Source: http://iplegalcorner.com/noteworthy-domain-name-decisions-for-2017/
Timestamp: 2019-04-20 04:59:50+00:00

Document:
Noteworthy Domain Name Decisions is a running collection of annual decisions that taken together provide insight into the jurisprudence applied in UDRP disputes. More detailed analytical discussions of decisions can be found in recent and archival essays posted on the website and republished on udrpsearch.com and circleid.com. Noteworthy Domain Decisions for 2015 can be found here, 2016 can be found here, and 2018 can be found here.
Mr. Levine is the author of a treatise on trademarks, domain names, and cybersquatting, Domain Name Arbitration, A Practical Guide to Asserting and Defending Claims of Cybersquatting under the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy. (Legal Corner Press, 2015) and Supplement and Update (2017). Release of Second Edition March 1, 2019.Learn more about the book and Supplement at Legal Corner Press. Available from Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Review and notices of the book here. Important Note: If you purchased the First Edition of the treatise you can obtain a copy of the Second Edition 50% off the retail price by contacting Legal Corner Press or Mr. Levine. Expected release of Second Edition August/September 2018.
The Panel in CPA Global Limited agreed with Respondent that “Internet users in the United States are accustomed to seeing terms such as ‘litigation’ used in domain names in connection with business names or trademarks to provide information about class action lawsuits.” This view has also been applied to attorney information about drug consequences. However, decisions are not entirely consistent on the question of <trademark+lawsuit [litigation].com> although where the website is clearly providing “information to the public about a legitimate lawsuit against the Complainant” Respondent is more likely to be found to have rights or legitimate interests in the domain name.
Information Tools Limited v. Future Media Architects, Inc., D2017-2178 (WIPO December 23, 2017) (<harmoni.com>).
Air Serbia a.d. Beograd Jurija v. Domains By Proxy, LLC / Meijun Lu, D2017-1986 (WIPO December 18, 2017) (<jat.com>.
De Lage Landen International B.V. v. Steve Thomas, D2017-2045 (WIPO December 7, 2017) (<dll.com>. Denied).
Deciso Group B.V. v. Registration Private, Domains By Proxy, LLC / Jamie Thompson, Rubicon Communications dba Netgate, D2017-1828 (WIPO November 12, 2017) (<opnsense.com>.
[It] has proffered no evidence to establish its purpose in registering the Disputed Domain Name, nor that Respondent made use of the domain name in a manner consistent with any proper purpose. In fact, the only use Respondent has made of the Disputed Domain Name is to link it to batteries, which is the exact same business Complainant is in. (Emphasis added).
Claiming that it is not responsible for the content is not a defense.
There has been a gradual build-up of post-UDRP decisions in U.S. federal court under the Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act (ACPA) essentially validating the UDRP jurisprudence. The most recent is Joshua Domond and Harold Hunter, Jr v. PeopleNetwork APS d/b/a Beautifulpeople.Com, Beautiful People, LLC, Greg Hodge, and Genevieve Maylam, 16-24026-civ (S.D. FL. Miami Div. 11/9/17) dismissing the complaint and awarding defendant (domain name holder) attorney’s fees. The UDRP Panel in Beautiful People Magazine, Inc. v. Domain Manager / PeopleNetwork ApS / Kofod Nicolai / People Network Aps / Nicolai Kofod / People Network—FA1502001606976 (Forum May 4, 2015) (<beautifulpeople.com> dismissed with RDNH, Respondent had priority.
See also See Direct Niche, LLC v. Via Varejo S/A, 15-cv-62344 (S.D. Fla., August 10, 2017). In finding in favor of defendant (who as Complainant prevailed in the UDRP, VIA VAREJO S/A, v. Domain Admin, D2015-1304 (WIPO October 17, 2015) (<casasbahia.com>), the court held that “It is not necessary that the ‘mark,’ as described in the statute, be a trademark registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, nor need it be a trademark for which a party has applied for federal registration. Via Varejo (a Brazilian company) demonstrated that it had a common law trademark in the U.S. for CASAS BAHIA.
Complainant’s screenshot confirms [that] … the domain name contains various IMI related links and descriptions of the content located at the linked webpage.
