Source: https://www.wipo.int/amc/en/domains/decisions/html/2007/d2007-0288.html
Timestamp: 2019-04-23 16:08:57+00:00

Document:
Conf�d�ration Nationale du Cr�dit Mutuel, Caisse F�d�rale du Cr�dit Mutuel Nord Europe v. Marketing Total S.A.
The Complainants are Conf�d�ration Nationale du Cr�dit Mutuel, Paris, France and Caisse F�d�rale du Cr�dit Mutuel Nord Europe, Lille, France, both represented by Meyer & Partenaires, Strasbourg, France.
The disputed domain name <creditmutueldunord.com> is registered with DomainDoorman, LLC.
The Complaint was filed with the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center (the “Center”) on February 27, 2007. On March 1, 2007, the Center transmitted by email to DomainDoorman, LLC a request for registrar verification in connection with the domain name at issue. On March 1, 2007, DomainDoorman, LLC transmitted by email to the Center its verification response confirming that the Respondent is listed as the registrant and providing the registrant 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 the Respondent of the Complaint, and the proceedings commenced on March 8, 2007. In accordance with the Rules, paragraph 5(a), the due date for Response was March�28,�2007. The Respondent did not submit any response. Accordingly, the Center notified the Respondent’s default on April 2, 2007.
The Center appointed Edoardo Fano as the sole panelist in this matter on April�18,�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.
The Complainants are Conf�d�ration Nationale du Cr�dit Mutuel, the central and political body of the banking group Cr�dit Mutuel (the second largest French detail bank), and Caisse F�d�rale du Cr�dit Mutuel Nord Europe (formerly Cr�dit Mutuel du Nord and still frequently referred to using this denomination), the operating body for the northern Federation of Cr�dit Mutuel.
owned by Caisse F�d�rale du Cr�dit Mutuel du Nord Europe.
The Complainants’ trademark rights in the wordings CR�DIT MUTUEL and CR�DIT MUTUEL NORD (EUROPE), both associated with their financial and banking services, date back respectively to 1988 and 1997.
The Respondent’s domain name <creditmutueldunord.com> was registered on July�5,�2006. It pointed to a parking webpage with French links mainly to financial and banking services and is currently pointing to a parking webpage with Spanish links to various services which also included financial services.
The Complainants state that the disputed domain name <creditmutueldunord.com> is confusingly similar to their trademarks CR�DIT MUTUEL, CR�DIT MUTUEL NORD EUROPE and CREDIT MUTUEL NORD.
Moreover, the Respondent has no rights or legitimate interests in respect of the domain name at issue since it is neither a licensee of the Complainants nor otherwise authorized to use their trademarks CR�DIT MUTUEL, CR�DIT MUTUEL NORD EUROPE and CREDIT MUTUEL NORD.
The Respondent is not commonly known by the domain name and is not using the domain name in question in connection with a bona fide offering of goods/services.
The Complainants further contend that the Respondent registered and is using the disputed domain name in bad faith.
It is not likely that the Respondent was unaware the Complainants’ trademark CR�DIT MUTUEL nor has casually made the association of the latter with the geographic indication DU NORD, the combination of which refers to the Complainant Northern France subsidiary former business name.
The Respondent is using the disputed domain name to divert internet users to parking webpages on which there are links to financial and banking services, including many commercial websites of Complainants’ competitors.
This use of the disputed domain name <creditmutueldunord.com> generates revenues for the Respondent through a “pay per click” domain parking program.
The Respondent did not reply to the Complainants’ contentions and is in default: no exceptional circumstances explaining the default have been put forward.
A respondent is not obliged to participate in a proceeding under the Policy but if it fails to do so, facts asserted by the complainant may be taken as true and reasonable inferences by the panel, in accordance with paragraph 14(b) of the Rules (see also Reuters Limited v. Global Net 2000, Inc., WIPO Case No. D2000-0441; Microsoft Corporation v. Freak Films Oy, WIPO Case No. D2003-0109; SSL International plc v. Mark Freeman, WIPO Case No. D2000-1080; Alta Vista Company v. Grandtotal Finances Limited et al., WIPO Case No. D2000-0848).
As far as the first of these elements is concerned, the Panel finds that the Complainants are the owners of the trademarks CR�DIT MUTUEL, CR�DIT MUTUEL NORD EUROPE and CREDIT MUTUEL NORD both by registration and acquired reputation and that the disputed domain name <creditmutueldunord.com> is confusingly similar to these trademarks.
It is also well accepted that a top-level domain, in this case “.com”, is to be ignored when assessing identity of mark and domain name (see, e.g., VAT Holding AG v. vat.com, WIPO Case No. D2000-0607).
The Complainants have therefore met their burden of proving that the domain name at issue is confusingly similar to the Complainants’ trademarks, pursuant to the Policy, paragraph 4(a)(i).
The Complainants have established a prima facie case that the Respondent has no right or legitimate interest in the domain name. The Complainants have stated that the Respondent is not a licensee of the Complainants and has not otherwise been authorized by the Complainants to use their trademark. The Respondent also does not appear to be known by the disputed domain name. Further, the Panel does not find that the domain name is being used for a legitimate noncommercial or fair use or, as discussed below, that the domain name is used in connection with a bona fide offering of goods or services.
The prima facie case presented by the Complainants is enough to shift the burden of proof to the Respondent to demonstrate that it has a right or legitimate interest in the domain name. However, the Respondent has not presented any evidence of any rights or legitimate interests it may have in using the disputed domain name.
(iv) that by using the domain name, the Respondent had intentionally attempted to attract, for commercial gain, Internet users to the Respondent’s website or other on-line location, by creating a likelihood of confusion with the Complainants’ mark as to the source, sponsorship, affiliation, or endorsement of the Respondent’s website or location or of a product or service on the Respondent’s website or location.
The Panel is of the opinion that the disputed domain name was registered and used in bad faith. Specifically, the domain name was registered and has been used by the Respondent in order to attract internet users to its website for commercial gain.
It is apparent that the Respondent is aware of both the Complainants and their activities, since the disputed domain incorporating the Complainants’ trademark is the URL of a website with many links to financial and banking services.
The Complainants have proved that the Respondent is using the disputed domain name to divert internet users to a parking webpage with links to commercial websites of competitors of the Complainants in order to generate revenues on a “pay per click” basis, which cannot be considered as a bona fide offering of goods or services (see, e.g., Cr�dit Industriel et Commercial S.A. v. Richard J., WIPO Case No. D2005-0569; Soci�t� Air France v. WWW Enterprise, Inc., WIPO Case No. D2005-1160).
Considering the above, the Panel finds that the Complainants have presented sufficient evidence to satisfy their burden of proof with respect to the issue of whether the Respondent has registered and used the disputed domain name in bad faith. The Panel therefore finds that the Policy, paragraph 4(a)(iii) has been satisfied.
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 <creditmutueldunord.com> be transferred to the Complainant, namely to Caisse F�d�rale du Cr�dit Mutuel Nord Europe.

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