tooffer domain names for web site owners that want to supply Internet users with information, goods, orservices related to homes. Respondent contends that neither the beginning of a URL (“http://www”) nor thegTLD (e.g., “.com”) have any source-indicating significance.
Respondent argues that Objector has never used the mark HOME by itself, but rather that Objector has
disclaimed any exclusive rights to use the mark HOME, or that the mark has been used as part of acharacter and design mark or that the applied for mark is included in an intent to use application.
Respondent further contends that Objector’s asserted rights in the TRUE HOME mark are not bona fide,
because 1) Respondent did not apply for registration of the European Community Trademark until
December 30, 2011, only two weeks prior to the launch of the New gTLD Program and the opening of thewindow in which to file New gTLD applications, and, 2) the use of the trademark was not genuine, but merely
token, serving solely to preserve the rights conferred by the mark.
Respondent alleges that Objector failed to provide any evidence of recognition in the relevant sector of the
public of the sign corresponding to the gTLD, as the mark of the Objector. Evidence of such recognition
could be in the form of survey evidence, sales figures, affidavits, market share, geographical extent of
reputation, or unsolicited media coverage of the product. Objector failed to submit any such evidence.
Respondent asserts that it intends to use the gTLD <.home> in its generic sense, and does not intend tointerfere with any trademark rights of Objector or of any third party. Respondent contends that it is well

page 6settled that a use of a term in its generic sense does not interfere with the trademark rights of any third party.
Respondent further alleges, citing United States trademark authorities and treatises, that “a top level domain
indicator has no source indicating significance and cannot serve any trademark purpose . . . .”Respondent asserts that its application shows that it has made demonstrable preparations to use the sign
corresponding to the gTLD in connection with a bona fide offering of goods or services that does not interferewith the legitimate use by Objector of its marks.