This decision has been criticized for two reasons, namely the letters are arguably random and the length of time between registration and complaint. See Matt Serlin, UDRPs Filed–j Brand Owners Take Note (I think a better fit the title would be “Investors Take Note!) The second reason raises again the issue of laches as a complete defense, except that the equitable bar is only dusted off when there is no infringing use. Marks that predate domain names have potentially actionable claims, but only realized with proof of abusive registration, and in this particular case the proof was provided by the uncurated page to which <imi.com> resolved.
NYSE Group, Inc. v. Val Sklarov / BentleyTek / America 2030 Capital, FA170900 1748855 (Forum October 23, 2017) (<nyseloan.com> + 20 other domains including <nyse-trader.com>.
Comercializadora de Lacteos y Derivados, S.A. de C.V. v. Apple Inc., D2017-1351 (WIPO October 23, 2017) (<lala.com>).
Mark owner (and advocate) should take care not to overstate or misstate its case. “The Complainant has put these assertions forward [its mark is well-known and that the Respondent has sought to defraud the Complainant’s customer] without any supporting argumentation or evidence. Such a practice cannot be accepted, as it is the Complainant which carries the burden of proof in demonstrating bad faith by the Respondent in the registration and use of the Disputed Domain Name, and not the other way around.” Consequence: RDNH.
Oy Vallila Interior Ab v. Linkz Internet Services, D2017-1458 (WIPO October 20, 2017) (<vallila.com>.
Little Acorns Fostering Ltd. v. W P, The Cloud Corp / Al Perkins, D2017-1776 (WIPO October 18, 2017) (<littleacornfostering.com>.
Mr. Alen Baibekov Booking Group SIA v. Mr. Daniel Chestnut, CAC 101650 (ADR.eu October 13, 2017).
Panel points out that “[Paragraph] 318 of the WIPO Second Report states that “[W]here a trade name is used in widespread market, it is often also the subject of trademark protection, or satisfies the conditions for protection as an unregistered trademark so as to qualify, in appropriate circumstances, for protection against bad faith, deliberate misuse under the UDRP.” And goes on to suggest that domain names could also benefit from the protection afforded to unregistered trademarks on proof of secondary meaning: “In the Panel’s view, the above-mentioned principles should also apply, mutatis mutandis, to domain names, which equally fall outside the scope of the Policy, unless they can benefit from the protection afforded to unregistered trademarks.” Plaintiff’s application for BOOKING.COM was rejected by the USPTO but on appeal was held to qualify as a trademark, Booking.com v. Matal, ___ F.Supp.2d ___ (E.D. Virginia 2017).
“1. You can purchase this name for the small sum of $500 (£380) though the uniregistry marketplace – the domain is automatically transferred into your account upon payment. Click here for this option. OFFER ONLY AVAILABLE FOR 7 DAYS – THE PRICE WILL RISE BY 100 PER DAY AFTER THIS.
Abusive registration can be found even where the hyperlinks are to goods or services unrelated to Complainant’s, assuming the facts are sufficient to draw inferences that respondent’s purpose in registering the domain name is to take advantage of the mark’s goodwill. Here, while the two words that combine to form the mark are dictionary words their combination is not generic.
Citing, Dovetail Ventures, LLC v. Klayton Thorpe, FA1506001625786 (Forum Aug. 2, 2015) (holding that the respondent had acted in bad faith under Policy ¶ 4(b)(iv), where it used the disputed domain name to host a variety of hyperlinks, unrelated to the complainant’s business, through which the respondent presumably commercially gained). Therefore, as the Panel finds that Respondent has engaged in this conduct, it finds the disputed domain name was registered and is being used in bad faith.
Pending trademark application not sufficient to establish a right, but even if Complainant had offered common law rights its prima facie case was insufficient to establish that Respondent lacked rights or legitimate interests.
N2COM v. Whois Privacy Services / Domain Admin, Xedoc Holding SA, D2017-1220 (WIPO September 7, 2017) (<babyboom.com>).
Respondent demonstrated rights under 4(c)(i) and 4(c)(ii) of the Policy. “Parnassus” has reference to a mountain peak in Greece that towers above Delphi, sacred to to Dionysus and an imposing feature of Greek mythology, but for all its towering implication as the home of the gods the word is generic. In this case, Respondent is an operating business.
