Avid Dating Life, Inc. v. Domain Management SPM c/o Domain Management
FA1002001309097
Complainant is Avid Dating Life, Inc. (“Complainant”), represented by Brody
Stout of CitizenHawk, Inc.,
REGISTRAR AND DISPUTED DOMAIN
NAMES
The domain names at issue are <asghleymadison.com>, <ashgleymadison.com>, <ashlemyadison.com>, <ashlerymadison.com>, <ashleuymadison.com>, <ashlewymadison.com>, <ashleymadiaon.com>, <ashleymadiason.com>, <ashleymadidon.com>, <ashleymadidson.com>, <ashleymadioson.com>, <ashleymadisaon.com>, <ashleymadisdon.com>, <ashleymadisob.com>, <ashleymadisobn.com>, <ashleymadisoin.com>, <ashleymadisomn.com>, <ashleymadisonb.com>, <ashleymadisonl.com>, <ashleymadisopn.com>, <ashleymadispon.com>, <ashleymadiuson.com>, <ashleymadoison.com>, <ashleymadoson.com>, <ashleymaduison.com>, <ashleymaduson.com>, <ashleymafdison.com>, <ashleymafison.com>, <ashleymasdison.com>, <ashleymdaison.com>, <ashleymnadison.com>, <ashleymsadison.com>, <ashleytmadison.com>, <ashleyumadison.com>, <ashlkeymadison.com>, <ashlreymadison.com>, <ashlweymadison.com>, and <sshleymadison.com>, registered with Wild West Domains, Inc.
The undersigned certifies that he has acted independently and impartially and to the best of his knowledge has no known conflict in serving as Panelist in this proceeding.
Judge Ralph Yachnin as Panelist.
Complainant submitted a Complaint to
the National Arbitration Forum electronically on
On February 22, 2010, Wild West Domains, Inc. confirmed by e-mail to the National Arbitration Forum that the <asghleymadison.com>, <ashgleymadison.com>, <ashlemyadison.com>, <ashlerymadison.com>, <ashleuymadison.com>, <ashlewymadison.com>, <ashleymadiaon.com>, <ashleymadiason.com>, <ashleymadidon.com>, <ashleymadidson.com>, <ashleymadioson.com>, <ashleymadisaon.com>, <ashleymadisdon.com>, <ashleymadisob.com>, <ashleymadisobn.com>, <ashleymadisoin.com>, <ashleymadisomn.com>, <ashleymadisonb.com>, <ashleymadisonl.com>, <ashleymadisopn.com>, <ashleymadispon.com>, <ashleymadiuson.com>, <ashleymadoison.com>, <ashleymadoson.com>, <ashleymaduison.com>, <ashleymaduson.com>, <ashleymafdison.com>, <ashleymafison.com>, <ashleymasdison.com>, <ashleymdaison.com>, <ashleymnadison.com>, <ashleymsadison.com>, <ashleytmadison.com>, <ashleyumadison.com>, <ashlkeymadison.com>, <ashlreymadison.com>, <ashlweymadison.com>, and <sshleymadison.com> domain names are registered with Wild West Domains, Inc. and that Respondent is the current registrant of the names. Wild West Domains, Inc. has verified that Respondent is bound by the Wild West Domains, Inc. registration agreement and has thereby agreed to resolve domain-name disputes brought by third parties in accordance with ICANN's Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (the "Policy").
On February 24, 2010, a Notification of Complaint and Commencement of Administrative Proceeding (the "Commencement Notification"), setting a deadline of March 16, 2010 by which Respondent could file a response to the Complaint, was transmitted to Respondent via e-mail, post and fax, to all entities and persons listed on Respondent's registration as technical, administrative and billing contacts, and to postmaster@asghleymadison.com, postmaster@ashgleymadison.com, postmaster@ashlemyadison.com, postmaster@ashlerymadison.com, postmaster@ashleuymadison.com, postmaster@ashlewymadison.com, postmaster@ashleymadiaon.com, postmaster@ashleymadiason.com, postmaster@ashleymadidon.com, postmaster@ashleymadidson.com, postmaster@ashleymadioson.com, postmaster@ashleymadisaon.com, postmaster@ashleymadisdon.com, postmaster@ashleymadisob.com, postmaster@ashleymadisobn.com, postmaster@ashleymadisoin.com, postmaster@ashleymadisomn.com, postmaster@ashleymadisonb.com, postmaster@ashleymadisonl.com, postmaster@ashleymadisopn.com, postmaster@ashleymadispon.com, postmaster@ashleymadiuson.com, postmaster@ashleymadoison.com, postmaster@ashleymadoson.com, postmaster@ashleymaduison.com, postmaster@ashleymaduson.com, postmaster@ashleymafdison.com, postmaster@ashleymafison.com, postmaster@ashleymasdison.com, postmaster@ashleymdaison.com, postmaster@ashleymnadison.com, postmaster@ashleymsadison.com, postmaster@ashleytmadison.com, postmaster@ashleyumadison.com, postmaster@ashlkeymadison.com, postmaster@ashlreymadison.com, postmaster@ashlweymadison.com, and postmaster@sshleymadison.com by e-mail.
