The Complainants are Banco Itaú S.A., of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil and Banco Itaú Chile, of Santiago, Chile, represented by Claro y Cía, Santiago, Chile.
The Respondent is Urislav Martinich, of Santiago, Chile.
The disputed domain name <banco-itau.com> is registered with GoDaddy.com, Inc.
The Complaint was filed with the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center (the “Center”) on July 7, 2009. On July 8, 2009, the Center transmitted by email to GoDaddy.com, Inc. a request for registrar verification in connection with the disputed domain name. On July 8, 2009, GoDaddy.com, Inc. transmitted by email to the Center its verification response confirming that the 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” or “UDRP”), 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 July 15, 2009. In accordance with the Rules, paragraph 5(a), the due date for Response was August 4, 2009. The Respondent did not submit any Response. Accordingly, the Center notified the Respondent's default on August 5, 2009.
The Center appointed Enrique Ochoa de González Argüelles, Alvaro Loureiro Oliveira and Rodrigo Velasco Santelices as panelists in this matter on August 26, 2009. The Panel finds that it was properly constituted. Each member of 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 following information is summarized from information in the Complaint:
- The Complainants are part of the Brazilian banking conglomerate Itaúsa, one of the largest and best-known financial conglomerates in its country of origin, as well as on an international level. The Complainant Banco Itaú S.A. was founded in 1943 and started operating in 1944.
- The Itaúsa conglomerate is well known within the financial sector, both in Brazil and abroad, including the country of Chile, where one of the Complainants Banco Itaú Chile operates since 2007.
- The brand ITAÚ and related brands (including the alternate spelling “ITAU”) are protected by many service marks, trademarks and domain name registrations owned by the Complainant Banco Itaú S.A. and other companies that are part of the Itaú conglomerate, including the following:
Trademark | Certificate Number | Class | Country |
ITAU | 691151 | 36 and 42 | Chile |
ITAÚ | 771366 | 36 | Chile |
ITAU | 778915 | 9 | Chile |
ITAU | 785441 | 35 and 38 | Chile |
ITAÚ | 778916 | 9 and16 | Chile |
ITAÚ | 006.117.066 | 36:10-60-70 | Brazil |
ITAUBANCO | 760.255.989 | 36:10 | Brazil |
ITAU | 816.518.025 | 36:10-60-70 | Brazil |
ITAÚ | 821.594.052 | 36 | Brazil |
- The Complainants are also the holders of several domain names, including:
- <bancoitau.cl>, owned by Complainant Banco Itaú S.A. since May 15, 2006;
- <bancoitaú.cl>, owned by Complainant Banco Itaú S.A. since May 23, 2006;
- <itaubanco.cl>, owned by the related company Banco Itaú Holding Financeira S.A. (now named Itaú Unibanco Banco Múltiplo S.A.) since May 23, 2006;
- <itaúbanco.cl>, owned by the related company Banco Itaú Holding Financeira S.A. (now named Itaú Unibanco Banco Múltiplo S.A.) since May 23, 2006;
- <itaubank.cl>, owned by the related company Banco Itaú Holding Financeira S.A. (now named Itaú Unibanco Banco Múltiplo S.A.) since July 3, 2006;
- <itaúbank.cl>, owned by the related company Banco Itaú Holding Financeira S.A. (now named Itaú Unibanco Banco Múltiplo S.A.) since July 3, 2006;
- <banco-itau.net>, owned by Complainant Banco Itaú S.A. since June 15, 2007. It is worth noting that this domain name is identical to the disputed domain name <banco-itau.com> (without considering the TLD);
- <banco-itau.org>, owned by Complainant Banco Itaú S.A. since June 15, 2007. Again, this domain name is identical to the disputed domain name <banco-itau.com> (without considering the TLD);
- <bancoitau.com>, owned by Complainant Banco Itaú S.A. since April 15, 2001. This domain name is virtually identical to the disputed domain name, including the TLD, the only difference being the lack of a hyphen;
- <bancoitau.com.br>, owned by Complainant Banco Itaú S.A. since May 18, 1999;
- <bancoitau.info>, owned by Complainant Banco Itaú S.A. since October 8, 2001;
- <bancoitau.mobi>, owned by Complainant Banco Itaú S.A. since September 19, 2006;
- <bancoitau.net>, owned by Complainant Banco Itaú S.A. since May 25, 1999;
- <bancoitau.org>, owned by Complainant Banco Itaú S.A. since May 25, 1999;
- <itaubanco.com>, owned by Complainant Banco Itaú S.A. since September 16, 1996;
- <itaubanco.com.br>, owned by Complainant Banco Itaú S.A. since August 27, 1996;
- <itaubanco.mobi>, owned by Complainant Banco Itaú S.A. since September 21, 2006;
- <itaubank.com>, owned by Complainant Banco Itaú S.A. since October 13, 1996;
- <itaubank.mobi>, owned by Complainant Banco Itaú S.A., since September 21, 2006.