The proof included: 1) Articles of Organization of the Respondent company dated, 2 April 2015, sealed by the Registrar of Offshore Companies and Trustees of Nevis; 2) an instrument by the organizer of the company signed and dated on 2 April 2015 and testifying that she is forming the company; 3) a certificate of a Notary Public, signed and sealed and dated 2 April 2015, to the effect that the organizer of the company had executed the Articles of Organization; 4) a Designation and Acceptance by a solicitor that he is the Registered Agent of the company, also dated 2 April 2015; 5) the Certificate of Formation of the Company by the Island of Nevis Office of the Registrar of Companies certifying that the company was formed on that date and that that certificate was given on 2 April 2015; and 6) an Endorsement Certificate by the same Registrar dated 2 April 2015 that it had endorsed “Filed” on the Original Articles of Organization.
Same family name; same business. Lesson in how a respondent meets its evidentiary challenge by showing it operated its business under the family name “Williamson” supported by documentary evidence that it was the senior user of the name. In fact, Complainant “acknowledges that the disputed Domain Name <WILLIAMSON.WINE> appears on the letterhead on the Respondents’ Price Sheet for its wines.” The lesson consists in offering a narrative together with documentary evidence; not a narrative alone; and in having the facts solidly anchored (so they are seen as tangible facts rather than faux facts).
Trademark applicant’s declaration of first use in commerce is not conclusive of its truth; priority must be established concretely, not simply alleged. “The problem Complainant has in establishing common law trademark rights . . . is that the expression Voice of Hope is very generic and covers a multitude of possible meanings. That being so, Complainant has to show a secondary meaning of the expression as well as its primary meaning and a secondary meaning that links the expression with Complainant,” which is has failed to do.
Commune de Versailles Collectivité Territoriale v. Kimberly Kubalek, Kubalek, LLC, D2017-0985 (WIPO July 24, 2017) (<visitversailles.com>).
In determining whether respondents have violated the Policy, Panels typically take into account respondents’ business histories by drawing distinctions among different business models. Registrants specializing in particular kinds of domain names, generic words, idioms, surnames, and three or four letter strings for example. In this case, Respondent has websites devoted to tourism. The Respondent in FPT Industrie S.p.a. and REM Industrie S.r.l. v. HugeDomains.Com, D2017-0842 (WIPO July 7, 2017) (<fastmill.com>) specialized in generic words and held many domain names that included the word “fast”. Respondents who include their histories are generally persuasive that their registrations are in good faith, although there are exceptions, for example Constellation Brands, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary Ruffino SRL v. Stanley Pace, FA1706001735061 (Forum July 20, 2017) (RUFFINO and in which Respondent has accumulated over 10,000 surnames, but Complainant pointed out in its additional statement that “U.S. Census Bureau (2010 Census) shows only 795 individuals with the surname “Rufino” in the U.S. making its surname usage de minimis.”) See below (Panel stepping into error), Respondent has commenced an ACPA action for a declaratory judgment that its registration was not unlawful.
Lotto Sport Italia S.p.A. v. David Dent, D2016-2532 (WIPO February 13, 2017) (<lottoworks.com>, <lottostore.com>. Complaint granted; Respondent commences ACPA action for declaratory judgment that registrations were lawful. Pending action).
Constellation Brands, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary Ruffino SRL v. Stanley Pace, FA1706001735061 (Forum July 20, 2017) (<rufino.com>. Complaint granted; Respondent commences ACPA action for declaratory judgment that registrations were lawful. Pending action).
Bulbs 4 East Side Inc., d/b/a Just Bulbs v. Fundacion Private Whois/ Gregory Ricks, D2013-1779 (WIPO January 13, 2014) (Complaint denied, but successful in ACPA action, Bulbs 4 E. Side, Inc. v. Ricks, (S.D. Tex., Houston Div. July 18, 2017 together with an award of damages for $50,000 and attorney’s fees).
Camilla Australia Pty Ltd v. Domain Admin, Mrs Jello, LLC., D2015-1593 (WIPO November 30, 2015) (<camilla.com>. Complaint granted; in a subsequent ACPA action Camilla Australia (now defendant) stipulated to vacate the UDRP award in its entirety. Mrs. Jello, LLC v. Camilla Australia Pty Ltd. 15-cv-08753 (D. NJ 8/1/2016).
