Source: https://www.wipo.int/amc/en/domains/decisions/html/2007/d2007-1531.html
Timestamp: 2019-04-26 15:56:08+00:00

Document:
F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG v. Softech ltd.
Complainant is F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG, Switzerland, represented internally.
Respondent is Softech ltd, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, Overseas Territory of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
The disputed domain name <valiumnet.com> is registered with Name.com LLC.
The Complaint was filed with the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center (the “Center”) on October 17, 2007. On October 18, 2007, the Center transmitted by email to Name.com LLC a request for registrar verification in connection with the domain name at issue. On October 22, 2007, Name.com LLC transmitted by email to the Center its verification response confirming that Respondent is listed as the registrant and providing the contact details. The Center verified that the Complaint satisfied the formal requirements of the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (the “Policy”), the Rules for Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (the “Rules”), and the WIPO Supplemental Rules for Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (the “Supplemental Rules”).
In accordance with the Rules, paragraphs 2(a) and 4(a), the Center formally notified Respondent of the Complaint, and the proceedings commenced on November 1, 2007. In accordance with the Rules, paragraph 5(a), the due date for Response was November 21, 2007. Respondent did not submit any response. Accordingly, the Center notified Respondent’s default on November 22, 2007.
The Center appointed Sandra J. Franklin as the sole panelist in this matter on November 29, 2007. The Panel finds that it was properly constituted. The Panel has submitted the Statement of Acceptance and Declaration of Impartiality and Independence, as required by the Center to ensure compliance with the Rules, paragraph 7.
Complainant is a well-known pharmaceutical company, which has used the mark VALIUM for a widely-used psychotropic drug since 1961. Complainant has over 100 trademark registrations world-wide, including International Registration No. R250784.
Respondent registered the <valiumnet.com> domain name on January 24, 2007.
1. Respondent’s <valiumnet.com> domain name is confusingly similar to Complainant’s VALIUM mark.
2. Respondent does not have any rights or legitimate interests in the <valiumnet.com> domain name.
3. Respondent registered and used the <valiumnet.com> domain name in bad faith.
In view of Respondent’s failure to submit a response, the Panel shall decide this administrative proceeding on the basis of Complainant’s undisputed representations pursuant to paragraphs 5(e), 14(a) and 15(a) of the Rules and draw such inferences it considers appropriate pursuant to paragraph 14(b) of the Rules. The Panel is entitled to accept all reasonable allegations and inferences set forth in the Complaint as true unless the evidence is clearly contradictory. See Vertical Solutions Management, Inc. v. webnet-marketing, inc., FA 95095 (Nat. Arb. Forum July 31, 2000) (holding that the respondent’s failure to respond allows all reasonable inferences of fact in the allegations of the complaint to be deemed true); see also Talk City, Inc. v. Michael Robertson, WIPO Case No. D2000-0009 (WIPO Feb. 29, 2000) (“In the absence of a response, it is appropriate to accept as true all allegations of the Complaint.”).
Respondent’s <valiumnet.com> domain name is confusingly similar to Complainant’s mark. Respondent’s domain name contains Complainant’s entire VALIUM mark and adds the word “net”, along with the generic top-level domain (“gTLD”) “.com”. The Panel finds these additions fail to distinguish Respondent’s domain name from Complainant’s mark in any meaningful way for purposes of Policy paragraph 4(a)(i). See Trip Network Inc. dba Cheap Tickets, Inc. v. Sigfredo Alviera, FA 914943 (Nat. Arb. Forum March 27, 2007) (concluding that the addition of a gTLD, whether it be “.com”, “.net”, “.biz”, or “.org”, is irrelevant to a Policy paragraph 4(a)(i) analysis).
