Source: https://www.wipo.int/amc/en/domains/decisions/html/2000/d2000-1100.html
Timestamp: 2019-04-23 00:50:02+00:00

Document:
The Complainant is Identigene, Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Texas , United States of America, having its principal place of business at Houston, Texas, United States of America. The Respondent is Genetest Laboratories, an entity of form unknown, with an address in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.
The domain name at issue is "identagene.com", which domain name is registered with Network Solutions Inc. ("NSI"), a registrar based in the State of Virginia, the United States of America.
A Complaint was submitted to the World Intellectual Property Organization Arbitration and Mediation Center (the "WIPO Center") on August 21, 2000, in the form of the signed original "hardcopy" together with four additional copies. The electronic version of the Complaint was submitted on August 24, 2000.
On September 20, 2000, a Request for Registrar Verification was transmitted to NSI requesting it to: (1) confirm that a copy of the Complaint was sent to NSI by the Complainant; (2) confirm that the domain name at in issue is registered with NSI; (3) confirm that the person identified as the Respondent is the current registrant of the domain name; (4) provide the full contact details (i.e., postal address(es), telephone number(s), facsimile number(s), e-mail address(es)) available in the registrar�s Whois database for the registrant of the disputed domain name, the technical contact, the administrative contact and the billing contact; (5) confirm that the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy ("Policy") applies to the domain name at issue; and (6) indicate the current status of the domain name at issue.
In an email on September 24, 2000, NSI confirmed that the domain name is registered with NSI and that the Respondent, Genetest Laboratories, was the current registrant of the name. NSI also forwarded the requested Whois details, as well as confirming that: (1) NSI received a copy of the Complaint from the Complainant; (2) that NSI's Rev. 5.0. Service Agreement was in effect and was applicable to the domain name.
A Formal Requirements Compliance Checklist was initiated by the assigned WIPO Center Case Administrator and completed on September 20, 2000. The Panelist has independently reviewed the Requirements and agrees with the assessment of the WIPO Center Case Administrator that the Complaint is in formal compliance with the requirements of the Rules for Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy ("Rules") and the WIPO Supplemental Rules for Uniform Domain Dispute Resolution Policy, in effect as of December 1, 1999 (the "WIPO Supplemental Rules"). The required fees for a single-member Panel were paid on time and in the required amount by the Complainant.
No formal deficiencies having been recorded, on October 5, 2000, a Notification of Complaint and Commencement of Administrative Proceeding (the "Commencement Notification") was transmitted to the Respondent (with copies to the Complainant, NSI and ICANN), setting a deadline of October 24, 2000, by which the Respondent could file a Response to the Complaint. The Commencement Notification was transmitted to the Respondent by e-mail to the e-mail addresses indicated in the Complaint and specified in NSI�s Whois confirmation, and by post/courier to the indicated postal address. Having reviewed the communications records in the case file, the Panelist finds that the WIPO Center has discharged its responsibility under Paragraph 2(a), Rules, "to employ reasonably available means calculated to achieve actual notice to Respondent."
On October 27, 2000, having received no Response from the designated Respondent, the WIPO Center transmitted to the parties a Notification of Respondent Default using the same contact details and methods as were used for the Commencement Notification.
On November 9, 2000, the WIPO Center invited Richard Allan Horning to serve as the Sole Panelist in Case No. D2000-1100, and transmitted to him a Statement of Acceptance and Request for Declaration of Impartiality and Independence. Richard Allan Horning�s Statement of Acceptance and Declaration of Impartiality and Independence was received on November 13, 2000. On November 16, 2000, the WIPO Center transmitted to the parties a Notification of Appointment of Administrative Panel and Projected Decision Date, in which Richard Allan Horning was formally appointed as the Sole Panelist. The Projected Decision Date was November 30, 2000.
The Panelist shall issue his Decision based on the Complaint, the Policy, the Rules, the WIPO Supplemental Rules, and without the benefit of any Response from Respondent.
Class 42, for inter alia DNA-based human identification testing, such as paternity testing.
Class 42, for inter alia DNA-based human identification testing.
The Complainant registered the domain name "identigene.com" on March 26, 1996 (Complaint, Annex D).
The Respondent registered the domain name "identagene.com" on February 2, 2000, (Complaint, Annex A).
The Complainant sent a cease and desist letter to Respondent dated April 25, 2000, (Complaint, Annex E).
The Respondent used the name Identagene in connection with the offering of DNA paternity testing services on the Web, at "www.identagene.com" (Complaint, Annex E).
The Respondent replied to the cease and desist letter under cover of a letter dated May 17, 2000, (Complaint, Annex F). In that letter Respondent claimed that the subject matter "identagene.com" was removed from the web.
On July 27, 2000, Complainant sent a further cease and desist letter to Respondent (Complaint, Annex G). In that letter Complainant alleged that the domain name "identagene.com" was linked to Respondent�s website at "genetest.com" in infringement of Complainant�s rights.
On August 3, 2000, Respondent replied to the cease and desist letter (Complaint, Annex H). Respondent claimed ownership of the domain name "identagene.com" , and disclaimed any intent to confuse the public or imply an endorsement by or affiliation with Complainant. Respondent offered to settle the matter by transferring the domain name to Complainant in exchange for $32,500 USD and a full release.
Complainant contends that Respondent has registered a domain name which is nearly identical to and confusingly similar to the service marks and trademarks registered and used by Complainant, that Respondent has no rights or legitimate interests in respect to the domain name at issue, and that Respondent has registered and is using the domain name at issue in bad faith.
Paragraph 15(a) of the Rules instructs the Panelist as to the principles the Panelist is to use in determining the dispute: "A Panel shall decide a complaint on the basis of the statements and documents submitted in accordance with the Policy, these Rules and any rules and principles of law that it deems applicable."
The domain name at issue is either identical (Hewlett-Packard Company v. Cupcake City, NAF Case No. FA0002000093562; America Online, Inc.v. Avrasya Yayincilik Danismanlik Ltd., NAF Case No. FA0002000093679) or confusingly similar (Marriott International, Inc. v. John Marriot, NAF Case No. FA0002000094737) to Complainant's mark.
Complainant has alleged and Respondent has failed to deny that Respondent has no legitimate interests in respect of the domain name at issue. Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. v. Raymond, WIPO Case No. D2000-007; Bronson Plc v. Unimetal Sanayaive Tic. A.S., WIPO Case No. D2000-0011.
The conduct of Respondent as alleged by Complainant, which is not refuted by Respondent, falls within the definition of bad faith set forth in Paragraph 4.b(iv) of the Policy. Complainant has alleged and the Panelist finds that Respondent's use of the domain name at issue to resolve to a website where services are offered to Internet users is likely to confuse the user into believing that Complainant is the source of or is sponsoring the services offered at the site. This constitutes evidence of bad faith registration and use under the Policy. Policy, Paragraph 4(b)(iv). InfoSpace.com, Inc. v. Hari Prakash, WIPO Case No. D2000-0076; America Online Inc. v. Cyber Network LLP, WIPO Case No. D2000-0977.
Accordingly, pursuant to Paragraph 4.i of the Policy, the Panelist requires that the registration of the domain name "identagene.com" be transferred to the Complainant.

References: v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v. 
 v.