Austin Pain Association v. Domain Admin / this Domain Is for Sale / HugeDomains.com, FA1312001536356 (Forum March 18, 2014) (<austinpain.com>. Complaint granted; Respondent commences ACPA action for declaratory judgment registrations were lawful; parties enter into stipulation July 21, 2014 setting aside the Forum award, plus $25,000).
Corporacion Empresarial Altra S.L. v. Development Services, Telepathy, Inc., D2017-0178 (WIPO May 15, 2017) (<airzone.com>.
Complainant sanctioned for RDNH and Respondent commences ACPA action for reverse domain name hijacking damages. Pending action.
Airbnb, Inc. v. Norman King / Target Marketing Group, FA1707001738345 (Forum July 27, 2017) (<air-bnb.org>.
Steelcase Inc. v. Cimpress Schweiz GmbH, FA1706001737556 (Forum July 25, 2017) (<steelcasee.com>.
Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. v. David Haddad / Warner Bros, FA1706001736053 (Forum July 17, 2017) (<warnerbroscareers.com.co>).
Where the Registration Agreement is in both languages (of Complainant and Respondent) Complainant has a choice of which will be the official language of the proceedings.
David Duchovny v. Alberta Hot Rods c/o Jeff Burgar, FA1706001734414 (Forum July 4, 2017) (21 years) and Commonwealth Bank of Australia v. Registration Private, Domains By Proxy, LLC / Ravindra Patel, gbe, D2017-0807 (WIPO July 6, 2017) (<bankwest.com>) (20 years) .
There is no time bar under the UDRP and no laches as illustrated in these two cases. While complainants still have the overall burden of proving bad faith (easier with celebrity names as explained below) the principal drama for businesses revolves around the use of the domain name, namely whether respondent can prove a paragraph 4(c)(i) defense—that is, “before any notice” respondent has used the domain name “in connection with a bona fide offering of goods or services.” Such use would satisfy the “detrimental reliance” element of laches without expressly invoking that theory.
One of the common themes in these two cases (they also have unshared issues noted separately) is that the parties reside on different continents. How would knowledge of the mark have reached respondents? Neither Complainants even begin to answer the question; or even thought there was any question which demanded they answer.
O2 Worldwide Limited v. Dan Putnam / Rodolfo a. Barcenas / Rhonda Peterson / Bob Terry / Whois Privacy Service / Eric Chan / Cecil Morgan / Whois Privacy Service / Christopher Redding / Domain ID Shield Service / Mary Martin / Ella Gee / John White, Rebecca Graphics / Thomas Heard / Dotty Krause / Jess Brown / Whoisguard Protected Whoisguard, Inc. / Andrew Rollinson, LetUsClose, D2017-0658 (WIPO June 29, 2017).
Delusional belief that because a domain name is available, the purchase must be legal. “[I] legally purchased the disputed domain name . . . from . . . <godaddy.com>.” Respondent was not represented.
Last month there was this: ““Please do not continue to harass our company or our employees. We consider this email a harassing email. we have notified our legal repetition (sic) and they advised us to sue for harassment should you or anyone continue to send threatening emails and letters to our company.” Coachella Music Festival, LLC v. Beaudoin, Denis / Denis Beaudoin, FA1703001724063 (Forum May 9, 2017).
In Red Bull GmbH v. Carl Gamel, D2008-0253 (WIPO April 14, 2008) () Respondent stated: “Please sue me!” and later “Try this I own ‘www.redbullsucks.com’ ‘http://www.redbullsucks.com’ and I will continue to promote my business! A.C.T. is the best an thats that! SEE YA!!! “.
Color Image Apparel, Inc. v. Whois Privacy Services by DOMAINCA / unitedeurope consulting, D2017-0650 (WIPO June 19, 2017) (<alo.com>).
Complainant (represented by counsel) mistakenly relies on the Octogen line of cases. It asserts that the Respondent has no rights or legitimate interests in the disputed domain name since it is not “genuinely us[ing] or at least demonstrably intend[ing] for such use in connection with the relied-upon meaning.” The Panel citing paragraph 4.16 of the WIPO Overview 3.0 that complainants represented by counsel “should be held to a higher standard” found Complainant liable for reverse domain name hijacking.
