Deckers Outdoor Corporation
v. Karen McDougall, Frances Kirwan, Richard Abbots, Nicola Hammill, Sadika Ekemen,
Stephen Gould, Christina Papadaki, Felicity Poole, Wang Changgui and [redacted]
Claim Number: FA0908001281082
PARTIES
Complainant is Deckers Outdoor Corporation (“Complainant”), represented by Justin
R. Gaudio, of Greer, Burns & Crain, Ltd.,
REGISTRAR AND DISPUTED DOMAIN NAMES
The domain names at issue are <buyituggboots.com>, <uggboots-uk.com>,
<buyituggboots.net>, <uggbootsweb.com>, <buyuggbootsnow.com>, <ugg-ca.com>, <buyuggbootsnow.net>, <ugg-eu.com>, <selluggboots.net>, <uggeuro.com>, <uggaustralia-euro.com>, <ugg-euro.com>, <uggaustralia-uk.com>, <uggonline-uk.com>, <uggboots2u.com>, <uggstore-uk.com>, and <uggboots-au.com>,
registered with Todaynic.com, Inc.
PANEL
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.
Bruce E. Meyerson as Panelist.
PROCEDURAL HISTORY
Complainant submitted a Complaint to the National Arbitration Forum
electronically on
After numerous requests, the Registrar, Todaynic.com, Inc., has not confirmed to the National Arbitration that the <buyituggboots.com>, <uggboots-uk.com>, <buyituggboots.net>, <uggbootsweb.com>, <buyuggbootsnow.com>, <ugg-ca.com>, <buyuggbootsnow.net>, <ugg-eu.com>, <selluggboots.net>, <uggeuro.com>, <uggaustralia-euro.com>, <ugg-euro.com>, <uggaustralia-uk.com>, <uggonline-uk.com>, <uggboots2u.com>, <uggstore-uk.com>, and <uggboots-au.com> domain names are registered with Todaynic.com, Inc. or that any Respondent is the current registrant of any of the foregoing names. Registrar’s non-compliance has been reported to ICANN. The FORUM’s standing instructions are to proceed with this dispute.
On
Although all Respondents received proper notice of the Complaint, only [redacted]
submitted a Response. This matter was determined
to be complete on
On
RELIEF SOUGHT
Complainant requests that the domain names be transferred from
Respondents to Complainant.
PARTIES’ CONTENTIONS
A. Complainant makes the following assertions:
1. Respondents’ <buyituggboots.com>, <uggboots-uk.com>, <buyituggboots.net>, <uggbootsweb.com>, <buyuggbootsnow.com>, <ugg-ca.com>, <buyuggbootsnow.net>, <ugg-eu.com>, <selluggboots.net>, <uggeuro.com>, <uggaustralia-euro.com>, <ugg-euro.com>, <uggaustralia-uk.com>, <uggonline-uk.com>, <uggboots2u.com>, <uggstore-uk.com>, and <uggboots-au.com> domain names are confusingly similar to Complainant’s marks.
2. Respondents do not have any rights or legitimate interests in the <buyituggboots.com>, <uggboots-uk.com>, <buyituggboots.net>, <uggbootsweb.com>, <buyuggbootsnow.com>, <ugg-ca.com>, <buyuggbootsnow.net>, <ugg-eu.com>, <selluggboots.net>, <uggeuro.com>, <uggaustralia-euro.com>, <ugg-euro.com>, <uggaustralia-uk.com>, <uggonline-uk.com>, <uggboots2u.com>, <uggstore-uk.com>, and <uggboots-au.com> domain names.
3. Respondents registered and used the <buyituggboots.com>, <uggboots-uk.com>, <buyituggboots.net>, <uggbootsweb.com>, <buyuggbootsnow.com>, <ugg-ca.com>, <buyuggbootsnow.net>, <ugg-eu.com>, <selluggboots.net>, <uggeuro.com>, <uggaustralia-euro.com>, <ugg-euro.com>, <uggaustralia-uk.com>, <uggonline-uk.com>, <uggboots2u.com>, <uggstore-uk.com>, and <uggboots-au.com> domain names in bad faith.
B. Only one Respondent submitted a Response in this proceeding and that Respondent disclaimed any interest in one of the domain names.
