The Complainant is Geberit Holding AG of Jona, Switzerland, represented by Nameshield, France.
The Respondent is Reza Chavoshan of Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran (“Iran”).
The disputed domain name <geberitiran.com> is registered with Realtime Register B.V. (the “Registrar”).
The Complaint was filed with the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center (the “Center”) on October 21, 2016. On October 21, 2016, the Center transmitted by email to the Registrar a request for registrar verification in connection with the disputed domain name. On October 24, 2016, the Registrar 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 and 4, the Center formally notified the Respondent of the Complaint, and the proceedings commenced on October 28, 2016. In accordance with the Rules, paragraph 5, the due date for Response was November 17, 2016. The Respondent did not submit any response. Accordingly, the Center notified the Respondent’s default on November 18, 2016.
The Center appointed Nasser A. Khasawneh as the sole panelist in this matter on December 6, 2016. 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 Complainant is the owner of two International trademark registrations in various countries, amongst which is Iran. The trademark GEBERIT, registration number 571872, was registered on May 6, 1991. The trademark GEBERIT (figurative), registration number 878950, was registered on February 9, 2006.
The Complainant also owns various domain names containing the trademark GEBERIT, of which the domain name <geberit.com> registered in 1997.
The disputed domain name was registered on August 3, 2015 and resolved to a website in Persian. From the documentation provided by the Complainant, it appears that the Respondent’s website prominently displayed the Complainant’s GEBERIT trademark (including the GEBERIT figurative trademark). No translation of the contents of the Respondent’s website has been provided. However, the Panel notes that the images on the website suggest a product or service related to sanitary equipment.
The Panel has attempted to access the website “www.geberitiran.com” and notes that the domain name no longer resolves to any website. For the purposes of its analysis, the Panel has examined the screenshots of the website as provided by the Complainant in its Complaint.
The Complainant is Geberit Holding A.G. The Complainant describes itself as a European leader in the field of sanitary products. The Complainant argues that the disputed domain name <geberitiran.com> is confusingly similar to the Complainant’s trademarks GEBERIT.
The Complainant alleges that the disputed domain name is identical or confusingly similar to a trademark or service mark in which it has rights. The Complainant alleges that the addition of the geographical term “Iran” or the addition of the generic Top-Level Domain (“gTLD”) “.com” is not sufficient to distinguish the disputed domain name from the Complainant’s trademark.
The Complainant also alleges that the Respondent has no rights or legitimate interests in the disputed domain name. The Complainant contends that this lack of legitimate interest is demonstrated by the fact that the Respondent is not affiliated with the Complainant or authorized by the Complainant in any way to use the trademark GEBERIT. The Whois of the disputed domain name is also Reza Chavoshan. The Respondent is not known by the disputed domain name and thus is not known as “Geberit”. In addition, the Complainant claims that the Respondent is not using the disputed domain name in connection with a bona fide offering of goods or services.
Finally, the Complainant alleges that the disputed domain name was registered and is being used in bad faith. The disputed domain name is confusingly similar to the Complainant’s trademark, branded goods, and domain names associated with the Complainant’s trademark. Given the distinctiveness of the Complainant’s trademark and reputation, and given the fact that the Complainant’s semi-figurative trademark appears on the website to which the disputed domain name resolves, the Complainant finds that the disputed domain name was registered with the full knowledge of the Complainant’s trademarks and uses it for the purpose of misleading and diverting traffic. In addition, the Respondent publishes pictures directly replicated from the Complainant’s website and is using the disputed domain name to simulate a website as a subsidiary of the Complainant. Finally, the Complainant contends that the Respondent’s failure to respond to a cease-and-desist letter may be considered a factor in finding bad faith registration and use of a domain name.
The Respondent did not reply to the Complainant’s contentions.
The Panel must render its Decision on the basis of the statements and documents submitted and in accordance with the Policy, the Rules and any rules and principles of law that it deems applicable. Rules, paragraph 15(a). The Complainant must establish each element of paragraph 4(a) of the Policy, namely:
(i) the disputed domain name is identical or confusingly similar to a trademark or service mark in which the Complainant has rights;
(ii) the Respondent has no rights or legitimate interests in respect of the disputed domain name; and
(iii) the disputed domain name has been registered and is being used in bad faith.
The Complainant must establish these elements even if the Respondent does not submit a response. E.g., The Vanguard Group, Inc. v. Lorna Kang, WIPO Case No. D2002-1064. In the absence of a response, the Panel may also accept as true the reasonable factual allegations in the complaint. E.g., ThyssenKrupp USA, Inc. v. Richard Giardini, WIPO Case No. D2001-1425 (citing Talk City, Inc. v. Michael Robertson, WIPO Case No. D2000-0009).
