Slide, Inc. v. SLIDETV.com,
Inc. c/o Marketing Department c/o Daniel Bryan
Claim Number: FA0806001212529
PARTIES
Complainant is Slide, Inc. (“Complainant”), represented by John
B. Duncan, of Slide, Inc.,
REGISTRAR AND DISPUTED DOMAIN NAMES
The domain names at issue are <slidetv.com>, registered
with Names4Ever,
http://www.Names4Ever.com, and <myslidetv.com>,
<slidetvafrica.com>,
<slidetvamerica.com>,
<slidetvargentina.com>,
<slidetvasia.com>,
<slidetvaustralia.com>,
<slidetvbrasil.com>,
<slidetvcanada.com>,
<slidetvchile.com>, <slidetvchina.com>, <slidetvcolombia.com>, <slidetvdenmark.com>, <slidetvegypt.com>, <slidetvengland.com>, <slidetveu.com>, <slidetveurope.com>, <slidetvfinland.com>, <slidetvfrance.com>, <slidetvgermany.com>, <slidetvgreece.com>, <slidetvhawaii.com>, <slidetvindia.com>, <slidetvindonesia.com>, <slidetvireland.com>, <slidetvisrael.com>, <slidetvitaly.com>, <slidetvjapan.com>, <slidetvkorea.com>, <slidetvlatino.com>, <slidetvmexico.com>, <slidetvmideast.com>, <slidetvnetherlands.com>, <slidetvnewzealand.com>, <slidetvnorway.com>, <slidetvpakistan.com>, <slidetvperu.com>, <slidetvphilippines.com>, <slidetvpoland.com>, <slidetvportugal.com>, <slidetvrussia.com>, <slidetvspain.com>, <slidetvsweden.com>, <slidetvswitzerland.com>, <slidetvtaiwan.com>, <slidetvturkey.com>, <slidetvuk.com>, <slidetvukraine.com>, <slidetvusa.com>, <myslidetvspace.com>, <slidetvarts.com>, <slidetvb2b.com>, <slidetvbeer.com>, <slidetvbiz.com>, <slidetvblogs.com>, <slidetvbollywood.com>, <slidetvbusiness.com>, <slidetvcharity.com>, <slidetvchat.com>, <slidetvclassifieds.com>, <slidetvcollege.com>, <slidetvcoupons.com>, <slidetvcomedy.com>, <slidetvdates.com>, <slidetvdirect.com>, <slidetvdirectory.com>, <slidetvdownloads.com>, <slidetvearth.com>, <slidetveducation.com>, <slidetvemail.com>, <slidetventertainment.com>, <slidetvfamily.com>, <slidetvfashion.com>, <slidetvfinance.com>, <slidetvfood.com>, <slidetvforums.com>, <slidetvfriends.com>, <slidetvgames.com>, <slidetvgenealogy.com>, <slidetvgirls.com>, <slidetvgov.com>, <slidetvhealth.com>, <slidetvhollywood.com>, <slidetvhumor.com>, <slidetvinc.com>, <slidetvjobs.com>, <slidetvkids.com>, <slidetvlaw.com>, <slidetvmedia.com>, <slidetvmobile.com>, <slidetvmovies.com>, <slidetvmac.com>, <slidetvmagazine.com>, <slidetvmail.com>, <slidetvmall.com>, <slidetvmarketing.com>, <slidetvmusic.com>, <slidetvmp3.com>, <slidetvnetwork.com>, <slidetvnews.com>, <slidetvoffice.com>, <slidetvonline.com>, <slidetvparents.com>, <slidetvpets.com>, <slidetvphone.com>, <slidetvphotos.com>, <slidetvpolitics.com>, <slidetvportal.com>, <slidetvproductions.com>, <slidetvradio.com>, <slidetvrealestate.com>, <slidetvringtones.com>, <slidetvschools.com>, <slidetvscience.com>, <slidetvshopping.com>, <slidetvsports.com>, <slidetvstore.com>, <slidetvstudios.com>, <slidetvsingles.com>, <slidetvspace.com>, <slidetvtech.com>, <slidetvtravel.com>, <slidetvwine.com>, <slidetvuniversity.com>, <slidetvufo.com>, <slidetvvideos.com>, <slidetvvirals.com>, and <iwantmyslidetv.com>,
registered with Godaddy.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.
James A. Carmody, Esq., as Panelist.