6. Discussion and Findings
A. Burden of Proof
Objector bears the burden of proof in each case. Module 3, Section 3.5, New gTLD Applicant Guidebook.
B. Standing“A rightsholder has standing to file a legal rights objection. The source and documentation of the existing
legal rights the objector is claiming (which may include either registered or unregistered trademarks) are
infringed by the applied-for gTLD must be included in the filing.” Module 3, Section 3.2.2.2, New gTLD
Applicant Guidebook (emphasis added).
Objector attached as the source and documentation of its legal rights two trademark registrations and four
trademark applications. Each will be examined in turn to ascertain whether the Objector met its burden byattaching documentation sufficient to establish that the Objector is a rightsholder.
i. E.C. Trademark Registration 010535201
Objector attached a printout from the website of the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market which
consists of a copy of the E.C. Trademark registration No. 010545201. It lists the registrant as DotHome
Limited of Limassol, Cyprus. Objector alleges that Dothome LTD is its wholly owned subsidiary. However
Objector has failed to attach any documentation that the DotHome Limited identified as the registrant of E.C.
Trademark 010535201 is a wholly owned subsidiary of Objector. Accordingly, Objector has failed toestablish for the purposes of the present proceeding that it is a rightsholder by virtue of E.C. Trademark
registration 010535201.
ii. U.S. Trademark Registration 3404246
Objector attaches a printout from the USPTO web site of USPTO trademark registration 3404246 for the
trademark TRUE HOME. The printout shows that the trademark was applied for on December 21, 2006, andon April 1, 2008 a trademark issued to Carl Simpson, an individual residing in Wylie, Texas. The printout
shows that sometime subsequent to the registration the trademark was assigned to Objector. The printout
does not show the details of the assignment, which can be found on the USPTO web site. A visit to thatpage of the USPTO web site shows that the assignment to Objector was recorded on August 29, 2012.
Objector also alleges that Objector “markets, sells and installs residential heating, cooling, ventilation andplumbing products and offers domain name services through the site ‘www.dothome.net’”. No printout of the
web site or other documentation of the assertion is attached as an annex to the Objection.
U.S. trademark law is clear that a trademark cannot be assigned apart from the good will that is associatedwith it. The most common way to ensure that the goodwill attached to the trademark is transferred inconnection with the assignment of the trademark is a concurrent sale and transfer of the products or services
with which the trademark has been associated. Visa U.S.A. v. Birmingham Trust Nat’l Bank. 696 F.2d 1371
(Fed. Cir. 1982); 15 U.S.C. § 1060; McCarthy, Trademarks and Unfair Competition, § 18.2. A “transfer ingross” (an assignment of a trademark without a transfer of the goodwill associated with the trademark) ispage 7
invalid. See, Berni v. International Gourmet Restaurants, Inc., 838 F.2d 642 (2d Cir. 1988).
Objector has failed to attach any documentation that shows that the products or services associated with thetransfer were transferred to Objector or that the assignment of the trademark was other than an in-grosstransfer. Accordingly, Objector has failed to establish for the purposes of the present proceeding that it is arightsholder by virtue of USPTO Trademark registration 3404246.
iii. U.S. Trademark Application 85588370
Objector attaches a printout from the USPTO web site of USPTO trademark application 85588370 for the
trademark and design TRUE.HOME. Objector filed its application for the trademark on April 3, 2012.
Objector disclaimed the exclusive right to use “HOME” apart from the mark and design as depicted in theapplication. No registration has issued for this mark.
In order to establish trademark rights in an unregistered trademark in the context of domain names, it is wellestablished in domain name jurisprudence what a party seeking to establish such rights (including an
objector) must produce in the form of evidentiary facts:[A party seeking to show rights in an unregistered trademark] must show that the name has become adistinctive identifier associated with the [party seeking to establish such rights] or its goods or services.
Relevant evidence of such “secondary meaning” includes length and amount of sales under the
trademark, the nature and extent of advertising, consumer surveys and media recognition. The factthat the secondary meaning may only exist in a small geographical area does not limit the [party's]
rights in a common law trademark. For a number of reasons, including the nature of the Internet, theavailability of trademark-like protection under passing-off laws, and considerations of parity,
unregistered rights can arise for the purposes of the UDRP even when the [party seeking to establish
such rights] is based in a civil law jurisdiction. However, a conclusory allegation of common law or
unregistered rights (even if undisputed) would not normally suffice; specific assertions of relevant useof the claimed mark supported by evidence as appropriate would be required. Some panels have also
noted that in cases involving claimed common law or unregistered trademarks that are comprised ofdescriptive or dictionary words, and therefore not inherently distinctive, there may be a greater onus
on the [party seeking to establish such rights] to present compelling evidence of secondary meaningor distinctiveness. Some panels have noted that the more obvious the viability of a [party]’s claim tocommon law or unregistered trademark rights, the less onus there tends to be on that [party] topresent the panel with extensive supporting evidence. However, unless such status is objectively
clear, panels will be unlikely to take bald claims of trademark fame for granted.
WIPO Overview of WIPO Panel Views on Selected UDRP Questions, Second Edition(“WIPO Overview 2.0”), paragraph 1.7.
Objector fails to attach any evidence of any of the factors that would tend to establish “secondary meaning”
in support of rights in the unregistered USPTO trademark 8588370. Accordingly, Objector has failed for
purposes of the present proceedings to establish that it is a rightsholder by virtue of USPTO trademark
application 85588370.
iv. U.S. Trademark Application 85588382
Objector attaches a printout from the USPTO web site of USPTO trademark application 85588382 for the
trademark and design TRUE.HOME. Objector filed its application for the trademark on April 3, 2012.
Objector disclaimed the exclusive right to use “HOME” apart from the mark and design as depicted in theapplication. No registration has issued for this mark.
In order to establish trademark rights in an unregistered trademark, it is well established in the context of
domain names that the party seeking to establish such rights must produce relevant evidence of “secondary
meaning.” See Section 6(B)(iii), supra. Objector fails to attach any evidence of any facts that would tend topage 8establish “secondary meaning” in support of rights in the unregistered USPTO trademark 85588382.
Accordingly, Objector has failed to establish for purposes of the present proceedings that it is a rightsholder
by virtue of USPTO trademark application 85588382.
v. U.S. Trademark Application 85721554
Objector attaches a printout from the USPTO web site of USPTO trademark application 85721554 for the
trademark TRUE. HOME. Objector filed its application for the trademark on September 5, 2012.
No registration has issued for this mark.
In order to establish trademark rights in an unregistered trademark, it is well established in the context of
domain names that the party seeking to establish such rights must produce relevant evidence of “secondary
meaning.” See Section 6(B)(iii), supra. Objector fails to attach any evidence of any facts that would tend toestablish “secondary meaning” in support of rights in the unregistered USPTO trademark 85721554.
Accordingly, Objector has failed to establish for purposes of the present proceedings that it is a rightsholder
by virtue of USPTO trademark application 85721554.
vi. U.S. Trademark Application 85721544
Objector attaches a printout from the USPTO web site of USPTO trademark application 85721544 for the
trademark TRUE HOME. Objector filed its application for the trademark on September 5, 2012.
No registration has issued for this mark.
In order to establish trademark rights in an unregistered trademark, it is well established in the context of
domain names that the party seeking to establish such rights must produce relevant evidence of “secondary
meaning.” See Section 6(B)(iii), supra. Objector fails to attach any evidence of any facts that would tend toestablish “secondary meaning” in support of rights in the unregistered USPTO trademark 85721544.
Accordingly, Objector has failed to establish for purposes of the present proceedings that it is a rightsholder
by virtue of USPTO trademark application 85721544.
Conclusion
Accordingly, as Objector has failed to include in its filing the source and documentation that would establish
under the Legal Rights Objection procedure that it is a rightsholder by showing registered or unregisteredtrademark rights in any of the trademarks or trademark applications it has attached as Annex 1 to the
Objection, the Panel finds that Objector failed to establish that it has appropriate trademark rights under the
Legal Rights Objection procedure to pursue the Objection.
C. What Objector Has the Burden to Establish:
Although Objector has failed to establish that it has appropriate trademark rights to file its Objection, thePanel will briefly address the merits of the Objection as such.
In order to prevail in its objection, Objector must prove:i.