- The Brazilian Patent and Trademark Office, in the Official Gazette No. 1973 of October 28, 2008, acknowledged the fame and high repute status of the trademark ITAÚ in the context of an opposition case filed against the trademark ITAÚPLAZA SHOPPING (Appln. No. 822.702.282).
- The Complainant Banco Itaú S.A. and other companies of the Itaú conglomerate are also the owners of many applications and registrations for the trademark ITAÚ in several other countries throughout the world.
- No Response was filed by the Respondent within the time specified in the Notification of Complaint and Commencement of Administrative Proceedings. As of the date of this decision, no Response has been filed by the Respondent. Consequently, this Panel will issue its Decision based on the Complaint, the Policy, the Rules, the Supplemental Rules, and without the benefit of a Response from Respondent (Mary-Lynn Mondich and American Vintage Wine Biscuits, Inc. v. Shane Brown, doing business as Big Daddy's Antiques, WIPO Case No. D2000-0004).
- The disputed domain name, <banco-itau.com>, was registered on October 1, 2008.
The Complainants contend that they have obtained a remarkable reputation and image in the corporate field and with consumers in Brazil, Chile and worldwide.
In line with the abovementioned, the Complainants contend that they have developed a substantial goodwill and brand recognition in respect of the ITAÚ mark. Thus, the word and trademark ITAÚ are automatically associated with the Complainants, regardless of the field of activity concerned.
The Complainants contend that the disputed domain name, <banco-itau.com>, contains the very same words that also form the substance of both Complainants' names: “Banco Itaú S.A.” and “Banco Itaú Chile”.
The Complainants contend that the most distinctive portion of the domain name in question - namely, “Itaú” - is identical to the famous and widely registered service mark and trademark ITAÚ and that the word “banco” that is also part of the disputed domain name is the Spanish term for “bank” and is therefore completely generic regarding the core services of Banco Itaú S.A. and Banco Itaú Chile, namely, banking and financial services in International Class 36.
The Complainants contend that since the domain name <banco-itau.com> incorporates the mark ITAÚ in its entirety, and since the mark ITAÚ is in fact used for a bank, the added word “banco” (“bank”) does not avoid confusion as to source but rather heightens the possibility of confusion (see Forest Laboratories, Inc. v. Awad Kajouk, Section 6.A of the decision, WIPO Case No. D2007-1650); and consequently, the disputed domain name illegally reproduces the Complainant Banco Itaú S.A.'s trademark ITAÚ and, therefore, is identical to -or, at the very least, confusingly similar to- the Complainant Banco Itaú S.A.'s registered trademarks.
The Complainants contend that the word “itaú” means “black stone” in the Tupi-Guarani language, but has no meaning whatsoever in Spanish, which is the language spoken by the Respondent, as well as the language used for the added word “banco” (“bank”) and that the combination of words “banco-itaú” makes no sense other than to refer to the Complainants' mark and business. It is thus very clear that “Itaú” is not used as a descriptive word and that the Respondent has no interest in using it in its generic sense (see Sanofi-Aventis v. Direct Response Marketing aka DRM, Section 6.B of the Decision, WIPO Case No. D2005-0661.).
The Complainants contend that the Respondent is not commonly known by the disputed domain name and that his own name, as an individual, is not even remotely similar to the domain name. Moreover, the Respondent does not engage in the banking business, so the word “banco” (“bank”) in the domain name has no connection at all with him.
The Complainants have not licensed or otherwise consented to the Respondent's use or registration of a domain name comprising Banco Itaú S.A.'s highly distinctive, well-known and widely registered mark ITAÚ.
The Complainants contend that the Respondent's use of the domain name does not constitute a bona fide offering of goods or services, since the Respondent was a client of Banco Itaú Chile who felt he was not treated adequately when the bank requested payment of a debt from him. The Complainant also state that as a consequence thereof, the Respondent registered the disputed domain name and set up a website that displays the following message:
“BANCO ITAÚ - Historias del Horror - Próximamente, sitio Web dedicado a contar las nefastas experiencias de diversos clientes, con el Banco Itaú. Todas, respaldadas con documentos. Sólo testimonios reales de personas y empresas con el Banco Itaú. El sitio web será desarrollado por el comunicador, dj, arquitecto de información y diseñador, maestro Livercake y ocupará los primeros resultados en los buscadores por diversos términos, tales como Banco Itau y crédito Banco Itau, ya que será posicionado por el SEO Uri Martinich.
Así que, si has llegado a este sitio por accidente, espera... muy pronto, la primera web no-corporativa, dedicada al Banco Itaú.”