PROCEDURAL HISTORY
Complainant submitted a Complaint to the National Arbitration Forum
electronically on
On
On June 26, 2008, Godaddy.Com, Inc. confirmed by
e-mail to the National Arbitration Forum that the <myslidetv.com>,
<slidetvafrica.com>,
<slidetvamerica.com>,
<slidetvargentina.com>,
<slidetvasia.com>,
<slidetvaustralia.com>,
<slidetvbrasil.com>,
<slidetvcanada.com>,
<slidetvchile.com>, <slidetvchina.com>, <slidetvcolombia.com>, <slidetvdenmark.com>, <slidetvegypt.com>, <slidetvengland.com>, <slidetveu.com>, <slidetveurope.com>, <slidetvfinland.com>, <slidetvfrance.com>, <slidetvgermany.com>, <slidetvgreece.com>, <slidetvhawaii.com>, <slidetvindia.com>, <slidetvindonesia.com>, <slidetvireland.com>, <slidetvisrael.com>, <slidetvitaly.com>, <slidetvjapan.com>, <slidetvkorea.com>, <slidetvlatino.com>, <slidetvmexico.com>, <slidetvmideast.com>, <slidetvnetherlands.com>, <slidetvnewzealand.com>, <slidetvnorway.com>, <slidetvpakistan.com>, <slidetvperu.com>, <slidetvphilippines.com>, <slidetvpoland.com>, <slidetvportugal.com>, <slidetvrussia.com>, <slidetvspain.com>, <slidetvsweden.com>, <slidetvswitzerland.com>, <slidetvtaiwan.com>, <slidetvturkey.com>, <slidetvuk.com>, <slidetvukraine.com>, <slidetvusa.com>, <myslidetvspace.com>, <slidetvarts.com>, <slidetvb2b.com>, <slidetvbeer.com>, <slidetvbiz.com>, <slidetvblogs.com>, <slidetvbollywood.com>, <slidetvbusiness.com>, <slidetvcharity.com>, <slidetvchat.com>, <slidetvclassifieds.com>, <slidetvcollege.com>, <slidetvcoupons.com>, <slidetvcomedy.com>, <slidetvdates.com>, <slidetvdirect.com>, <slidetvdirectory.com>, <slidetvdownloads.com>, <slidetvearth.com>, <slidetveducation.com>, <slidetvemail.com>, <slidetventertainment.com>, <slidetvfamily.com>, <slidetvfashion.com>, <slidetvfinance.com>, <slidetvfood.com>, <slidetvforums.com>, <slidetvfriends.com>, <slidetvgames.com>, <slidetvgenealogy.com>, <slidetvgirls.com>, <slidetvgov.com>, <slidetvhealth.com>, <slidetvhollywood.com>, <slidetvhumor.com>, <slidetvinc.com>, <slidetvjobs.com>, <slidetvkids.com>, <slidetvlaw.com>, <slidetvmedia.com>, <slidetvmobile.com>, <slidetvmovies.com>, <slidetvmac.com>, <slidetvmagazine.com>, <slidetvmail.com>, <slidetvmall.com>, <slidetvmarketing.com>, <slidetvmusic.com>, <slidetvmp3.com>, <slidetvnetwork.com>, <slidetvnews.com>, <slidetvoffice.com>, <slidetvonline.com>, <slidetvparents.com>, <slidetvpets.com>, <slidetvphone.com>, <slidetvphotos.com>, <slidetvpolitics.com>, <slidetvportal.com>, <slidetvproductions.com>, <slidetvradio.com>, <slidetvrealestate.com>, <slidetvringtones.com>, <slidetvschools.com>, <slidetvscience.com>, <slidetvshopping.com>, <slidetvsports.com>, <slidetvstore.com>, <slidetvstudios.com>, <slidetvsingles.com>, <slidetvspace.com>, <slidetvtech.com>, <slidetvtravel.com>, <slidetvwine.com>, <slidetvuniversity.com>, <slidetvufo.com>, <slidetvvideos.com>, <slidetvvirals.com>, and <iwantmyslidetv.com> domain
names are registered with Godaddy.com, Inc.
and that the Respondent is the current registrant of the names. Godaddy.com,
Inc. has verified that Respondent is bound by the Godaddy.com, Inc. registration agreement and has thereby agreed to
resolve domain-name disputes brought by third parties in accordance with the
Policy.
