Hoffmann-La Roche Inc. v.
Remy Marten
Claim Number: FA0908001278687
PARTIES
Complainant is Hoffmann-La Roche Inc., (“Complainant”) represented by Elizabeth Atkins, of Lathrop
& Gage LLP,
REGISTRAR AND DISPUTED DOMAIN NAME
The domain name at issue is <tamiflu.us>, 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.
Bruce E. Meyerson as Panelist.
PROCEDURAL HISTORY
Complainant submitted a Complaint to the National Arbitration Forum
(the “Forum”) electronically on
On
On August 13, 2009, a
Notification of Complaint and Commencement of Administrative Proceeding (the
“Commencement Notification”), setting a deadline of September 2, 2009 by which
Respondent could file a Response to the Complaint, was transmitted to
Respondent in compliance with Paragraph 2(a) of the Rules for usTLD Dispute
Resolution Policy (the “Rules”).
Having received no Response from Respondent, the Forum transmitted to
the parties a Notification of Respondent Default.
On
Having reviewed the communications records, the Administrative Panel
(the “Panel”) finds that the Forum has discharged its responsibility under
Paragraph 2(a) of the Rules. Therefore,
the Panel may issue its decision based on the documents submitted and in
accordance with the Policy, the Rules, the Forum’s Supplemental Rules and any
rules and principles of law that the Panel deems applicable, without the
benefit of any Response from Respondent.
RELIEF SOUGHT
Complainant requests that the domain name be transferred from
Respondent to Complainant.
PARTIES’ CONTENTIONS
A. Complainant
1. Respondent’s <tamiflu.us> domain name is identical to Complainant’s TAMIFLU mark.
2.
Respondent does not have any rights or
legitimate interests in the <tamiflu.us>
domain name.
3.
Respondent registered and used the <tamiflu.us> domain name in bad
faith.
B. Respondent failed to submit a Response in this proceeding.
FINDINGS
Complainant sells and distributes a pharmaceutical
product under the TAMIFLU mark, which
Complainant registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office
(“USPTO”) on
Respondent registered the <tamiflu.us> domain name on
DISCUSSION
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 the Complainant's undisputed
representations pursuant to Paragraphs 5(f), 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 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; and
(2) the Respondent has no rights or legitimate interests in respect of
the domain name; and
(3) the domain name has been registered or is being used in bad faith.
Given the similarity between the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution
Policy (“UDRP”) and the usTLD Policy, the Panel will draw upon UDRP precedent
as applicable in rendering its decision.
Identical
and/or Confusingly Similar
The Panel finds that Complainant’s
registration of the TAMIFLU mark with the United States Patent and Trademark
Office (“USPTO”) (Reg. No. 2,439,305, issued
Respondent’s <tamiflu.us>
domain name is identical to Complainant’s TAMIFLU mark. The <tamiflu.us>
domain name differs from Complainant’s
mark only in that the country-code top-level domain (“ccTLD”) “.us” has been
added to the mark. The Panel finds that
the addition of a ccTLD is inconsequential when considering whether a domain
name is identical or confusingly similar to a mark. See Lifetouch, Inc. v. Fox Photographics, FA
414667 (Nat. Arb. Forum
Rights
or Legitimate Interests
Complainant contends that Respondent lacks all rights and legitimate interests in the disputed domain name. Under Policy ¶ 4(a)(ii), if the complainant makes a prima facie case against the respondent, the respondent then has the burden of showing evidence that it does have rights or legitimate interests in the disputed domain name. The Panel finds that Complainant has made a prima facie case under Policy ¶ 4(a)(ii). See Bank of Am. Corp. v. McCall, FA 135012 (Nat. Arb. Forum Dec. 31, 2002) (“Respondent's failure to respond not only results in its failure to meet its burden, but also will be viewed as evidence itself that Respondent lacks rights and legitimate interests in the disputed domain name.”).
There is no evidence in the record to conclude that Respondent owns any service marks or trademarks that reflect the <tamiflu.us> domain name. Therefore the Panel finds that Respondent does not have rights and legitimate interests pursuant to Policy ¶ 4(c)(i). See Meow Media Inc. v. Basil, FA 113280 (Nat. Arb. Forum Aug. 20, 2002) (finding that there was no evidence that Respondent was the owner or beneficiary of a mark that is identical to the <persiankitty.com> domain name); see also Pepsico, Inc. v Becky, FA 117014 (Nat. Arb. Forum Sept. 3, 2002) (holding that because Respondent did not own any trademarks or service marks reflecting the <pepsicola.us> domain name, it had no rights or legitimate interests pursuant to Policy ¶ 4(c)(i)).