The Complainants contend that the Respondent had threatened to set up the website, to which the disputed domain name resolves, in an email message he sent to a debt-collector acting on behalf of the Complainant Banco Itaú Chile and that there is no doubt that the Respondent is not making a legitimate non-commercial or fair use of the domain name, since (a) it is his express purpose to mislead consumers by making them think that the disputed domain name has a connection with the Complainants; and (b) upon luring consumers to his website, he tarnishes Banco Itaú S.A.'s service marks and trademarks at issue.
The Complainants contend that it is the Respondent's right, as a client of Banco Itaú Chile, to complain if he felt inadequately treated. Nevertheless, it is certainly not the right of the Respondent to use such circumstance as an excuse for registering and using a domain name in which he has no legitimate interest and, as a direct and deliberate result, infringe the Complainants' trademark rights.
The Respondent did not reply to the Complainant's contentions.
Pursuant to the Policy, the Complainant is required to prove the presence of each of the following three elements to obtain the relief it has requested:
(i) the domain name is identical or confusingly similar to a trademark or service mark in which the Complainant has rights; and
(ii) the Respondent has no rights or legitimate interests in respect of the domain name; and
(iii) the domain name has been registered and is being used in bad faith. Policy Paragraph 4(a).
Based upon the registrations cited by the Complainants and provided as Exhibits to this Complaint, the Panel is convinced that the Complainants have rights in the mark ITAU, ITAÚ and ITAUBANCO, among others.
The disputed domain name is <banco-itau.com>. It is well established that the gTLD suffix “.com” or similar, being an integral and necessary part of a domain name, may be disregarded in the determination of confusing similarity. (Empresa Brasileira de Telecomunicações S.A. - Embratel v. Gustavo Teles, WIPO Case No. D2000-0155).
Consequently, it is clear that the domain name <banco-itau.com> is confusingly similar to the trademarks registered and used by the Complainants.
In accordance with prior decisions under the Policy, “a complainant is required to make out a prima facie case that the Respondent lacks rights or legitimate interests. Once such prima facie case is made, the Respondent carries the burden of demonstrating rights or legitimate interests in the domain name. If the Respondent fails to do so, a Complainant is deemed to have satisfied paragraph 4(a)(ii) of the UDRP”. WIPO Overview of WIPO Panel Views on Selected UDRP Questions, paragraph 2.1. See Croatia Airlines d.d. v. Modern Empire Internet Ltd., WIPO Case No. D2003-0455.
Accordingly, as a result of the Complainant's supported allegations which have established its prima facie case and without any evidence of the Respondent's rights or legitimate interests in the disputed domain name, the Panel is satisfied that the Complainant has proven the second element of the Policy.
The Panel moreover notes that there is no evidence before it regarding any further use of the website since its registration beyond the statement presently posted on the website which in light of the circumstances, the Panel finds to be pretextual and an improper basis for a right or legitimate interest in this case.
Paragraph 4(a)(iii) of the Policy requires the Complainant to prove that the disputed domain name has been registered and is being used in bad faith. Paragraph 4(b) of the Policy lists four circumstances that, without limitation, shall be evidence of the registration and use of a domain name in bad faith:
(i) circumstances indicating that you have registered or you have acquired the domain name primarily for the purpose of selling, renting, or otherwise transferring the domain name registration to the complainant who is the owner of the trademark or service mark or to a competitor of that complainant, for valuable consideration in excess of your documented out-of-pocket costs directly related to the domain name; or
(ii) you have registered the domain name in order to prevent the owner of the trademark or service mark from reflecting the mark in a corresponding domain name, provided that you have engaged in a pattern of such conduct; or
(iii) you have registered the domain name primarily for the purpose of disrupting the business of a competitor; or
(iv) by using the domain name, you have intentionally attempted to attract, for commercial gain, Internet users to your website or other on-line location, by creating a likelihood of confusion with the complainant's mark as to the source, sponsorship, affiliation, or endorsement of your website or location or of a product or service on your website or location.
The Panel verified that the Respondent is a client of Banco Itaú Chile and finds in its view it is not possible to escape the conclusion that the Respondent has knowingly incorporated the Complainant's trademark in the domain name without authorization and without the intention to use the domain name as a criticism site but rather to trade on the good will of the Complainant's mark under a pretextual use that does not satisfy this Panel as consistent with a fair use under the Policy.
See Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc, National Westminster Bank plc A/K/A Natwest Bank v. Personal and Pedro López, WIPO Case No. D2003-0166.
Therefore, the Panel is convinced of the existence of bad faith registration and use, and the Complainant has proven the third of the three elements required by the Policy.
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 <banco-itau.com> be transferred to the Complainants.
Enrique Ochoa de González Argüelles | |
Alvaro Loureiro Oliveira | Rodrigo Velasco Santelices |
Dated: September 9, 2009