While complainants with registered marks have standing based solely on their registrations, those claiming unregistered marks have the higher burden of proving secondary meaning. For marks “comprised of generic, descriptive, or geographic words such as the words WASATCH, SHUTTERS(S) and DESIGN in the case at hand, there is an even greater onus on Complainant to present compelling evidence of secondary meaning or distinctiveness.” There must be evidence “showing a complainant’s efforts to promote and affiliate itself with a mark”, that the mark has “become a distinctive identifier associated with Complainant or its goods or services.” Alleging distinctiveness does not suffice.
3. In order to prevail on this element, Respondent must affirmatively identify some legitimate interest he has in the Domain Name.
Bloomberg Finance L.P. v. zhang guo jie, FA1704001727926 (Forum June 8, 2017) (<Bloomberg.site>.
In this dispute, Complainant owns THE FABRICATOR and claims <fabricator.com> is confusingly similar in that “fabricator” is the dominant element of the mark. Respondent argued “fabricator” is no more dominant than the article; either element alone is generic. For this reason the complaint must be dismissed because Complainant fails the standing requirement: domain names can be similar without being confusingly similar. The Panel agreed: “Complainant does not have any right to monopolize the dictionary word ‘fabricator’ alone…. [N]either the article ‘the’ nor the noun ‘fabricator’ is distinctive in its own right…. Complainant’s mark is distinctive only in its indivisible wholeness” (emphasis added).
Complainant given “benefit of the doubt” on the issue of reverse domain name hijacking since it was “not represented by counsel.” The Panel concluded it could not “go so far as to determine the action was taken in bad faith [rather its complaint] was misdirected and generally wrongly pursued” and that Complainant “lack[ed] [a] robust understanding” of the UDRP.
Complainants’ problem in this and like cases (setting aside its decision not to retain counsel) is failure to marshal evidence of its right. Secondary meaning cannot be established without proving 1) continuous and uninterrupted use in commerce; and 2) reputation predating the registration of the domain name.
Complainant does not have to have a registered mark to have standing, but if it claims to have a common law mark it only has standing if it proves secondary meaning earlier than the registration of the domain name. Failure of proof warrants dismissal of the complaint.
Franke Technology and Trademark Ltd v. hakan gUlsoy, CAC 101464 (ADR.eu May 11, 2017) (<franke-servisi.com>.
Not all is happiness when challenged for cybersquatting: “Please do not continue to harass our company or our employees. We consider this email a harassing email. we have notified our legal repetition and they advised us to sue for harassment should you or anyone continue to send threatening emails and letters to our company…. All of our websites clearly state that we are in no way affiliated with Coachella Music Festival, Desert Trip Music Festival, or Stagecoach Music Festival…. We purchased all of our domain names with the proper rights and we use are websites responsibly…. We obtained these websites legally and we will continue to run all these sites legally…. We respectfully request that you drop all claims and harassment against us…. Any further harassment issues will be forwarded to our legal team.
This case is a useful reminder to complainants of their burden of proof.
First: the Complainant is not the registered trademark owner and failed to explain its relationship with the registrant of CITYWIDE. It therefore fails in proving infringement of a right..
Second: “Complainant has never had a trademark for CITY WIDE, as the trademark granted to it disclaimed any exclusive right to use CITY WIDE other than in the diagram forming the entirety of its trademark.” Even if the relationship were demonstrated, it would still lack standing.
Third: “[The words are clearly generic, making it unlikely that they could be trademarked. There was therefore an obligation on Complainant to show why Respondent was acting in bad faith in using the two generic words “city wide” to describe its business, as so many other business owners have done.” Trademark owners have no monopoly of dictionary words.
There is no statute of limitations for cybersquatting under the UDRP although where the second level domain is composed of dictionary words and common phrases waiting will generally favor respondent unless the website at any time is shown to have taken or presently takes advantage of complainant’s mark. The issue is illustrated in this case, wherein the Panel notes that “Complainant fails to explain why it waited some 13 years to bring this complaint; however, as this Panel lacks equitable powers and Complainant has otherwise established all three elements under the policy, the Panel finds that Respondent has engaged in bad faith use and registration of the disputed domain name.” (Emphasis added).