Complainant contends that
Respondent is not commonly known by the disputed domain name, nor has it ever been the
owner or licensee of the TAMIFLU mark. The WHOIS record for the disputed domain name
lists Respondent as “Remy
Marten.” Because Respondent has
failed to show any evidence that Respondent has ever been commonly known by the
disputed domain name, or by any other variant on the TAMIFLU mark, the Panel
finds that Respondent is not commonly known by the disputed domain name pursuant to Policy ¶ 4(c)(iii). See
RMO, Inc. v. Burbridge, FA 96949
(Nat. Arb. Forum May 16, 2001) (interpreting UDRP ¶ 4(c)(ii) "to require a
showing that one has been commonly known by the domain name prior to
registration of the domain name to prevail"); see also Coppertown Drive-Thru Sys., LLC v. Snowden, FA 715089 (Nat. Arb. Forum July 17, 2006) (concluding
that the respondent was not commonly known by the <coppertown.com> domain
name where there was no evidence in the record, including the WHOIS
information, suggesting that the respondent was commonly known by the disputed
domain name).
Respondent is using the disputed domain name to resolve to a website where Complainant’s TAMIFLU product is being sold without Complainant’s authorization. The Panel finds that Respondent’s profiting from unauthorized use of the disputed domain name does not constitute a bona fide offering of goods and services pursuant to Policy ¶ 4(c)(ii), or a legitimate noncommercial or fair use pursuant to Policy ¶ 4(c)(iv). See Bank of Am. Corp. v. Northwest 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 [UDRP] Policy ¶ 4(c)(i) and it is not a legitimate noncommercial or fair use under [UDRP] Policy ¶ 4(c)(iii).”); see also G.D. Searle & Co. v. Mahony, FA 112559 (Nat. Arb. Forum June 12, 2002) (finding the respondent’s use of the disputed domain name to solicit pharmaceutical orders without a license or authorization from the complainant does not constitute a bona fide offering of goods or services under UDRP ¶ 4(c)(i)).
Registration
and Use in Bad Faith
The disputed domain name directs
Internet customers to Respondent’s website resolving from the disputed domain
name, where Respondent is making unauthorized sales of Complainant’s products. The Panel finds that Respondent is intentionally
disrupting Complainant’s business, and therefore Respondent’s registration and
use of the disputed domain name is in bad faith pursuant to Policy ¶ 4(b)(iii). See G.D.
Searle & Co. v. Celebrex Cox-2 Vioxx.com, FA 124508 (Nat. Arb.
Forum Oct. 16, 2002) (“Unauthorized use of Complainant’s CELEBREX mark to sell
Complainant’s products represents bad faith use under [UDRP] ¶ 4(b)(iii).”)); see
also Caterpillar Inc. v. Vine,
FA 97097 (Nat. Arb. Forum June 22, 2001) (“Respondent registered each of the
disputed domain names in order to gain customers and to disrupt Complainant's
business of authorizing dealers to sell its CATERPILLAR equipment.”).
Complainant
contends that Respondent is profiting from these unauthorized sales, and
therefore is gaining commercially from the use of the disputed domain name. The Panel finds that Respondent is
intentionally using the disputed domain name for commercial gain by creating a
likelihood of confusion with Complainant’s mark, which is evidence of Respondent’s
bad faith registration and use pursuant to Policy ¶ 4(b)(iv). See
Fanuc Ltd v. Mach. Control Servs.,
FA 93667 (Nat. Arb. Forum Mar. 13, 2000) (finding that the respondent violated
UDRP ¶ 4(b)(iv) by creating a likelihood of confusion with the complainant's
mark by using a domain name identical to the complainant’s mark to sell the
complainant’s products); see also Allianz of Am. Corp. v. Bond, FA 680624 (Nat. Arb. Forum
June 2, 2006) (finding bad faith registration and use under UDRP ¶ 4(b)(iv)
where the respondent was diverting Internet users searching for the complainant
to its own website and likely profiting).
DECISION
Having established all three elements required under the usTLD Policy, the Panel concludes that relief shall be GRANTED.
Accordingly, it is Ordered that the <tamiflu.us> domain name be TRANSFERRED from Respondent to Complainant.
Bruce E. Meyerson, Panelist
Dated: September 22, 2009
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