FINDINGS
Complainant holds trademark
registrations of the UGG mark with the United States Patent and Trademark
Office (“USPTO”) (Reg. No. 3,050,925 issued
The <uggstore-uk.com> domain name was registered
on
<uggaustralia-euro.com> |
|
<uggboots-au.com> |
|
<uggboots-uk.com> |
|
<uggbootsweb.com> |
|
<ugg-euro.com> |
|
<uggonline-uk.com> |
|
The websites resolving from the disputed domain names
are commercial websites selling counterfeits of Complainant’s goods.
DISCUSSION
Preliminary Issue: Multiple
Respondents
Complainant has alleged that the entities which control the domain names at issue are effectively controlled by the same person and/or entity, which is operating under several aliases. Paragraph 3I of the Rules for Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (the “Rules”) provides that a “complaint may relate to more than one domain name, provided that the domain names are registered by the same domain name holder.” The Panel finds that Complainant has not sufficiently presented evidence demonstrating that the listed entities are jointly controlled, and thus the Panel, under the National Arbitration Forum’s Supplemental Rule 4(f)(ii), is required to dismiss the Complaint as to all Respondents except Karen McDougall. Thus, the Panel will limit this proceeding to the following domain names registered by Karen McDougall: <uggboots-uk.com>, <uggbootsweb.com>, <uggaustralia-euro.com>, <ugg-euro.com>, <uggonline-uk.com>, and<uggboots-au.com>.
Preliminary
Issue: Identity Theft
A response was submitted to the Complainant by the party who allegedly registered the <uggstore-uk.com> domain name. That Response stated the following:
My association with this website lies solely in the purchase of a pair of boots in November 2008. My home address is obviously linked to the site in order to receive shipment of said boots. Other than one e-mail contact to inquire about the shipment date, I have no association with the party in question.
The <uggstore-uk.com> domain name was registered on
This Respondent submitted a Response asserting that she/he did not
register the disputed domain name, but rather an unknown third-party using
Respondent’s identity must have registered the <uggstore-uk.com> domain name. Respondent asserts she/he has no relation to
the <uggstore-uk.com> domain name.
Under these circumstances, the Panel infers that this Respondent, and
Complainant, have consented to a transfer of the <uggstore-uk.com> domain name.
As to this Respondent, the Panel chooses to forego the traditional UDRP
analysis of the <uggstore-uk.com> domain
name and orders the immediate transfer of the domain name without a
decision on the merits. See Boehringer Ingelheim Int’l GmbH v. Modern
Ltd. – Cayman Web Dev., FA 133625 (Nat. Arb. Forum
Applicable
Rules
According to Policy ¶ 4(j), “[a]ll decisions under this Policy will be published in full over the Internet, except when an Administrative Panel determines in an exceptional case to redact portions of its decision.” The Panel has determined that under the circumstances of the present case, including the claim of identity theft by Respondent, the redaction of this Respondent’s personal information from the Panel’s decision is warranted.
Paragraph 15(a) of the Rules for Uniform Domain
Name Dispute Resolution Policy (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.”
Paragraph 4(a) of the Policy requires that the 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 the Respondent
is identical or confusingly similar to a trademark or service mark in which the
Complainant has rights;
(2) the 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.
Complainant submitted evidence that
it holds trademark registrations of the UGG mark with the United States Patent
and Trademark Office (“USPTO”) (Reg. No. 3,050,925 issued
Complainant also asserts that it
has rights in the UGG AUSTRALIA mark via its registrations of the mark with,
among other international trademark authorities, IP Australia (Reg. No. 785,466
issued
Complainant argues that <ugg-euro.com> domain name is confusingly
similar to Complainant’s UGG mark under Policy ¶ 4(a)(i). This domain name contains Complainant’s UGG
mark, a geographic identifier, and the generic top-level domain (“gTLD”)
“.com.” The domain name also uses a
hyphen between Complainant’s UGG mark and the geographic term. The Panel finds that the <ugg-euro.com> domain name is confusingly similar to
Complainant’s UGG mark under Policy ¶ 4(a)(i).
See Isleworth Land Co. v. Lost in Space, SA,
FA 117330 (Nat. Arb. Forum
Complainant contends that the <uggbootsweb.com>,domain
name is confusingly similar to its UGG mark.