Having received no response from Respondent, the National Arbitration Forum transmitted to the parties a Notification of Respondent Default.
On
Having reviewed the communications records, the Administrative Panel (the "Panel") finds that the National Arbitration Forum has discharged its responsibility under Paragraph 2(a) of the Rules for Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (the "Rules") "to employ reasonably available means calculated to achieve actual notice to Respondent." Therefore, the Panel may issue its decision based on the documents submitted and in accordance with the ICANN Policy, ICANN Rules, the National Arbitration Forum's Supplemental Rules and any rules and principles of law that the Panel deems applicable, without the benefit of any response from Respondent.
Complainant requests that the domain names be transferred from Respondent to Complainant.
A. Complainant makes the following assertions:
1. Respondent’s <asghleymadison.com>, <ashgleymadison.com>, <ashlemyadison.com>, <ashlerymadison.com>, <ashleuymadison.com>, <ashlewymadison.com>, <ashleymadiaon.com>, <ashleymadiason.com>, <ashleymadidon.com>, <ashleymadidson.com>, <ashleymadioson.com>, <ashleymadisaon.com>, <ashleymadisdon.com>, <ashleymadisob.com>, <ashleymadisobn.com>, <ashleymadisoin.com>, <ashleymadisomn.com>, <ashleymadisonb.com>, <ashleymadisonl.com>, <ashleymadisopn.com>, <ashleymadispon.com>, <ashleymadiuson.com>, <ashleymadoison.com>, <ashleymadoson.com>, <ashleymaduison.com>, <ashleymaduson.com>, <ashleymafdison.com>, <ashleymafison.com>, <ashleymasdison.com>, <ashleymdaison.com>, <ashleymnadison.com>, <ashleymsadison.com>, <ashleytmadison.com>, <ashleyumadison.com>, <ashlkeymadison.com>, <ashlreymadison.com>, <ashlweymadison.com>, and <sshleymadison.com> domain names are confusingly similar to Complainant’s ASHLEY MADISON mark.
2. Respondent does not have any rights or legitimate interests in the <asghleymadison.com>, <ashgleymadison.com>, <ashlemyadison.com>, <ashlerymadison.com>, <ashleuymadison.com>, <ashlewymadison.com>, <ashleymadiaon.com>, <ashleymadiason.com>, <ashleymadidon.com>, <ashleymadidson.com>, <ashleymadioson.com>, <ashleymadisaon.com>, <ashleymadisdon.com>, <ashleymadisob.com>, <ashleymadisobn.com>, <ashleymadisoin.com>, <ashleymadisomn.com>, <ashleymadisonb.com>, <ashleymadisonl.com>, <ashleymadisopn.com>, <ashleymadispon.com>, <ashleymadiuson.com>, <ashleymadoison.com>, <ashleymadoson.com>, <ashleymaduison.com>, <ashleymaduson.com>, <ashleymafdison.com>, <ashleymafison.com>, <ashleymasdison.com>, <ashleymdaison.com>, <ashleymnadison.com>, <ashleymsadison.com>, <ashleytmadison.com>, <ashleyumadison.com>, <ashlkeymadison.com>, <ashlreymadison.com>, <ashlweymadison.com>, and <sshleymadison.com> domain names.