On July 3, 2008, a Notification of Complaint and Commencement of Administrative Proceeding (the “Commencement Notification”), setting a deadline of July 23, 2008 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@slidetv.com, postmaster@myslidetv.com, postmaster@slidetvafrica.com, postmaster@slidetvamerica.com, postmaster@slidetvargentina.com, postmaster@slidetvasia.com, postmaster@slidetvaustralia.com, postmaster@slidetvbrasil.com, postmaster@slidetvcanada.com, postmaster@slidetvchile.com, postmaster@slidetvchina.com, postmaster@slidetvcolombia.com, postmaster@slidetvdenmark.com, postmaster@slidetvegypt.com, postmaster@slidetvengland.com, postmaster@slidetveu.com, postmaster@slidetveurope.com, postmaster@slidetvfinland.com, postmaster@slidetvfrance.com, postmaster@slidetvgermany.com, postmaster@slidetvgreece.com, postmaster@slidetvhawaii.com, postmaster@slidetvindia.com, postmaster@slidetvindonesia.com, postmaster@slidetvireland.com, postmaster@slidetvisrael.com, postmaster@slidetvitaly.com, postmaster@slidetvjapan.com, postmaster@slidetvkorea.com, postmaster@slidetvlatino.com, postmaster@slidetvmexico.com, postmaster@slidetvmideast.com, postmaster@slidetvnetherlands.com, postmaster@slidetvnewzealand.com, postmaster@slidetvnorway.com, postmaster@slidetvpakistan.com, postmaster@slidetvperu.com, postmaster@slidetvphilippines.com, postmaster@slidetvpoland.com, postmaster@slidetvportugal.com, postmaster@slidetvrussia.com, postmaster@slidetvspain.com, postmaster@slidetvsweden.com, postmaster@slidetvswitzerland.com, postmaster@slidetvtaiwan.com, postmaster@slidetvturkey.com, postmaster@slidetvuk.com, postmaster@slidetvukraine.com, postmaster@slidetvusa.com, postmaster@myslidetvspace.com, postmaster@slidetvarts.com, postmaster@slidetvb2b.com, postmaster@slidetvbeer.com, postmaster@slidetvbiz.com, postmaster@slidetvblogs.com, postmaster@slidetvbollywood.com, postmaster@slidetvbusiness.com, postmaster@slidetvcharity.com, postmaster@slidetvchat.com, postmaster@slidetvclassifieds.com, postmaster@slidetvcollege.com, postmaster@slidetvcoupons.com, postmaster@slidetvcomedy.com, postmaster@slidetvdates.com, postmaster@slidetvdirect.com, postmaster@slidetvdirectory.com, postmaster@slidetvdownloads.com, postmaster@slidetvearth.com, postmaster@slidetveducation.com, postmaster@slidetvemail.com, postmaster@slidetventertainment.com, postmaster@slidetvfamily.com, postmaster@slidetvfashion.com, postmaster@slidetvfinance.com, postmaster@slidetvfood.com, postmaster@slidetvforums.com, postmaster@slidetvfriends.com, postmaster@slidetvgames.com, postmaster@slidetvgenealogy.com, postmaster@slidetvgirls.com, postmaster@slidetvgov.com, postmaster@slidetvhealth.com, postmaster@slidetvhollywood.com, postmaster@slidetvhumor.com, postmaster@slidetvinc.com, postmaster@slidetvjobs.com, postmaster@slidetvkids.com, postmaster@slidetvlaw.com, postmaster@slidetvmedia.com, postmaster@slidetvmobile.com, postmaster@slidetvmovies.com, postmaster@slidetvmac.com, postmaster@slidetvmagazine.com, postmaster@slidetvmail.com, postmaster@slidetvmall.com, postmaster@slidetvmarketing.com, postmaster@slidetvmusic.com, postmaster@slidetvmp3.com, postmaster@slidetvnetwork.com, postmaster@slidetvnews.com, postmaster@slidetvoffice.com, postmaster@slidetvonline.com, postmaster@slidetvparents.com, postmaster@slidetvpets.com, postmaster@slidetvphone.com, postmaster@slidetvphotos.com, postmaster@slidetvpolitics.com, postmaster@slidetvportal.com, postmaster@slidetvproductions.com, postmaster@slidetvradio.com, postmaster@slidetvrealestate.com, postmaster@slidetvringtones.com, postmaster@slidetvschools.com, postmaster@slidetvscience.com, postmaster@slidetvshopping.com, postmaster@slidetvsports.com, postmaster@slidetvstore.com, postmaster@slidetvstudios.com, postmaster@slidetvsingles.com, postmaster@slidetvspace.com, postmaster@slidetvtech.com, postmaster@slidetvtravel.com, postmaster@slidetvwine.com, postmaster@slidetvuniversity.com, postmaster@slidetvufo.com, postmaster@slidetvvideos.com, postmaster@slidetvvirals.com, and postmaster@iwantmyslidetv.com by e-mail.
