DECISION

 

LTWHP, LLC v. Client Care / Web Commerce Communications Limited

Claim Number: FA2403002089750

 

PARTIES

Complainant is LTWHP, LLC ("Complainant"), represented by Sophie Edbrooke of Gerben Perrott, PLLC, United States. Respondent is Client Care / Web Commerce Communications Limited ("Respondent"), Malaysia.

 

REGISTRAR AND DISPUTED DOMAIN NAME

The domain name at issue is <lottorebajas.com>, registered with ALIBABA.COM SINGAPORE E-COMMERCE PRIVATE LIMITED.

 

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.

 

David E. Sorkin as Panelist.

 

PROCEDURAL HISTORY

Complainant submitted a Complaint to Forum electronically on March 21, 2024; Forum received payment on March 21, 2024.

 

On March 25, 2024, ALIBABA.COM SINGAPORE E-COMMERCE PRIVATE LIMITED confirmed by email to Forum that the <lottorebajas.com> domain name is registered with ALIBABA.COM SINGAPORE E-COMMERCE PRIVATE LIMITED and that Respondent is the current registrant of the name. ALIBABA.COM SINGAPORE E-COMMERCE PRIVATE LIMITED has verified that Respondent is bound by the ALIBABA.COM SINGAPORE E-COMMERCE PRIVATE LIMITED registration agreement and has thereby agreed to resolve domain disputes brought by third parties in accordance with ICANN's Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (the "Policy").

 

On March 26, 2024, Forum served the Complaint and all Annexes, including a Written Notice of the Complaint, setting a deadline of April 15, 2024 by which Respondent could file a Response to the Complaint, via email to all entities and persons listed on Respondent's registration as technical, administrative, and billing contacts, and to postmaster@lottorebajas.com. Also on March 26, 2024, the Written Notice of the Complaint, notifying Respondent of the email addresses served and the deadline for a Response, was transmitted to Respondent via post and fax, to all entities and persons listed on Respondent's registration as technical, administrative, and billing contacts.

 

Having received no response from Respondent, Forum transmitted to the parties a Notification of Respondent Default.

 

On April 16, 2024, pursuant to Complainant's request to have the dispute decided by a single-member Panel, Forum appointed David E. Sorkin as Panelist.

 

Having reviewed the communications records, the Administrative Panel (the "Panel") finds that 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" through submission of Electronic and Written Notices, as defined in Rule 1 and Rule 2. Therefore, the Panel may issue its decision based on the documents submitted and in accordance with the ICANN Policy, ICANN Rules, 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

Complainant and a predecessor in interest have produced and marketed footwear, apparel, and related goods under LOTTO and related marks since 1973. Complainant owns United States trademark registrations for LOTTO in standard character and stylized form. Complainant's products are sold in physical and online retail stores and on Complainant's website at <lotto.it>.

 

The disputed domain name <lottorebajas.com> was registered in January 2024. The name is registered to Respondent, although Respondent's identity is redacted from the public whois record. The domain name does not currently resolve to a website. Complainant alleges, with supporting evidence, that it was previously used for a website displaying Complainant's LOTTO mark and offering or purporting to offer for sale products similar or identical to those offered by Complainant. Complainant states that Respondent is not commonly known by the domain name, has no relationship with Complainant, and is not authorized to use Complainant's mark.

 

Complainant contends on the above grounds that the disputed domain name <lottorebajas.com> is confusingly similar to its LOTTO mark; that Respondent lacks rights or legitimate interests in the disputed domain name; and that the disputed domain name was registered and is being used in bad faith.

 

B. Respondent

Respondent failed to submit a Response in this proceeding.

 

FINDINGS

The Panel finds that the disputed domain name is confusingly similar to a mark in which Complainant has rights; that Respondent lacks rights or legitimate interests in respect of the disputed domain name; and that the disputed domain name was registered and is being used in bad faith.

 

DISCUSSION

Paragraph 15(a) of the Rules instructs this Panel to "decide a complaint on the basis of the statements and documents submitted and 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 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.

 

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(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 set forth in a complaint; however, the Panel may deny relief where a complaint contains mere conclusory or unsubstantiated arguments. See WIPO Overview of WIPO Panel Views on Selected UDRP Questions, § 4.3 (3d ed. 2017), available at http://www.wipo.int/amc/en/domains/search/overview3.0/; see also eGalaxy Multimedia Inc. v. ON HOLD By Owner Ready To Expire, FA 157287 (Forum June 26, 2003) (dismissing complaint where complainant failed to "produce clear evidence to support its subjective allegations").

 