The latest example of mark owners tilting against windmills is the acronym “DCAC”—Denny Cherry & Associates Consulting, LLC v. Azeras LLC, FA1702001718995 (Forum April 16, 2017)—and the word string “myspectrumnews”—Charter Communications, Inc., Charter Communications Holding Company, LLC and Charter Communications Operating LLC v. Perfect Privacy, LLC / Sheri K Corwin, D2017-0040 (WIPO April 19, 2017). First use in commerce for both Complainants postdated the registrations of the domain names.
Complainant alleges 74 domain names fraudulently transferred out of its account. However, it submitted no evidence that any of the domain names are identical or confusingly similar to marks in which it has rights. As the Panel notes “the allegations of theft are outside the limited scope of the Policy and that the present decision does not leave the Complainant without potential redress in the courts.” There is no actionable claim for theft under either the UDRP or the ACPA unless there are marks in which complainant has rights.
A three-member panel including the author of Mummygold unanimously rejected the reasoning of that case thereby essentially declaring the retroactive bad faith view a dead end.
Active use of domain names is not limited to websites. It includes email, servers, and personal use. Respondent alleged it had “been using <imec.com> for email since its inception: hm@imec.com; support@imec.com; sales@imec.com; webmaster@imec.com; hm_home@imec.com, webadmin@imec.com, webadmin@ server.imec.com, and hminassi@imec.com.” This would bring it into legitimate use under Policy ¶ 4(c)(i). It also alleged (and the Panel accepted) that “it is currently engaging in legitimate noncommercial or fair use because it uses subpages at <imec.com> to store personal and other non-business related files and folders under a secure, password-protected system.” This would bring it into legitimate use under ¶ 4(c)(iii). The Panel cited RMO, Inc. v. Burbidge, FA 96949 (Forum May 16, 2001) (“A family information site is a legitimate non-commercial use.”).
The Panel found the dispute outside the scope of the Policy: “Both parties agreed … that Complainant engaged with Respondent to make use of Respondent’s IT services in developing and promoting Complainant’s business.” Two earlier cases are cited and quoted that are precedential on this issue.
offer any evidence of that fact. Note particularly in the Panel conclusion that it could have been otherwise. “The Panel notes in passing that if it is the case that the Respondent is legitimately connected with the Riemann surname and that he registered the disputed domain name for family email purposes it is unfortunate to say the least that he did not make any attempt to vouch this and more importantly to suppress or remove PPC content if its display has indeed been inadvertent. Either or both of these circumstances might have led to a somewhat different construction being made by the Panel on the issue of registration and use in bad faith in this case. Nevertheless, the absence of a credible and proper foundation for the Respondent’s averments is very significant and the present finding follows as a direct consequence.
The theory that an owner of a post acquired trademark has a better right to a domain name because of “Respondents failure to justify any right, use or legitimate interest” has long been laid to rest. In Harow, Complainant argued that “the anteriority of the first registration of [<harow.com>] to its trademark rights is irrelevant in light of Respondent’s failure to justify any right, use or legitimate interest before the filing of the trademarks.” For postdated trademarks, respondent does not have to”justify” its right; Complainant has to prove bad faith registration (bad faith use not a factor).
Panel excused Complainant of reverse domain name hijacking because the complaint “appears, on balance, to be more misconceived than malicious in nature” (emphasis added). The head scratcher in this decision is that the Panel also stated that the “Complaint should not have been brought” which is the formulaic language used by panelists on the other end of the spectrum for finding abuse of the proceeding.
The filed evidence establishes the Respondent’s current status under California law is suspended, but it appears that such a suspension can in at least some circumstances be reversed. . . . The fact is that the Disputed Domain Name was registered by the Respondent long before the Complainant adopted the name KION and the Respondent is still the named registrant, even though its status under Californian law is suspended. That does not, in the Panel’s opinion, establish that the Disputed Domain Name has been registered and used in bad faith.
Dividex Management, LLC v. Rory Blake, D2016-2574 (WIPO February 17, 2017) (<dividex.com>).
Panel in a recent case declined to find reverse domain name hijacking because Complainant “at least [presented] a colorable argument” (albeit relying on a principle of bad faith that has essentially been rejected by other panelists). The Panel found this reliance (that renewal of registration with knowledge of a mark is bad faith) “was reasonable.” Some commentators would find that relying on a rejected proposition of bad faith is “not reasonable” at all, in fact dubious and particularly so where the mark was “not distinctive” and postdated the registration of the domain name by more than a decade, since in that factual context there could not have been bad faith registration.
