The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation v. Melon International Investment Group Limited
Claim Number: FA0904001260309
Complainant is The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (“Complainant”), represented by Joshua
S. Bish, of Reed Smith LLP,
REGISTRAR AND DISPUTED DOMAIN
NAMES
The domain names at issue are <meloninter.com> and <melonintl.com>, registered with Todaynic.com, 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.
Louis E. Condon as Panelist.
Complainant submitted a Complaint to the National Arbitration Forum electronically on April 30, 2009; the National Arbitration Forum received a hard copy of the Complaint on May 1, 2009.
The National Arbitration Forum made several attempts to receive verification from Todayinc.com, Inc. that the <meloninter.com> and <melonintl.com> domain names are registered with Todaynic.com, Inc. and that Respondent is the current registrant of the names. The Forum also made several attempts to receive verification from Todaynic.com, Inc. that Respondent is bound by the Todaynic.com, 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"). Todayinc.com, Inc. did not reply to the Forum's verification requests.
On May 22, 2009, the Forum reported to ICANN that Todayinc.com, Inc. was non-compliant with the Forum's verification requests. On May 22, 2009, the Forum notified ICANN and the parties that the case would proceed without verification due to Todayinc.com, Inc.'s failure to comply with the Forum's verification requests.
On June 1, 2009, a Notification of Complaint and Commencement of Administrative Proceeding (the "Commencement Notification"), setting a deadline of June 22, 2009 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@meloninter.com and postmaster@melonintl.com by e-mail.
Having received no response from Respondent, the National Arbitration Forum transmitted to the parties a Notification of Respondent Default.
On June 25, 2009, pursuant to Complainant's request to have the dispute decided by a single-member Panel, the National Arbitration Forum appointed Louis E. Condon as Panelist.
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 <meloninter.com> and <melonintl.com> domain names are confusingly similar to Complainant’s MELLON mark.
2. Respondent does not have any rights or legitimate interests in the <meloninter.com> and <melonintl.com> domain names.
3. Respondent registered and used the<meloninter.com> and <melonintl.com> domain names in bad faith.
B. Respondent failed to submit a Response in this proceeding.
Complainant, Bank of New York Mellon Corporation, operates
an asset management, securities, and financial services company under its
MELLON mark. Complainant conducts
business internationally, including in the
Respondent registered the <meloninter.com> and <melonintl.com> domain names on February 23, 2009 and February 19, 2009, respectively. The disputed domain names both resolve to websites that offer asset management and investment-related services similar to those provided by Complainant.
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.
Complainant has provided evidence of the registration of its MELLON mark with the USPTO. The Panel finds this registration adequately establishes Complainant's rights in its MELLON mark under Policy ¶ 4(a)(i). See Metro. Life Ins. Co. v. Bonds, FA 873143 (Nat. Arb. Forum Feb. 16, 2007) (finding that a trademark registration adequately demonstrates a complainant’s rights in a mark under Policy ¶ 4(a)(i)); see also KCTS Television Inc. v. Get-on-the-Web Ltd., D2001-0154 (WIPO Apr. 20, 2001) (holding that it does not matter for the purpose of paragraph 4(a)(i) of the Policy whether the complainant’s mark is registered in a country other than that of the respondent’s place of business).
Respondent's <meloninter.com> and <melonintl.com> domain names each contain a misspelled version of Complainant's MELLON mark, with the additions of an abbreviation of the term "international" and the generic top-level domain ".com." The Panel finds these alterations do not distinguish the disputed domain names from Complainants mark, and thus finds the disputed domain names are confusingly similar to Complainant's 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 Sutton Group Fin. Servs. Ltd. v. Rodger, D2005-0126 (WIPO June 27, 2005) (finding that the domain name <suttonpromo.com> is confusingly similar to the SUTTON mark because the addition of descriptive or non-distinctive elements to the distinctive element in a domain name is immaterial to the analysis under Policy ¶ 4(a)(i)); see also Trip Network Inc. v. Alviera, FA 914943 (Nat. Arb. Forum Mar. 27, 2007) (concluding that the addition of a gTLD, whether it be “.com,” “.net,” “.biz,” or “.org,” is irrelevant to a Policy ¶ 4(a)(i) analysis).
The Panel finds Policy ¶ 4(a)(i) has been satisfied.
Complainant has alleged Respondent does not have rights or legitimate interests in the disputed domain names. Once Complainant makes a prima facie case in support of its allegations, the burden shifts to Respondent to prove it does have rights or legitimate interests pursuant to Policy ¶ 4(a)(ii). The Panel finds Complainant has established a prima facie case. Due to Respondent’s failure to respond to the Complaint, the Panel may assume Respondent does not have rights or legitimate interests in the disputed domain names. The Panel, however, will examine the record to determine whether Respondent has rights or legitimate interests pursuant to Policy ¶ 4(c). See G.D. Searle v. Martin Mktg., FA 118277 (Nat. Arb. Forum Oct. 1, 2002) (“Because Complainant’s Submission constitutes a prima facie case under the Policy, the burden effectively shifts to Respondent. Respondent’s failure to respond means that Respondent has not presented any circumstances that would promote its rights or legitimate interests in the subject domain name under Policy ¶ 4(a)(ii).”); see also Pavillion Agency, Inc. v. Greenhouse Agency Ltd., D2000-1221 (WIPO Dec. 4, 2000) (finding that the respondents’ failure to respond can be construed as an admission that they have no legitimate interest in the domain names).