A timely Response was received and determined to be complete on
Each party filed an Additional Submission, each of which was taken into
consideration by the Panel.
On July 30, 2008, pursuant to Complainant’s
request to have the dispute decided by a single-member Panel, the National
Arbitration Forum appointed James A. Carmody, Esq., as Panelist.
RELIEF SOUGHT
Complainant requests that the domain names be transferred from
Respondent to Complainant.
PARTIES’ CONTENTIONS
A.
Complainant
1. Respondent’s domains, <slidetv.com>, <myslidetv.com>, <slidetvafrica.com>, <slidetvamerica.com>, <slidetvargentina.com>, <slidetvasia.com>, <slidetvaustralia.com>, <slidetvbrasil.com>, <slidetvcanada.com>, <slidetvchile.com>, <slidetvchina.com>, <slidetvcolombia.com>, <slidetvdenmark.com>, <slidetvegypt.com>, <slidetvengland.com>, <slidetveu.com>, <slidetveurope.com>, <slidetvfinland.com>, <slidetvfrance.com>, <slidetvgermany.com>, <slidetvgreece.com>, <slidetvhawaii.com>, <slidetvindia.com>, <slidetvindonesia.com>, <slidetvireland.com>, <slidetvisrael.com>, <slidetvitaly.com>, <slidetvjapan.com>, <slidetvkorea.com>, <slidetvlatino.com>, <slidetvmexico.com>, <slidetvmideast.com>, <slidetvnetherlands.com>, <slidetvnewzealand.com>, <slidetvnorway.com>, <slidetvpakistan.com>, <slidetvperu.com>, <slidetvphilippines.com>, <slidetvpoland.com>, <slidetvportugal.com>, <slidetvrussia.com>, <slidetvspain.com>, <slidetvsweden.com>, <slidetvswitzerland.com>, <slidetvtaiwan.com>, <slidetvturkey.com>, <slidetvuk.com>, <slidetvukraine.com>, <slidetvusa.com>, <myslidetvspace.com>, <slidetvarts.com>, <slidetvb2b.com>, <slidetvbeer.com>, <slidetvbiz.com>, <slidetvblogs.com>, <slidetvbollywood.com>, <slidetvbusiness.com>, <slidetvcharity.com>, <slidetvchat.com>, <slidetvclassifieds.com>, <slidetvcollege.com>, <slidetvcoupons.com>, <slidetvcomedy.com>, <slidetvdates.com>, <slidetvdirect.com>, <slidetvdirectory.com>, <slidetvdownloads.com>, <slidetvearth.com>, <slidetveducation.com>, <slidetvemail.com>, <slidetventertainment.com>, <slidetvfamily.com>, <slidetvfashion.com>, <slidetvfinance.com>, <slidetvfood.com>, <slidetvforums.com>, <slidetvfriends.com>, <slidetvgames.com>, <slidetvgenealogy.com>, <slidetvgirls.com>, <slidetvgov.com>, <slidetvhealth.com>, <slidetvhollywood.com>, <slidetvhumor.com>, <slidetvinc.com>, <slidetvjobs.com>, <slidetvkids.com>, <slidetvlaw.com>, <slidetvmedia.com>, <slidetvmobile.com>, <slidetvmovies.com>, <slidetvmac.com>, <slidetvmagazine.com>, <slidetvmail.com>, <slidetvmall.com>, <slidetvmarketing.com>, <slidetvmusic.com>, <slidetvmp3.com>, <slidetvnetwork.com>, <slidetvnews.com>, <slidetvoffice.com>, <slidetvonline.com>, <slidetvparents.com>, <slidetvpets.com>, <slidetvphone.com>, <slidetvphotos.com>, <slidetvpolitics.com>, <slidetvportal.com>, <slidetvproductions.com>, <slidetvradio.com>, <slidetvrealestate.com>, <slidetvringtones.com>, <slidetvschools.com>, <slidetvscience.com>, <slidetvshopping.com>, <slidetvsports.com>, <slidetvstore.com>, <slidetvstudios.com>, <slidetvsingles.com>, <slidetvspace.com>, <slidetvtech.com>, <slidetvtravel.com>, <slidetvwine.com>, <slidetvuniversity.com>, <slidetvufo.com>, <slidetvvideos.com>, <slidetvvirals.com>, and <iwantmyslidetv.com>,
the domain names at issue, are identical or confusingly similar to
Complainant’s SLIDE mark.