Complainant claims that Respondent has neither rights nor legitimate interests in the <valiumnet.com> domain name. Complainant has the initial burden of showing that Respondent lacks rights and legitimate interests in the disputed domain name. Once Complainant makes a prima facie case supporting its assertion that Respondent does not have rights or legitimate interests, the burden shifts to Respondent to show that it does have rights or legitimate interests in the disputed domain name. The Panel finds that Complainant has demonstrated that Respondent lacks rights and legitimate interests, and thus has made a prima facie case pursuant to Policy paragraph 4(a)(ii). See Compagnie Generale des Matieres Nucleaires v. Greenpeace International, WIPO Case No. D2001-0376 (May 14, 2001) (“Proving that the Respondent has no rights or legitimate interests in respect of the Domain Name requires the Complainant to prove a negative. For the purposes of this sub paragraph, however, it is sufficient for the Complainant to show a prima facie case and the burden of proof is then shifted on to the shoulders of Respondent. In those circumstances, the common approach is for respondents to seek to bring themselves within one of the examples of paragraph 4(c) or put forward some other reason why they can fairly be said to have a relevant right or legitimate interests in respect of the domain name in question.”); see also Clerical Medical Investment Group Limited v. Clericalmedical.com (Clerical & Medical Services Agency), WIPO Case No. D2000-1228 (November 28, 2000) (finding that, under certain circumstances, the mere assertion by the complainant that the respondent has no right or legitimate interest is sufficient to shift the burden of proof to the respondent to demonstrate that such a right or legitimate interest does exist).
Complainant asserts that Respondent has never been authorized to use the VALIUM mark. Further, the WHOIS does not indicate that Respondent has ever been or is commonly known by the <valiumnet.com> domain name. Therefore, the Panel finds that Respondent is not commonly known by the disputed domain name under Policy paragraph 4(c)(ii). See Tercent Inc. v. Lee Yi, FA 139720 (Nat. Arb. Forum February 10, 2003) (stating “nothing in Respondent’s WHOIS information implies that Respondent is ‘commonly known by’ the disputed domain name” as one factor in determining that Policy paragraph 4(c)(ii) does not apply); see also Gallup Inc. v. Amish Country Store, FA 96209 (Nat. Arb. Forum Jan. 23, 2001) (finding that the respondent does not have rights in a domain name when the respondent is not known by the mark).
In addition, Respondent is using the disputed domain name to redirect traffic to a search engine with sponsored links. The Panel finds that this is not a bona fide offering of goods and services under Policy paragraph 4(c)(i) or a legitimate noncommercial or fair use under Policy paragraph 4(c)(iii). See Golden Bear International, Inc. v. Kangdeock-ho, FA 190644 (Nat. Arb. Forum Oct. 17, 2003) (“Respondent’s use of a domain name confusingly similar to Complainant’s mark to divert Internet users to websites unrelated to Complainant’s business does not represent a bona fide offering of goods or services under Policy � 4(c)(i) or a legitimate noncommercial or fair use under Policy � 4(c)(iii).”); see also Toronto-Dominion Bank v. Karpachev, 188 F.Supp.2d 110, 114 (D. Mass. 2002) (finding that, because the respondent’s sole purpose in selecting the domain names was to cause confusion with the complainant’s website and marks, its use of the names was not in connection with the offering of goods or services or any other fair use).
The Panel presumes that Respondent benefits commercially when Internet users click on the links featured on the website that resolves from the <valiumnet.com> domain name. Respondent is therefore taking advantage of the likelihood that users will confuse the disputed domain name as being affiliated with Complainant and its VALIUM mark. This is evidence that Respondent registered and is using the <valiumnet.com> domain name in bad faith pursuant to Policy paragraph 4(b)(iv). See American University v. Richard Cook, FA 208629 (Nat. Arb. Forum December 22, 2003) (“Registration and use of a domain name that incorporates another’s mark with the intent to deceive Internet users in regard to the source or affiliation of the domain name is evidence of bad faith.”); see also G.D. Searle & Co. v. Celebrex Drugstore, FA 123933 (Nat. Arb. Forum Nov. 21, 2002) (finding that the respondent registered and used the domain name in bad faith pursuant to Policy paragraph 4(b)(iv) because the respondent was using the confusingly similar domain name to attract Internet users to its commercial website).
For all the foregoing reasons, in accordance with paragraphs 4(i) of the Policy and 15 of the Rules, the Panel orders that the domain name <valiumnet.com> be transferred to the Complainant.

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