Respondent’s disputed domain names resolve to websites that offer
financial services that compete with Complainant’s business. The Panel finds Respondent’s use of the
disputed domain names to divert Internet users looking for Complainant’s
business to Respondent's competitive websites is not a use in connection with a
bona fide offering of goods or
services pursuant to Policy ¶ 4(c)(i), or legitimate
noncommercial or fair uses pursuant to Policy ¶ 4(c)(iii). See Bank of Am. Corp. v. Nw. Free
Cmty. Access, FA 180704 (Nat.
Arb. Forum Sept. 30, 2003)
(“Respondent's demonstrated intent to divert Internet users seeking
Complainant's website to a website of Respondent and for Respondent's benefit
is not a bona fide offering of goods or services under Policy ¶ 4(c)(i) and it is not a legitimate noncommercial or fair use
under Policy ¶ 4(c)(iii).”); see
also Ameritrade Holdings Corp. v.
Polanski, FA 102715 (Nat. Arb. Forum Jan. 11, 2002) (finding that
the respondent’s use of the disputed domain name to redirect Internet users to
a financial services website, which competed with the complainant, was not a bona
fide offering of goods or services).
Additionally, the Panel finds there is insufficient evidence
to support a finding that Respondent is commonly known by the disputed domain names
prior to their registration. The WHOIS
record indicates Respondent is known as “Melon International Investment Group
Ltd.” Although Respondent appears to be superficially
known by the disputed domain names, the Panel finds that without any
corroborating evidence in the record to confirm Respondent is in fact commonly
known by the disputed domain names, the Panel must find Respondent is not
commonly known by the disputed domain names under Policy ¶ 4(c)(ii). See Yoga Works, Inc. v. Arpita, FA 155461 (Nat. Arb.
Forum June 17, 2003) (finding that the
respondent was not “commonly known by” the <shantiyogaworks.com>
domain name despite listing its name as “Shanti Yoga Works” in its WHOIS
contact information because there was “no
affirmative evidence before the Panel that the respondent was ever ‘commonly
known by’ the disputed domain name prior to its registration of the disputed
domain name”); see also City News & Video v. Citynewsandvideo,
FA 244789 (Nat. Arb. Forum May 5, 2004) (“Although Respondent’s WHOIS
information lists its name as ‘citynewsandvideo,’ there is no evidence before
the Panel to indicate that Respondent is, in fact, commonly known by the disputed
domain name <citynewsandvideo.com> pursuant to Policy ¶ 4(c)(ii).”).
The Panel finds Policy ¶ 4(a)(ii) has been satisfied.
Respondent’s disputed domain names both resolve to websites that offer financial services that directly compete with Complainant’s business. The Panel finds Respondent’s use of the disputed domain names disrupts Complainant’s business and is evidence of bad faith registration and use pursuant to Policy ¶ 4(b)(iii). See DatingDirect.com Ltd. v. Aston, FA 593977 (Nat. Arb. Forum Dec. 28, 2005) (“Respondent is appropriating Complainant’s mark to divert Complainant’s customers to Respondent’s competing business. The Panel finds this diversion is evidence of bad faith registration and use pursuant to Policy ¶ 4(b)(iii).”); see also Classic Metal Roofs, LLC v. Interlock Indus., Ltd., FA 724554 (Nat. Arb. Forum Aug. 1, 2006) (finding that the respondent registered and used the <classicmetalroofing.com> domain name in bad faith pursuant to Policy ¶ 4(b)(iii) by redirecting Internet users to the respondent’s competing website).
Respondent presumably profits from its offering of competing
financial services on the websites resolving from the confusingly similar disputed domain
names. Thus, the Panel finds Respondent
is attempting to profit from the goodwill associated with Complainant’s mark,
which is evidence of bad faith registration and use pursuant to Policy ¶ 4(b)(iv). See Computerized
Sec. Sys., Inc. v. Hu, FA 157321 (Nat. Arb. Forum June 23, 2003)
(finding that the respondent’s use of the <saflock.com> domain name to
offer goods competing with the complainant’s illustrates the respondent’s bad
faith registration and use of the domain name, evidence of bad faith
registration and use pursuant to Policy ¶ 4(b)(iv)); see also AltaVista Co. v. Krotov, D2000-1091
(WIPO Oct. 25, 2000) (finding bad faith under Policy ¶ 4(b)(iv) where the
respondent’s domain name resolved to a website that offered links to
third-party websites that offered services similar to the complainant’s
services and merely took advantage of Internet user mistakes).
The Panel find Policy ¶
4(a)(iii) has been satisfied.
Complainant having established all three elements required under the ICANN Policy, the Panel concludes that relief should be GRANTED.
Accordingly, it is Ordered that the <meloninter.com> and <melonintl.com> domain names be TRANSFERRED from Respondent to Complainant.
Louis E. Condon, Panelist
Dated: July 15, 2009
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