A. Identical or Confusingly Similar
The Panel concludes that the first element of paragraph 4(a) of the Policy is fulfilled.
The Panel agrees that the disputed domain name is confusingly similar to the Complainant’s GEBERIT trademark. The addition of the geographical term “Iran” does not assist in distinguishing the disputed domain name from the Complainant’s trademark, and may even suggest that there is a connection between the geographical location and the trademark. See, e.g., The Ford Foundation v. MD Baharul Islam, WIPO Case No. D2014-1616.
The “.com” suffix should be also disregarded when evaluating the identity or similarity. See, e.g., VAT Holding AG v. Vat.com, WIPO Case No. D2000-0607. Omitting the gTLD suffix, the Panel finds that the disputed domain name in this proceeding is confusingly similar to the GEBERIT trademark.
The Panel concludes that the first element of Policy paragraph 4(a) is fulfilled.
The Panel also concludes that the second element of paragraph 4(a) of the Policy is fulfilled.
The Complainant must show a prima facie case that the Respondent lacks rights or legitimate interests. See, e.g., Croatia Airlines d.d. v. Modern Empire Internet Ltd., WIPO Case No. D2003-0455. The absence of rights or legitimate interests is shown if a respondent does not rebut the complainant’s prima facie case. Paragraph 4(c) of the Policy lists circumstances that may demonstrate when a respondent has rights or legitimate interests in a domain name, including (1) the use of the domain name in connection with a bona fide offering of goods and services; (2) being commonly known by the domain name; or (3) the making of a legitimate noncommercial or fair use of the domain name, without intent for commercial gain to misleadingly divert consumers.
The Complainant states that the Respondent has no authorization to use the Complainant’s trademark and that the Respondent is not known by the disputed domain name. The Complainant also states that the Respondent is not related in any way to the Complainant’s business.
The Respondent’s website prominently displayed the Complainant’s trademark, including its logo mark coupled with images allegedly taken from the Complainant’s website. Without any need for further inquiry, the Panel finds that Respondent’s use of the Complainant’s trademark, without authorization and in a manner that creates confusion with the Complainant’s business, demonstrates that the Respondent has no rights or legitimate interests in respect of the disputed domain name.
The Respondent has failed to come forward claiming any right or legitimate interest in the disputed domain name and the Respondent’s website now routes the user to a blank webpage. The Panel finds that the Respondent’s registration of a domain name containing the Complainant’s trademark, and maintaining the website without putting it to any discernable legitimate use, regardless of the fact that the website no longer makes use of the Complainant’s trademark, indicates that the Respondent has no legitimate interest in the registered domain name.
Policy paragraph 4(a)(ii) is established.
The Panel finds that the third element of paragraph 4(a) of the Policy, bad faith registration and bad faith use, is also established.
Using a domain name to intentionally attract Internet users, for commercial gain, by creating a likelihood of confusion, may be evidence of bad faith. See Policy, paragraph 4(b)(iv). UDRP panels may draw inferences about bad faith in light of the circumstances, including failure to respond to a Complaint and other circumstances. Telstra Corporation Limited v. Nuclear Marshmallows, WIPO Case No. D2000-0003.
The Respondent registered a domain name incorporating the Complainant’s mark with an added geographical term, giving the misimpression that it is linked to the official website of the Complainant in Iran or otherwise authorized by the Complainant. The website to which users were routed also competes directly with the goods associated with the Complainant’s marks. The Complainant’s semi-figurative trademark prominently appears on the website linked to the disputed domain name. The images showing equipment advertised by the Respondent are similar to those that can be found on the Complainant’s websites. This is frequently seen as evidence of use in bad faith. See, e.g., Pfizer Inc. v. jg a/k/a Josh Green, WIPO Case No. D2004-0784. The Panel infers that the Respondent deliberately attempted to attract Internet users to its website for commercial gain, by creating a likelihood of confusion with the Complainant’s mark.
In the absence of any explanation from the Respondent and under the present circumstances, the Panel concludes on balance that the disputed domain name was registered and is being used in bad faith under paragraph 4(b)(iv) of the Policy.
For the foregoing reasons, in accordance with paragraphs 4(i) of the Policy and 15 of the Rules, the Panel orders that the disputed domain name <geberitiran.com> be transferred to the Complainant.
Nasser A. Khasawneh
Sole Panelist
Date: December 20, 2016