NSK LTD. v. Li shuo, FA1701001712449 (Forum February 16, 2017) (<skfnsk.com>).
In contrast to the Forum, WIPO panelists have a long history of mulling over the problem of multiple marks incorporated into domain names. In Kabbage, Inc. v. Oneandone Private Registration 1, 1&1 Internet Inc. – www.1.and1.com/oert Hanssen, Ridiculous File Sharing, D2015-1507 (WIPO November 20, 2015) (<kabbage4amazon.com>) the Panel rested its reasoning on earlier decisions held that “where Complainant has fulfilled all the elements of Policy paragraph 4(a), expressed a strong preference for transfer over cancellation, and demonstrated to the satisfaction of the Panel that it is cognizant of its obligations to respect the rights of third-party trademark holders, the Panel is willing” to grant the request. The same Panel had previously mulled the problem three years earlier in Incase Designs Corp. v. Rogenie LLC, Rogenie Cordero, D2012-1491 (WIPO September 12, 2012) (<iponeincase.com> in which it concluded “[t]here is no indication in the record that Apple Inc. would consent to the remedy of transfer to Complainant, and indeed, Complainant appears to be disinclined to request Apple Inc.’s authorization. In these circumstances, therefore, the Panel has determined that it is most consistent with the Policy and its injunction of efficiency not to delay the proceedings by ordering Complainant to seek such authorization.
The Panel’s reasoning in NSK is a departure from WIPO appointed Panels. It accepts without other authority a recently created theory which itself cites no authority. NIKE, Inc. and Nike Innovate, C.V. v. Mattia Lumini and Yykk Snc. FA1606001679233 (Forum July 15, 2016) (<nikegoogle.com>). The reasoning comes from nowhere although there may be a clue in the use of “nexus” which is found in the Forum rule concerning multiple complainants. In any event, the “nikegoogle” dispute was refiled with both mark owners as complainants and the domain name transferred, NIKE, Inc., Nike Innovate, C.V., and Google Inc. v. Mattia Lumini / Yykk Snc, FA160800 1687597 (Forum September 20, 2016).
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG v. MIKE LEE / WHOISGUARD PROTECTED, WHOISGUARD, INC., Yang Xiao, Xiao Yang, Ning Li, Li Ning, MIKE LEE, D2016-2268 (WIPO January 6, 2017) (<bmw-icom.com> and several others); Fifty Shades Limited v. Domain Admin / Whois Privacy Corp., FA161100 1704616 (Forum January 17, 2017) (<fiftyshades2.com>).
There are two different senses of “counterfeit.” When it refers to a “spurious mark” registrants found to have registered domain names in bad faith are cybersquatters by definition. Noun infringements are the province of the UDRP/URS. However, more commonly we encounter counterfeiting as an adjective as it applies to spurious goods (counterfeit goods) –“made in exact imitation of something valuable or important with the intention to deceive or defraud.” Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary. Under U.S. trademark law noun claims can be joined with adjectival claims under the Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act (ACPA) which is a section of the Lanham Act but adjectival claims are not actionable under the UDRP/URS.
Complainants in the following two cases initiated complaints for cybersquatting against respondents acquiring domain names by auction.
In this case, Complainant’s predecessor owned a trademark that lapsed and Complainant applied for a trademark that was registered in 2016. Respondent acquired the domain name after it was abandoned by a third-party and later than the lapsed trademark but earlier than Complainant’s recently acquired trademark. Since Respondent’s registration of <biospa.com> is senior to Complainant’s filing date for the BIOSPA mark with the USPTO there can be no bad faith.
Domain name abandoned by earlier registrant and immediately registered by Respondent for its own account. Complaint denied even though Complainant’s mark has priority; weak trademark and no evidence of Respondent capitalizing on the mark.
Mr. Levine is the author of a treatise on trademarks, domain names, and cybersquatting, Domain Name Arbitration, A Practical Guide to Asserting and Defending Claims of Cybersquatting under the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy. (Legal Corner Press, 2015). Learn more about the book at Legal Corner Press. Available from Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Supplement and Update through August 2016 published January 2017. It is available in print format from Amazon and Barnes & Noble but is also available in pdf format free on the publisher’s website, www.legalcornerpress.com/dna-supplement.

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