2. Respondent has no rights or
legitimate interests in the domain names at issue.
3. Respondent has registered and
used the domain names at issue in bad faith.
B.
Respondent
1. Complainant’s SLIDE mark is
generic and widely used on many websites and the domain names at issue are not
identical or confusingly similar to the SLIDE mark.
2. Respondent has rights and
legitimate interests in the domain names at issue.
3. Respondent has not registered
or used the domains at issue in bad faith.
C. Additional Submissions
Each party filed an Additional Submission, each of which was taken into
consideration by the Panel.
FINDINGS
The
Complaint is based on Complainant’s trademark SLIDE (U.S. Registration No. 3,169,728, registration date November 7,
2006). Complainant’s claimed date of
first use in commerce is
Respondent
registered the <slidetv.com>
domain name on January 16, 2006, the first of the 128 domain names at issue. All of these domains contain some form of
“slidetv” and none of them contain Complainant’s mark SLIDE standing
alone. In March of 2008, Complainant
contacted Respondent to discuss the prospect of purchasing the <slidetv.com> domain name. Subsequently,
rather than sell the domain to Complainant, Respondent registered the remaining
127 domain names at issue—all of which, as noted, contain some form of
“slidetv” in the domain name and do not include SLIDE standing alone.
As noted,
on January 16, 2006, Respondent registered the domain name <slidetv.com>. Since
2007, Respondent has developed the <slidetv.com>
domain name and SlideTV brand as a network of niche, online Internet portals. To expand the SlideTV brand into areas where
it possesses video programming, Respondent (between March 23, 2008 and April
12, 2008) registered 127 domain names comprised of “SLIDE,” “TV,” and other
common words (e.g. <slidetvchina.com>, <slidetvwine.com>, <slidetvtravel.com> and <slidetvfashion.com>). Respondent
has made significant investments of time, energy and money to develop these
domains into independent, online Internet portals. For example, <slidetvwine.com> will be a portal dedicated to the topic of
wine.
Although Complainant has not authorized or licensed Respondent to use the SLIDE mark, Respondent is commonly known by the name “Slidetv” and has incorporated using that name as Slidetv Corporation.
I find that the domain names at issue are not identical or confusingly to Complainant’s SLIDE mark and, in any event, Respondent’s January 16, 2006 registration of <slidetv.com> predates Complainant’s date of first use in commerce of its registered SLIDE mark. Respondent’s subsequent registration of 127 more “slidetv” variant marks after contact with Complainant to discuss purchase of the <slidetv.com> domain name cannot be deemed bad faith registrations because Respondent had the right to expand on his original registration which trumped Complainant’s use in time.
DISCUSSION
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.
The domain names in dispute are not
confusingly similar to Complainant’s mark because they are different from the mark and would not cause
confusion with the general public. The Panel finds that Complainant has failed to
satisfy Policy ¶ 4(a)(i). See Entrepreneur Media, Inc. v.
Smith, 279 F.3d 1135, 1147 (9th Cir. 2002) ("Similarity of marks or
lack thereof are context-specific
concepts. In the Internet context, consumers are aware that domain names for different Web sites
are quite often similar, because of the need for language economy, and that very small differences
matter."); see also Cigarettes Cheaper!, Inc. v. World WideBrands, FA 100490
(Nat. Arb. Forum
Since Complainant has not satisfied
Policy ¶ 4(a)(i), the Panel declines to analyze the other two elements of the Policy.
See Creative Curb v. Edgetec Int’l Pty. Ltd., FA 116765 (Nat. Arb. Forum Sept. 20, 2002)
(finding that because the complainant must prove
all three elements under the Policy, the complainant’s failure to prove one of
the elements makes further
inquiry into the remaining element unnecessary); see also Hugo Daniel Barbaca Bejinha v. Whois Guard
Protected, FA 836538 (Nat. Arb.
Forum Dec. 28, 2006) (deciding not to
inquire into the respondent’s rights or legitimate interests or its registration and use in bad faith
where the complainant could not satisfy the requirements of Policy ¶ 4(a)(i)).
DECISION
The Complainant having failed to establish all three elements required under
the ICANN Policy, the Panel concludes that relief shall be DENIED.
James A. Carmody, Esq., Panelist
Dated: August 13, 2008
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