These disputed domain name is made up of the Complainant’s UGG mark, the
gTLD “.com” or “.net,” the word “boots” (which has an obvious relationship to
Complainant’s footwear business), and the generic word “web.” The Panel finds that this disputed domain names is confusingly similar
to Complainant’s UGG mark under Policy ¶ 4(a)(i). See Whitney Nat’l Bank
v. Easynet Ltd, FA 944330 (Nat. Arb. Forum
The <uggonline-uk.com>, and <uggstore-uk.com> domain names consist of Complainant’s UGG
mark, a descriptive or generic word (“boots,” “online,” or “store”), the
geographic abbreviations “uk,” and the gTLD “.com.” The <uggonline-uk.com>
and <uggstore-uk.com> domain
names insert a hyphen between the generic word and the geographic
abbreviation. Complainant contends these
additions are insufficient to distinguish the disputed domain names from
Complainant’s UGG mark for the purposes of Policy ¶ 4(a)(i). The Panel agrees that these two disputed
domain names are confusingly similar to Complainant’s UGG mark under Policy ¶
4(a)(i). See Whitney Nat’l Bank
v. Easynet Ltd, supra; see also
Complainant contends that the <uggaustralia-euro.com> domain name is confusingly
similar to its UGG
Finally, Complainant states that the <uggboots-au.com>
domain name is confusingly similar to its UGG
The Panel finds that Complainant has
made a prima facie case that Respondent Karen McDougall lacks rights and
legitimate interests in the disputed domain names under Policy ¶ 4(a)(ii), and therefore
the burden shifts to this Respondent to show she does have rights or legitimate
interests. See Hanna-Barbera Prods., Inc. v.
Entm’t Commentaries,
FA 741828 (Nat. Arb. Forum
Respondent Karen McDougall’s
failure to answer the Complaint raises a presumption that she has no rights or
legitimate interests in the <uggboots-uk.com>, <uggbootsweb.com>, <uggaustralia-euro.com>,
<ugg-euro.com>, <uggonline-uk.com>, and<uggboots-au.com>
domain names. America
Online, Inc. v.
Complainant states it has not licensed
Respondent Karen McDougall to use its UGG or UGG
Complainant contends that the disputed
domain names registered by Karen McDougall are being used to resolve to
websites offering counterfeit UGG boots, thereby diverting customers away from
Complainant’s genuine UGG merchandise.
The Panel finds that this 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 Hewlett-Packard Co. v. Inversiones HP Milenium
The following disputed domains were
registered by Karen McDougall on the following dates, all of which Complainant
contends post-date Complainant’s rights in the UGG and UGG
<uggaustralia-euro.com> |
|
<uggboots-au.com> |
|
<uggboots-uk.com> |
|
<uggbootsweb.com> |
|
<ugg-euro.com> |
|
<uggonline-uk.com> |
|
The websites resolving from the disputed domain names
are a commercial websites selling counterfeits of Complainant’s goods. Accordingly, the Panel finds that Respondent
Karen McDougall is disrupting Complainant’s business by operating in direct
competition with Complainant and using Complainant’s own UGG mark to do
so. This constitutes bad faith
registration and use under Policy ¶ 4(b)(iii).
See S. Exposure
v. S. Exposure, Inc., FA 94864 (Nat. Arb. Forum
Because the disputed domain names are confusingly similar to
Complainant’s UGG and UGG
DECISION
Having established all three elements required under the ICANN Policy, or
determined the parties consented to a transfer of the <uggstore-uk.com>
domain name, the Panel concludes that relief shall be GRANTED IN PART and
DENIED IN PART. Accordingly,
It is Ordered that the <uggstore-uk.com>, <uggboots-uk.com>,
<uggbootsweb.com>, <uggaustralia-euro.com>, <ugg-euro.com>, <uggonline-uk.com>, and<uggboots-au.com>
domain names be TRANSFERRED from Respondent to Complainant.
It is further Ordered that as to the <buyituggboots.com>, <buyituggboots.net>,
<buyuggbootsnow.com>, <ugg-ca.com>, <buyuggbootsnow.net>, <ugg-eu.com>, <selluggboots.net>, <uggeuro.com>, <uggaustralia-uk.com>, and <uggboots2u.com> domain
names, the Complainant shall be DISMISSED.
Bruce E. Meyerson, Panelist
Dated November 30, 2009
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