In a UDRP decision certain to drive brand owners crazy, IM Brands, Inc. which represents designer Isaac Mizrah lost a UDRP on domain name isaacmizrahilive.com
Its so interesting that some UDRP panels use all sort of convoluted logic to give generic domains to trademark holders,2 this panel didn’t seem to question why the domain owner would own this domain without the trademark holder in mind.
Here the domain holder did not respond to the UDRP, offered to sell the domain and the record is silent as to how the domain holder used the domain.
However if you look at the domain name, isaacmizrahilive.com, you will see a page full of pictures and products of the designer as well as adsense ads.
Here are the short list of facts and findings by the one member panel
Complainant owns the ISAACMIZRAHILIVE mark for apparel, bed linens, jewelry, watches, and accessories.
The earliest of these marks to be applied for is number 3,948,520 (ISAAC MIZRAHI LIVE words and design), applied for on July 21, 2009, under filing basis 1B (intent to use); published for opposition on November 3, 2009; and issued on April 19, 2011.
Each of the other marks was applied for in December 2009 or later.
Complainant contends that bad faith may be inferred from the facts that that the domain name is identical to a widely known trademark; that Respondent refused to transfer the domain name upon request, instead demanding payment in excess of its reasonable costs; and that it is difficult or impossible to conceive of a legitimate active use of the domain name by Respondent.
Complainant provides a copy of an email message from Respondent dated May 22, 2013, responding to an inquiry from Complainant, and stating in relevant part:
“I’ve owned the name for over 3 years now, It was not recently registered. It operates as a fansite and has attracted very loyal and active users. That being said, if you wish for me to transfer the domain, we can get it done quick and easy through escrow.com for a sum of $2,000 to cover our website expenses over the past years.”
Respondent registered the domain name on July 27, 2009. Complainant began using the corresponding mark six months later, in January 2010. The only event relating to the mark that predates the domain name is Complainant’s first trademark application, which was filed on July 21, 2009, but not published until November 3, 2009.
The Panel is tempted to speculate that the disputed domain name may well be confusingly similar to other marks owned by Complainant, including marks that predate the domain name; and that Respondent’s registration of the disputed domain name may have occurred following some sort of a public announcement of Complainant’s intent to adopt the ISAAC MIZRAHI LIVE mark in the future (as occurred in Disney Enterprises, Inc.…