that the potential use of the applied-for gTLD by the Respondent takes unfair advantage of the
distinctive character or the reputation of the objector’s registered or unregistered trade mark or service
mark; orii.

that the potential use of the applied for gTLD by the Respondent unjustifiably impairs the distinctive
character or the reputation of the Objector’s mark; oriii.

that the potential use of the applied for gTLD by the Respondent creates an impermissible likelihood ofconfusion between the applied for gTLD and the Objector’s mark.

page 9Module 3, Section 3.5.2, New gTLD Applicant Guidebook.
Under Section 3.5.2, the Panel is to consider the eight factors set out therein, whereby these factors are nonexclusive. Therefore, the Panel will consider the evidence presented in light of each of the non-exclusive
factors set out in Section 3.5.2.
Apart from the fact that the Objector has failed to establish appropriate trademark rights, the Panel further
considers the Response valid on the merits, in light of the following analysis.
i.

Is the applied-for gTLD identical or similar, including in appearance, phonetic sound, or meaning, to
the Objector’s existing mark?

Even if Objector’s .HOME mark contains a graphical element as a design mark, the Panel finds similarity inappearance between the applied-for gTLD and this mark asserted by Objector, in that the term “home” ispresent in both.
The Panel finds that the applied-for gTLD is similar at least in appearance to the TRUE HOME and
TRUE.HOME marks asserted by Objector, in that the term “home” is present in both.
ii.

Has the Objector’s acquisition and use of rights in the mark been bona fide?

