The UDRP Blog™

  In Brother Records, Inc. v. David J. Roberts, Good Vibrations , WIPO Case No. D2017-2287 (John Swinson, January 10, 2018), the Panel transferred the domain beachboys.org to the recording company that owns the intellectual property rights relating to the famous band "The Beach Boys." Respondent is a tribute band that performs songs by "The Beach Boys."  Despite the fact that it registered the disputed domain name way back in 2002 and included a disclaimer on its website negating affiliation with The Beach Boys, there was no "Fun Fun Fun" for Respondent in this "Wipe Out" against Respondent. As with all UDRP cases, the Panel examined the three factors necessary for a UDRP complainant to prevail. First, as to whether the disputed domain is identical or confusingly similar to a mark in which Complainant owns trademark rights, the Panel readily found similarity, noting that the absence of "The" in the disputed domain name does not diff...

What everyone secretly wants for Christmas, a Marvel vertical band saw. In Marvel Manufacturing Company Inc. v. Koba Internet Sales, LP , WIPO Case No. D2008-0265 (Peter L. Michaelson, May 5, 2008), the Panel refused to transfer marvelsawparts.com to the Complainant owner of the MARVEL trademark for sawing machines and blades. The Respondent was an unauthorized seller of aftermarket Marvel brand saw replacement parts. The Panel first concluded that marvelsawparts.com was confusingly similar to the Complainant's MARVEL mark. In so doing, the Panel rejected the Respondent's argument that the existence of other MARVEL trademarks owned by third-parties diluted the Complainant's mark such that confusing similarity should not be found. According to the Panel: "Under UDRP precedent, a very simple test is used to assess whether a domain name is confusingly similar to a mark: compare the domain with the mark to assess differences there between and then determine whether those ...