3. Respondent registered and used the <asghleymadison.com>, <ashgleymadison.com>, <ashlemyadison.com>, <ashlerymadison.com>, <ashleuymadison.com>, <ashlewymadison.com>, <ashleymadiaon.com>, <ashleymadiason.com>, <ashleymadidon.com>, <ashleymadidson.com>, <ashleymadioson.com>, <ashleymadisaon.com>, <ashleymadisdon.com>, <ashleymadisob.com>, <ashleymadisobn.com>, <ashleymadisoin.com>, <ashleymadisomn.com>, <ashleymadisonb.com>, <ashleymadisonl.com>, <ashleymadisopn.com>, <ashleymadispon.com>, <ashleymadiuson.com>, <ashleymadoison.com>, <ashleymadoson.com>, <ashleymaduison.com>, <ashleymaduson.com>, <ashleymafdison.com>, <ashleymafison.com>, <ashleymasdison.com>, <ashleymdaison.com>, <ashleymnadison.com>, <ashleymsadison.com>, <ashleytmadison.com>, <ashleyumadison.com>, <ashlkeymadison.com>, <ashlreymadison.com>, <ashlweymadison.com>, and <sshleymadison.com> domain names in bad faith.
B. Respondent failed to submit a Response in this proceeding.
Complainant, Avid Dating Life
Inc., is a provider of online dating services.
Complainant has used the ASHLEY MADISON mark in connection with these
services since 2002. Complainant holds a
registration of the ASHLEY MADISON mark with the United States Patent and
Trademark Office (“USPTO”) (Reg. No. 2,812,950 issued
Respondent, Domain Management
SPM c/o Domain Management, registered all of the disputed domain names on
Complainant offers evidence that Respondent has a history of
registering domain names that infringe upon the trademark rights of others and
has been ordered by previous UDRP panels to transfer the disputed domain names
to the respective complainants. See Cricket Communications, Inc. v. Jason Banks a/k/a Domain Management
SPM, FA 1273896 (Nat. Arb. Forum
Paragraph 15(a) of the Rules instructs this Panel to "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."
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 Mgmt., 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. Robertson, D2000-0009 (WIPO Feb. 29, 2000) (“In the absence of a response, it is appropriate to accept as true all allegations of the Complaint.”).
Paragraph 4(a) of the Policy requires that Complainant must prove each of the following three elements to obtain an order that a domain name should be cancelled or transferred:
(1) the domain name registered by Respondent is identical or confusingly similar to a trademark or service mark in which Complainant has rights; and
(2) Respondent has no rights or legitimate interests in respect of the domain name; and
(3) the domain name has been registered and is being used in bad faith.
The Panel finds that Complainant has established rights in
the ASHLEY MADISON mark under Policy ¶ 4(a)(i) through its registration of the
mark with the USPTO (Reg. No. 2,812,950 issued
February 10, 2004).
All of the disputed domain names contain common misspellings
of Complainant’s ASHLEY MADISON mark.
The Panel finds that none of these changes to Complainant’s mark
sufficiently distinguishes the disputed domain names from Complainant’s
mark. Therefore, the Panel finds that
the disputed domain names are confusingly similar to Complainant’s ASHLEY
MADISON mark under Policy ¶ 4(a)(i). See Victoria’s Secret v. Zuccarini, FA 95762 (Nat. Arb.
Forum Nov. 18, 2000) (finding that, by misspelling words and adding letters to
words, a respondent does not create a distinct mark but nevertheless renders
the domain name confusingly similar to the complainant’s marks); see also Dow Jones & Co., Inc. v.
Powerclick, Inc., D2000-1259 (WIPO Dec. 1, 2000) (holding that the
deliberate introduction of errors or changes, such as the addition of a fourth
“w” or the omission of periods or other such “generic” typos do not change
respondent’s infringement on a core trademark held by the complainant); see also Trip
Network Inc. v. Alviera, FA 914943
(Nat. Arb. Forum
The Panel finds that Policy ¶
4(a)(i) has been satisfied.
Pursuant to Policy ¶ 4(a)(ii),
Complainant must make a prima facie
showing that Respondent lacks rights and legitimate interests in the disputed domain names. Once Complainant makes this showing, the
burden then shifts to Respondent and Respondent must establish that it has
rights or legitimate interests in the disputed domain names. The Panel finds that Complainant has
sufficiently made its prima facie
showing under Policy ¶ 4(a)(ii). The burden now shifts to Respondent, from
whom no response was received. See Compagnie
Generale des Matieres Nucleaires v. Greenpeace Int’l, D2001-0376
(WIPO
The WHOIS information for the disputed
domain names list “Domain Management SPM c/o
Domain Management” as the registrant, which does not indicate that
Respondent is commonly known by the disputed domain names. Respondent has not offered any evidence to
suggest that Policy ¶ 4(c)(ii) applies in this case. Moreover, Complainant asserts that it has not
licensed or otherwise authorized Respondent to use the ASHLEY MADISON
mark. Therefore, the Panel finds that
Respondent is not commonly known by the disputed domain names under Policy ¶
4(c)(ii). See Braun Corp. v. Loney, FA 699652 (Nat. Arb.
