Westmore · UDRP decision
WIPO · Case No. D2011-2210

Caterpillarglasses.com

TransferWIPO-indexed · informational, not legal advice

The Panel ordered transfer of <caterpillarglasses.com>. It found the domain confusingly similar to the CATERPILLAR trademark because it incorporated the mark in full and added “glasses,” a term corresponding to goods for which the mark was registered. The Respondent lacked authorization, was not commonly known by the domain, and showed no preparations for legitimate use. Despite the absence of an active website, bad faith was established based on the mark’s global strength and long history, the Respondent’s prior purchases from the Complainant’s licensee, and the resulting actual notice and nearly inevitable confusion.

Outcome
Transfer
At a glance
Provider
WIPO
Outcome
Transfer
Decision date
2012-02-05
Panelist(s)
Spence, Michael J.
Complainant
Caterpillar Inc.
Respondent
A Senyk - Speckyfoureyes
Counsel
Douglas M. Isenberg
Disputed domain(s)
caterpillarglasses.com
Citation weightrelies on 2 authorities
Domain history UDRP Intelligence

The timeline behind caterpillarglasses.com

Registration, the decision and the archived record of what this domain actually displayed — from public RDAP and the Internet Archive.

Westmore reconstructs the full history behind caterpillarglasses.com — from public RDAP and the Internet Archive — as part of UDRP Intelligence:

Registration → decision → today timeline
Archived Wayback evidence of what the site showed
Registry bad-faith signals
The live current registrant
Available in UDRP Intelligence
Verified public record
Outcome & remedy
Complaint granted. Panel ordered transfer of caterpillarglasses.com.
Reverse Domain Name Hijacking
No RDNH raised.
Westmore Insight

This decision illustrates how passive holding can support a bad-faith finding when the domain combines a globally strong mark with a term describing goods covered by that mark and the record establishes the registrant’s actual pre-registration awareness. The prior purchases from the Complainant’s licensee were particularly important because they provided case-specific evidence of actual notice rather than relying solely on the mark’s fame.

The three-part test
Identical or Confusingly SimilarMet
Rights or Legitimate InterestsMet
Registered and Used in Bad FaithMet

Result of record. The panel's reasoning and decisive facts behind each element are in the Intelligence dossier below.

Related decisions
Case details
Provider
WIPO
Outcome
Transfer
Decision date
2012-02-05
Panel
Spence, Michael J.
Full decision
5 min read · hosted by Westmore

WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center ADMINISTRATIVE PANEL DECISION Caterpillar Inc. v. A Senyk - Speckyfoureyes Case No. D2011-2210 1. The Parties The Complainant is Caterpillar Inc. of Illinois, United States of America, represented by The GigaLaw Firm, Douglas M. Isenberg, Attorney at Law, LLC, United States of America. The Respondent is A Senyk – Speckyfoureyes of Bradford, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. 2. The Domain Name and Registrar The disputed domain name <caterpillarglasses.com> is registered with Network Solutions, LLC. 3. Procedural History The Complaint was filed with the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center (the “Center”) on December 15, 2011. On December 16, 2011, the Center transmitted by email to Network Solutions, LLC. a request for registrar verification in connection with the disputed domain name. On December 16, 2011, Network Solutions, LLC. transmitted by email to the Center its verification response confirming that the Respondent is listed as the registrant and providing the contact details. The Center verified that the Complaint satisfied the formal requirements of the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (the “Policy” or “UDRP”), the Rules for Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (the “Rules”), and the WIPO Supplemental Rules for Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (the “Supplemental Rules”). In accordance with the Rules, paragraphs 2(a) and 4(a), the Center formally notified the Respondent of the Complaint, and the proceedings commenced on December 20, 2011. In accordance with the Rules, paragraph 5(a), the due date for Response was January 9, 2012. The Center received an email from a third party on January 4, 2012, of which the Center acknowledged receipt. The Respondent did not submit any response. Accordingly, the Center notified the Respondent’s default on January 10, 2012. The Center appointed Michael J. Spence as the sole panelist in this matter on January 20, 2012. The Panel finds that it was properly constituted. The Panel has submitted the Statement of Acceptance and Declaration of Impartiality and Independence, as required by the Center to ensure compliance with the Rules, paragraph 7. 4. Factual Background The Complainant is the proprietor of the trade mark CATERPILLAR, which is used in more than 180 countries in relation to more than 300 products and has been in use for more than 100 years. It is one of the world’s most well-known trade marks. Since 2001 it has been registered for eyeglasses and sunglasses. The Respondent does not currently operate a website under the disputed domain name, but owns several domain names that are apparently intended for use in relation to the sale of eyeglasses. The Complainant provides a declaration from its corporate counsel proving that the Respondent has purchased eyeglasses from Complainant’s licensee prior to its registration of the disputed domain name. 5. Parties’ Contentions A. Complainant The Complainant contends that the disputed domain name contains its trade mark in its entirety; that the Respondent has never used, or made preparations to use, the disputed domain name; and that there is no conceivable use of the disputed domain name which would not be illegitimate and hence in bad faith. B. Respondent The Respondent did not reply to the Complainant’s contentions. 6. Discussion and Findings A. Identical or Confusingly Similar The disputed domain name contains the Complainant’s trade mark in its entirety. The addition of a term denoting one of the categories of good or which the mark is registered does nothing to prevent the disputed domain name from being identical or confusingly similar to the trade mark. Indeed, it only increases the confusing similarity. The Panel therefore finds that the Complainant has established the first element of paragraph 4(a) of the Policy in relation to the disputed domain name. B. Rights or Legitimate Interests It is for the Complainant to establish, at least prima facie that the Respondent has no rights or legitimate interests in the disputed domain names ( Croatia Airlines d.d. v. Modern Empire Internet Ltd. WIPO Case No. D2003-0455 , Belupod.d. v. WACHEM d.o.o . WIPO Case No. D2004-0110 ). Nevertheless, given that in this case confusion is almost inevitable, that Complainant has never assigned, granted, licensed, sold, transferred or in any way authorized the Respondent to register or use the CATERPILLAR trademark in any Manner, that there is no evidence that the Respondent has made preparations for its use, and that the Respondent has never been commonly known by the disputed domain name and has never acquired any trademark or service mark rights in the disputed domain name, it is implausible that the Respondent has any rights or legitimate interests in the disputed domain name. The Panel therefore finds that the Complainant has established the second element of paragraph 4(a) of the Policy in relation to the disputed domain name. C. Registered and Used in Bad Faith The Respondent must have been aware at the time of registering the disputed domain name of the strength of the Complainant’s trade mark. Although the Respondent is not using the disputed domain name in connection with any active website whatsoever, given the global strength and long history of the Complainant’s trade mark and the fact that the Respondent had actual notice of the Complainant’s rights in the CATERPILLAR trademark through its previous purchases, it is of the Panel’s opinion that confusion will almost inevitably result from the use of the disputed domain name. Therefore, the disputed domain name was registered and is being used in bad faith. The Panel therefore finds that the Complainant has established the third element of paragraph 4(a) of the UDRP Policy. 7. Decision For the foregoing reasons, in accordance with paragraphs 4(i) of the Policy and 15 of the Rules, the Panel orders that the disputed domain name <caterpillarglasses.com> be transferred to the Complainant. Michael J. Spence Sole Panelist Date: February 5, 2012

Source of record: WIPO . Reproduced for research; WIPO is the authoritative source.

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