In considering whether the acquisition and use of the mark is bona fide, the Panel must consider the timingof the acquisition as it relates to the use of mark. The Panel must also consider the timing and thecircumstances surrounding acquisition and use in relation to the New gTLD Program.
There is no evidence in the available record that Objector is using the TRUE HOME or TRUE.HOME marks.
However, Objector asserts that it is using the domain name <dothome.net> to resolve to a web site at which
Objector offers domain name services. Respondent alleges that Objector registered the domain name on
December 29, 2011. Neither Objector nor Respondent provide evidence, either a copy of the registrationagreement or a printout from the WhoIs as to the actual registrant of the domain name <dothome.net>, nor
as to when that domain name was first registered.
The Panel consulted the WhoIs and found that the domain name <dothome.net> appears to be firstregistered on December 29, 2011, as alleged by Respondent. However it is impossible to determine fromthe WhoIs who the actual registrant of the domain name is, because the actual registrant employed a privacy
service, in this case Domains By Proxy LLC to act as the titular registrant.
It is helpful to construct a timeline of the acquisition and use of the marks relative to the New gTLD Program.
June 20, 2011 – ICANN approves New gTLD Guidebook and comments period begins.
December 29, 2011 – <dothome.net> domain name is registered.
December 30, 2011 – application for E.C. trademark .HOME and design is filed.
January 12, 2012 – Application Window for New gTLDs opens.
April 3, 2012 – Objector files two applications for marks TRUE.HOME and design with USPTO.
May 30, 2012 – Application Window for New gTLDs closes.
June 13, 2012 – New gTLD applications are published online. Formal objection period begins. Applicationcomments period begins.

page 10
June 22, 2012 – E.C. trademark registration for .HOME and design issues.
August 29, 2012 – USPTO trademark for TRUE HOME is assigned to Objector.
September 5, 2012 – Objector files applications for marks TRUE. HOME and TRUE HOME with USPTO.
March 13, 2013 – Last day to file objections to New gTLD applications. Date Objector filed Objection.
The attempted acquisition of trademark rights appears to have been undertaken to create a basis for filingthe Objection, or defending an application. There appears to have been no attempt to acquire rights in or
use any marks until after the New gTLD Program had been announced, specifically two weeks before theperiod to file applications for new gTLDs was to open.
Questions of timing aside, the only use of the domain name <dothome.net> registered shortly before theapplication period opened appears to have been to resolve to a web site at which the E.C. word and design
mark was prominently displayed opposite the message, “NEW WEB ADDRESS FOR HOMES, DOMAIN
PRE-REGISTRATION ENQUIRY: DOMAIN@DOTHOME.NET.” At the bottom of the web site the following
copyright notice appears:“© 2009-2012 dotHome (.HOME) Generic Top-Level Domain Name (gTLD
Extension Web Address – dot.HOME TLD)”. This is misleading at best, in that Objector did not register thedomain name <dothome.net> until December 29, 2011, and did not file an application for a trade mark until
December 30, 2011. The domain name <dothome.net> could not have resolved to a web site prior to its
creation on December 29, 2011.
In addition, while the web site at <dothome.net> purports to register domain names in existing gTLDs, theregistration agreement identifies the registrar as “.MUSIC – Music.us – CGR, an individual (“New Generic
Top Level Domain (gTLD) TLD Extension”)”. Objector is not among those listed by ICANN as an applicant
for the <.music> new gTLD.
In all of the circumstances, the Panel finds that Objector has failed to meet its burden to show that its
acquisition and use of rights in the marks has been bona fide.
iii.

Is there recognition in the relevant sector of the public of the sign corresponding to the gTLD, as themark of Objector, of Respondent, or of a third party, and, if so, to what extent?

Neither Party has submitted any evidence that any sector of the public recognizes <.home> as the mark of
Objector, of Respondent, or of any third party.
iv.