Forum July 7, 2006) (concluding that the respondent was not commonly known by
the disputed domain names where the WHOIS information, as well as all other
information in the record, gave no indication that the respondent was commonly
known by the disputed domain names, and the complainant had not authorized the
respondent to register a domain name containing its registered mark); see also M. Shanken Commc’ns v. WORLDTRAVELERSONLINE.COM, FA 740335 (Nat. Arb. Forum
None of Respondent’s disputed domain names resolve to any
website. The Panel finds that
Respondent’s failure to actively use the disputed domain names is not 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 VICORP Rests.,
Inc. v. Paradigm Techs. Inc., FA 702527 (Nat. Arb. Forum June 21, 2006) (finding that the respondent’s failure to use the
disputed domain name for several years was not a bona fide offering of
goods or services pursuant to Policy ¶ 4(c)(i) or a legitimate noncommercial or
fair use pursuant to Policy ¶ 4(c)(iii)); see also George Weston
Bakeries Inc. v. McBroom, FA 933276 (Nat. Arb. Forum Apr. 25,
2007) (finding that the respondent had no rights or legitimate interests in a
domain name under either Policy ¶ 4(c)(i) or Policy ¶ 4(c)(iii) where it failed
to make any active use of the domain name).
Finally, the Panel
finds that Respondent is engaged in typosquatting because Respondent is taking
advantage of common misspellings of Complainant’s ASHLEY MADISON mark. Therefore, the Panel finds that Respondent’s
engagement in typosquatting is further evidence that Respondent lacks rights
and legitimate interests in the disputed domain names under Policy ¶ 4(a)(ii). See Microsoft Corp. v.
Domain Registration
The Panel finds that Policy ¶ 4(a)(ii) has been satisfied.
Complainant offers evidence that Respondent has engaged in
serial cybersquatting in the past.
Complainant references past WIPO and NAF decisions against Respondent as
evidence of a pattern of bad faith registration of domain names of well-known
parties. See Cricket Communications, Inc. v. Jason
Banks a/k/a Domain Management SPM, FA 1273896 (Nat. Arb. Forum
Since Respondent registered the disputed domain names on
Finally, the Panel finds that Respondent’s aforementioned
engagement in typosquatting is further evidence of bad faith registration and
use under Policy ¶ 4(a)(iii). See Nextel Commc’ns Inc.
v. Geer, FA 477183 (Nat.
Arb. Forum
The Panel finds that Policy ¶ 4(a)(iii)
has been satisfied.
Having established all three elements required under the ICANN Policy, the Panel concludes that relief shall be GRANTED.
Accordingly, it is Ordered that the <asghleymadison.com>, <ashgleymadison.com>, <ashlemyadison.com>, <ashlerymadison.com>, <ashleuymadison.com>, <ashlewymadison.com>, <ashleymadiaon.com>, <ashleymadiason.com>, <ashleymadidon.com>, <ashleymadidson.com>, <ashleymadioson.com>, <ashleymadisaon.com>, <ashleymadisdon.com>, <ashleymadisob.com>, <ashleymadisobn.com>, <ashleymadisoin.com>, <ashleymadisomn.com>, <ashleymadisonb.com>, <ashleymadisonl.com>, <ashleymadisopn.com>, <ashleymadispon.com>, <ashleymadiuson.com>, <ashleymadoison.com>, <ashleymadoson.com>, <ashleymaduison.com>, <ashleymaduson.com>, <ashleymafdison.com>, <ashleymafison.com>, <ashleymasdison.com>, <ashleymdaison.com>, <ashleymnadison.com>, <ashleymsadison.com>, <ashleytmadison.com>, <ashleyumadison.com>, <ashlkeymadison.com>, <ashlreymadison.com>, <ashlweymadison.com>, and <sshleymadison.com> domain names be TRANSFERRED from Respondent to Complainant.
Hon. Ralph Yachnin, Panelist
Justice, Supreme Court, NY (Ret.)
Dated: April 7, 2010
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