Identical and/or Confusingly Similar

The disputed domain name <lottorebajas.com> incorporates Complainant's registered LOTTO trademark, adding the generic term "rebajas" (Spanish for "sales") and the ".com" top-level domain. These additions do not substantially diminish the similarity between the domain name and Complainant's mark. See, e.g., LTWHP, LLC v. Client Care / Web Commerce Communications Ltd., FA 2045488 (Forum June 21, 2023) (finding <lottosportespana.com> confusingly similar to LOTTO); LTWHP, LLC v. Domain Admin / Whoisprotection.cc, FA 1991546 (Forum May 11, 2022) (finding <lottoschoenennl.com> confusingly similar to LOTTO); LTWHP, LLC v. Client Care / Web Commerce Communications Ltd., FA 1974208 (Forum Dec. 27, 2021) (finding <lotto-argentina.com> confusingly similar to LOTTO); Autumnpaper Ltd v. Sylvia Baer, Monika Nussbaum, Jessica Decker, Client Care, Web Commerce Communications Ltd., Max Werner, Krzysztof Lobacz, D2023-3339 (WIPO Sept. 27, 2023) (finding <alexandermcqueenrebajas.com> confusingly similar to ALEXANDER MDQUEEN); OOFOS, INC. v. Client Care / Web Commerce Communications Ltd. / Mayandican / ZhouRunFa / Julius Bergman, FA 2020364 (Forum Dec. 21, 2022) (finding <oofosrebajas.com> confusingly similar to OOFOS); Skechers U.S.A., Inc. & Skechers U.S.A., Inc. II v. Dennis McKenzie / Kassandra Kucera / Brian Chavez / Mandy Gloeckner / Kathryn Wimmer / Jackie Matte / Daniel Quinones / Client Care / Web Commerce Communications Ltd., FA 1968883 (Forum Nov. 18, 2021) (finding <skechersrebajas.com> confusingly similar to SKECHERS). The Panel considers the disputed domain name to be confusingly similar to a mark in which Complainant has rights.

 

Rights or Legitimate Interests

Under the Policy, the Complainant must first make a prima facie case that the Respondent lacks rights and legitimate interests in the disputed domain name, and then the burden shifts to the Respondent to come forward with concrete evidence of such rights or legitimate interests. See Hanna-Barbera Productions, Inc. v. Entertainment Commentaries, FA 741828 (Forum Aug. 18, 2006).

 

The disputed domain name incorporates Complainant's registered mark without authorization. Its sole apparent use has been for a website that attempted to pass off as Complainant to promote unauthorized or competing products. Such use does not give rise to rights or legitimate interests under the Policy. See, e.g., Autumnpaper Ltd v. Sylvia Baer, Monika Nussbaum, Jessica Decker, Client Care, Web Commerce Communications Ltd., Max Werner, Krzysztof Lobacz, supra (finding lack of rights or interests in similar circumstances); LTWHP, LLC v. Client Care / Web Commerce Communications Ltd., FA 2045488, supra (same); OOFOS, INC. v. Client Care / Web Commerce Communications Ltd. / Mayandican / ZhouRunFa / Julius Bergman, supra (same); LTWHP, LLC v. Domain Admin / Whoisprotection.cc, supra (same); LTWHP, LLC v. Client Care / Web Commerce Communications Ltd., FA 1974208, supra (same); Skechers U.S.A., Inc. & Skechers U.S.A., Inc. II v. Dennis McKenzie / Kassandra Kucera / Brian Chavez / Mandy Gloeckner / Kathryn Wimmer / Jackie Matte / Daniel Quinones / Client Care / Web Commerce Communications Ltd., supra (same).

 

Complainant has made a prima facie case that Respondent lacks rights and legitimate interests in the domain name, and Respondent has failed to come forward with any evidence of such rights or interests. Accordingly, the Panel finds that Complainant has sustained its burden of proving that Respondent lacks rights or legitimate interests in respect of the disputed domain name.

 

Registration and Use in Bad Faith

Finally, Complainant must show that the disputed domain name was registered and is being used in bad faith. Under paragraph 4(b)(iii) of the Policy, bad faith may be shown by evidence that Respondent registered the disputed domain name "primarily for the purpose of disrupting the business of a competitor." Under paragraph 4(b)(iv), bad faith may be shown by evidence that "by using the domain name, [Respondent] intentionally attempted to attract, for commercial gain, Internet users to [Respondent's] web site 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 [Respondent's] web site or location or of a product or service on [Respondent's] web site or location."

 

Respondent registered a domain name incorporating Complainant's registered mark and has used it for a website that attempted to pass off as Complainant to promote unauthorized or competing products. Such circumstances are indicative of bad faith registration and use under the Policy. See, e.g., Autumnpaper Ltd v. Sylvia Baer, Monika Nussbaum, Jessica Decker, Client Care, Web Commerce Communications Ltd., Max Werner, Krzysztof Lobacz, supra (finding lack of rights or interests in similar circumstances); LTWHP, LLC v. Client Care / Web Commerce Communications Ltd., FA 2045488, supra (same); OOFOS, INC. v. Client Care / Web Commerce Communications Ltd. / Mayandican / ZhouRunFa / Julius Bergman, supra (same); LTWHP, LLC v. Domain Admin / Whoisprotection.cc, supra (same); LTWHP, LLC v. Client Care / Web Commerce Communications Ltd., FA 1974208, supra (same); Skechers U.S.A., Inc. & Skechers U.S.A., Inc. II v. Dennis McKenzie / Kassandra Kucera / Brian Chavez / Mandy Gloeckner / Kathryn Wimmer / Jackie Matte / Daniel Quinones / Client Care / Web Commerce Communications Ltd., supra (same). The Panel is also mindful of Respondent's extensive history of similar conduct targeted at Complainant and other trademark owners. See, e.g., ABG Hunter LLC v. Web Commerce Communications Ltd. / Client Care, FA 2077881 (Forum Jan. 31, 2024); LTWHP, LLC v. Client Care / Web Commerce Communications Ltd., FA 2045488, supra; LTWHP, LLC v. Client Care / Web Commerce Communications Ltd., FA 1974208, supra. The Panel finds that the disputed domain name was registered and is being used in bad faith.

 

DECISION

Having considered the three elements required under the ICANN Policy, the Panel concludes that relief shall be GRANTED.

 

Accordingly, it is Ordered that the <lottorebajas.com> domain name be TRANSFERRED from Respondent to Complainant.

 

 

 

David E. Sorkin, Panelist

Dated: April 16, 2024