What was Respondent’s intent in applying for the gTLD, and did Respondent, at the time of application
for the gTLD, have knowledge of the Objector’s mark, or could Respondent not have reasonably been
unaware of that mark, and has Respondent engaged in a pattern of conduct whereby Respondent
applied for or operates TLDs or registrations in TLDs which are identical or confusingly similar to themarks of others?

There is no evidence that at the time Respondent applied for the new gTLD <.home> Respondent had any
knowledge or could not have been unaware of the Objector’s marks, as the application for the E.C. word anddesign mark was made less than two weeks before the New gTLD Application Period opened, and no E.C.
registration issued until almost a month after the New gTLD Application Period closed. The only otherapplications for a mark by Objector were made after the New gTLD application window had been open for
two months, and those were for the word and design marks TRUE.HOME. On both of these applications,Objector expressly disclaimed the exclusive right to use the word “HOME” apart from the word and design
marks as depicted on the applications.
There is no evidence or even a contention that Respondent engaged in a pattern of conduct whereby
Respondent applied for or operated TLDs or registrations in TLDs which are identical or confusingly similar
to the marks of others.

page 11v.

Has Respondent used, or has Respondent made demonstrable preparations to use, the sign
corresponding to the gTLD in connection with a bona fide offering of goods or services or a bona fideprovision of information in a way that does not interfere with the legitimate exercise by Objector of its
mark rights? If so, to what extent?

Respondent states in Respondent’s application and in its Response that it intends to use the New gTLD<.home> in its generic sense to allow Internet users that provide goods, services, or information related to“homes” in the generic sense to register identifying domain names.
It should be noted that Respondent’s arguments and citations for the proposition that “[a] top level domain
indicator has no source indicating significance and cannot serve any trademark purpose” may notnecessarily apply in the new gTLD era. Apart from the fact that Respondent, who identifies itself as a wholly
owned subsidiary of Google, Inc., itself applied for the new gTLD <.google> as a branded domain, it ispossible that new gTLDs with more general dictionary meaning may appropriately form part of any
assessment of the legal status in trademark terms of such domain or registrations made therein.
vi.

Does the Respondent have interest in marks or other intellectual property rights in the sign
corresponding to the gTLD, and, if so, was the acquisition of such a right in the sign, and use of thesign, been bona fide, and is the purported or likely use of the gTLD by the Respondent consistent withsuch acquisition or use?

Respondent claims no interest in marks or other intellectual property rights in the sign corresponding to the
new gTLD <.home>. Respondent has stated in its application and its Response that it intends to use the
new gTLD in the generic sense.
vii.

Has Respondent been commonly known by the sign corresponding to the gTLD? If so, to what extent,
and is any purported or likely use of the gTLD by Respondent consistent therewith and bona fide?

Respondent has not been commonly known by the sign corresponding to the new gTLD.
viii.

Would Respondent’s intended use of the gTLD create a likelihood of confusion with Objector’s markas to the source, sponsorship, affiliation, or endorsement of the gTLD?

Respondent’s intended use of the new gTLD <.home> would not create a likelihood of confusion with
Objector’s asserted mark as to the source, sponsorship, affiliation, or endorsement of the gTLD, since
Respondent intends to use the sign corresponding to the New gTLD in its generic sense.

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7. Decision
Because Objector has not met its burden to show that it is a rightsholder for purposes of this proceeding, andeven had Objector met that burden, the potential use of the applied-for gTLD by Respondent does not:(i)take unfair advantage of the distinctive character or the reputation of Objector’s registered or
unregistered trademarks or service marks (“Objector’s Marks”), or(ii)

unjustifiably impair the distinctive character or the reputation of Objector’s Marks, or(iii)

otherwise create an impermissible likelihood of confusion between the Respondent’s applied-for gTLDand Objector’s marks,

the Panel rejects the Objection.

[signed]M. Scott Donahey
Sole Panel Expert
Date: July 5, 2013