Musccolumbiasc.com, Muschhealthuniversitymedicalcenter.com

The timeline behind musccolumbiasc.com

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

How each disputed name was decided in this proceeding.

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

ARBITRATION AND MEDIATION CENTER ADMINISTRATIVE PANEL DECISION Medical University of South Carolina v. Eren Sengul Case No. D2026-1209 1. The Parties The Complainant is Medical University of South Carolina, United States of America (“United States”), represented by Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough, L.L.P., United States. The Respondent is Eren Sengul, Türkiye. 2. The Domain Names and Registrar The disputed domain names <musccolumbiasc.com> and <muschhealthuniversitymedicalcenter.com> are registered with IHS Telekom, Inc. (the “Registrar”). 3. Procedural History The Complaint was filed with the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center (the “Center”) on March 20, 2026. On March 20, 2026, the Center transmitted by email to the Registrar a request for registrar verification in connection with the disputed domain names. On March 21, 2026, the Registrar transmitted by email to the Center its verification response disclosing registrant and contact information for the disputed domain names which differed from the named Respondent (Domain Admin, Privacy Protect, LLC) and contact information in the Complaint. The Center sent an email communication to the Complainant on March 23, 2026, providing the registrant and contact information disclosed by the Registrar, and inviting the Complainant to submit an amendment to the Complaint. The Complainant filed an amended Complaint on March 23, 2026. On March 23, 2026 the Center informed the parties in Turkish and English, that the language of the registration agreement for the disputed domain names are Turkish. On March 23, 2026, the Complainant requested English to be the language of the proceeding. The Respondent did not submit any comment on the Complainant’s submission. The Center verified that the Complaint together with the amended 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”). page 2 In accordance with the Rules, paragraphs 2 and 4, the Center formally notified the Respondent of the Complaint, and the proceedings commenced on March 24, 2026. In accordance with the Rules, paragraph 5, the due date for Response was April 13, 2026. The Respondent sent email communications to the Center on March 23, 2026, March 24, 2026 and April 14, 2026. The Center appointed Kaya Köklü as the sole panelist in this matter on April 20, 2026. 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 a university located in South Carolina, United States. It provides services in research, healthcare, and education since 1824. The Complainant is the owner of the following United States trademark registrations: - MUSC (word mark), Registration No. 7037183, registered on April 25, 2023, covering protection for services as protected in classes 41, 42, and 44; - MUSC HEALTH (word mark), Registration No. 7358839, registered on April 16, 2024, covering protection for services as protected in class 44; and - MUSC MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA (word mark), Registration No. 3094683, registered on May 23, 2006, covering protection for services as protected in classes 41 and 44. The Complainant further operates its official website at <muschealth.org>. The Respondent is reportedly located in Türkiye. The disputed domain names were both registered on September 6, 2025. According to unrebutted evidence provided by the Complainant, the disputed domain names resolved to websites in English language, promoting various health care services while prominently using the Complainant’s MUSC and MUSC HEALTH trademarks and creating the look and feel as if the associated websites were operated by the Complainant (which are not). At the time of the Decision, the disputed domain names no longer resolve to active websites. 5. Parties’ Contentions A. Complainant The Complainant contends that it has satisfied each of the elements required under the Policy for a transfer of the disputed domain names. B. Respondent The Respondent did not submit a formal Response.. However, in his email communication to the Center on March 24, 2026, the Respondent provided in Turkish language his explicit consent to transfer the disputed domain names to the Complainant. This consent was reiterated in the Respondent’s email correspondence to the Center dated April 14, 2026, in which the Respondent expressly stated in the English language: “I confirm that I do not wish to contest this matter and I consent to the transfer of the disputed domain name to the Complainant”. However, a suspension of the administrative proceeding was refused by the Complainant. page 3 6. Discussion and Findings 6.1. Language of the Proceeding The language of the Registration Agreement for the disputed domain names is Turkish. Pursuant to the Rules, paragraph 11(a), in the absence of an agreement between the parties, or unless specified otherwise in the registration agreement, the language of the administrative proceeding shall be the language of the registration agreement. The Complaint and amended Complaint were filed in English. The Complainant requested that the language of the proceeding be English for several reasons, including the fact that the Complainant has no knowledge of Turkish, the websites associated to the disputed domain names were in English language, and that filing a translation of the Complaint would be time and costs intensive. In its various email communications to the Center, the Respondent did not make any specific submissions with respect to the language of the proceeding, even though communicated by the Center in Turkish and English. In exercising its discretion to use a language other than that of the registration agreement, the Panel has to exercise such discretion judicially in the spirit of fairness and justice to both parties, taking into account all relevant circumstances of the case, including matters such as the parties’ ability to understand and use the proposed language, time and costs. WIPO Overview 3.1, section 4.5.1. The Panel notes that the Respondent was given the opportunity to respond in Turkish and English and that the Respondent made use of this opportunity to communicate with the Center in both languages. The Panel further bears in mind that the websites previously associated to the disputed domain names were in English language and that the Respondent has not objected the Complainant’s request concerning the language of the proceeding. Considering the need to ensure the proceeding is conducted in a timely and cost effective manner, the Panel finds it is not foreseeable that the Respondent would be prejudiced, should English be adopted as the language of the proceeding, particularly given the Decision below. Consequently, the Panel determines under paragraph 11(a) of the Rules that the language of the proceeding shall be English. 6.2. Substantive Issues According to paragraph 15(a) of the Rules, the Panel shall decide the Complaint in accordance with the Policy, the Rules and any rules and principles of law that it deems applicable. In accordance with paragraph 4(a) of the Policy, the Complainant must prove that each of the three following elements is satisfied: (i) the disputed domain names are identical or confusingly similar to a trademark in which the Complainant has rights; and (ii) the Respondent has no rights or legitimate interests in respect of the disputed domain names; and (iii) the disputed domain names have been registered and are being used in bad faith. It is further noted that the Panel has taken note of the WIPO Overview 3.1 and, where appropriate, will decide consistently with the consensus views captured therein. page 4 A. Consent to Transfer The Panel notes that even without a formal settlement between the parties, a consent for the transfer of the disputed domain names by the Respondent can provide sufficient basis for an order for transfer without the need for substantial consideration of the UDRP grounds and the further merits of the case. In view of WIPO Overview 3.1, section 4.10, a panel may “order the requested remedy solely on the basis of such consent”. In his email communications to the Center of March 24 and April 14, 2026, the Respondent unambiguously and repeatedly expressed his willingness and consent to unconditionally transfer the disputed domain names to the Complainant. The fact that no settlement has been concluded between the Parties, does in view of the Panel, not affect the effectiveness of the Respondent’s unilateral consent to the transfer of the disputed domain names. B. Conclusion The Panel notes that despite the willingness of the Respondent to transfer the disputed domain names, the Complainant did not agree to a suspension of the proceedings and wished to proceed on the merits of the case. As a consequence, the Panel orders the transfer of the disputed domain names based on the Respondent’s consent to transfer and exceptionally renders its Decision in summary form. But even if the Respondent would not have provided its consent to transfer the disputed domain names, the Panel finds that (without the need to go into details) the disputed domain names are confusingly similar to the Complainant’s MUSC and MUSC HEALTH trademarks, the Respondent does not have rights or legitimate interests in the disputed domain names, and the disputed domain names were registered and are being used in bad faith. 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 names <musccolumbiasc.com> and <muschhealthuniversitymedicalcenter.com> be transferred to the Complainant. /Kaya Köklü/ Kaya Köklü Sole Panelist Date: April 30, 2026

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