Westmore · UDRP DecisionPayporter.com
The three-member Panel denied the Complaint. It found payporter.com identical or confusingly similar to the Complainant’s PAYPORTER trademark and found that the Respondent had not substantiated rights or legitimate interests through its asserted preparations for a lingerie business. The Complaint nevertheless failed because the Complainant did not establish bad-faith registration. Based on the available evidence and the Respondent’s failure to disclose the transfer history, the Panel inferred that the domain was transferred from Seber Holding B.V. to Mr. Erol Ulu between February 10 and May 30, 2022. The judicial and administrative decisions relied upon by the Complainant did not determine ownership of the domain and did not establish that this inferred acquisition was in bad faith. The Panel also declined to find Reverse Domain Name Hijacking.
The timeline behind payporter.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 payporter.com — from public RDAP and the Internet Archive — as part of UDRP Intelligence:
The decision illustrates the importance of identifying the operative registrant and acquisition date where a privacy service and an unclear transfer history obscure control of a domain. Even though the Complainant established confusing similarity and the Respondent failed to prove rights or legitimate interests, the case failed because the evidence did not establish bad-faith intent at the inferred acquisition date. Later objectionable use, renewals, and rulings concerning related companies did not substitute for proof of bad-faith registration.
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 3$<3257(5g'(0(+ø=0(7/(5ø9((/(.7521ø.3$5$$ùY Privacy Protected, Privacy Protected by Hostnet &DVH1RD2026-1990 1. The Parties The Complainant is 3$<3257(5g'(0(+ø=0(7/(5ø9((/(.7521ø.3$5$$121ø0ùø5.(7ø, Türkiye, represented LQWHUQDOO\ 7KH5HVSRQGHQWLV3ULYDF\3URWHFWHG3ULYDF\3URWHFWHGE\+RVWQHW1HWKHUODQGV .LQJGRPRIWKH) “1HWKHUODQGV”) 2. The Domain Name and Registrar The disputed domain name SD\SRUWHUFRP! is UHJLVWHUHGZLWK7XFRZV'RPDLQV,QF WKH“5HJLVWUDU”) 3. 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Factual Background The Complainant is 3$<3257(5g'(0(+ø=0(7/(5ø9((/(.7521ø.3$5$$121ø0ùø5.(7ø IRUPHUO\QDPHG+,=/,3$5$g'(0(+ø=0(7/(5ø9((/(.7521ø.3$5$$121ø0ùø5.(7øa Payment DQG(OHFWURQLF0RQH\,QVWLWXWLRQLQFRUSRUDWHGDVDMRLQWVWRFNFRPSDQ\XQGHUWKHODZVRI7UNL\H 7KH&RPSODLQDQWLVWKHRZQHURIWKHIROORZLQJUHJLVWHUHGWUDGHPDUNV 7XUNLVK5HJLVWHUHG7UDGHPDUN1XPEHU IRUWKHPDUN3$<3257(5 DQGGHVLJQ UHJLVWHUHGRQ $XJXVW , in &ODVVHVDQG; 7XUNLVK5HJLVWHUHG7UDGHPDUN1XPEHU IRUWKHPDUN3$<3257(5 DQGGHVLJQ UHJLVWHUHGRQ $XJXVW LQ&ODVVHV DQG; 7XUNLVK5HJLVWHUHG7UDGHPDUN1XPEHU IRUWKHPDUN3$<3257(56<67(0 DQGGHVLJQ UHJLVWHUHGRQ$XJXVW LQ&ODVVHV DQG and (XURSHDQ8QLRQ5HJLVWHUHG7UDGH0DUN1RIRUWKHPDUN3$<3257(5 ILJXUDWLYH), UHJLVWHUHGRQ0D\ , in Classes 7KHGLVSXWHGGRPDLQQDPHZDVUHJLVWHUHGRQ0D\ ,WZDVSUHYLRXVO\WKHVXEMHFWRIDFRPSODLQW XQGHUWKH3ROLF\LQWKHFDVHRIHizlipara Ödeme Hizmetleri ve Elektronik Para A.S. v. Privacy Protected by Hostnet / Seber Holding B.V.:,32&DVH1RD2020- “the 2020 8'53FDVH”), and the panel in that FDVHZDVDEOHWRGLVFHUQDFKURQRORJ\RIHYHQWVIURPWKHSDUWLHV¶ VXEPLVVLRQVZKLFKWKHSUHVHQW3DQHO JUDWHIXOO\DGRSWVQRWLQJWKDWLWKDVIRXQGQRWKLQJLQWKHVXEPLVVLRQVEHIRUHLWLQWKHSUHVHQWDGPLQLVWUDWLYH SURFHHGLQJWKDWLVLQFRQVLVWHQWZLWKVXFKa WLPHOLQH6RPHDGGLWLRQVKDYHEHHQPDGHE\WKH3DQHOLQWKH present case DQGZKHUHWKLVKDVEHHQGRQHWKHVe DUHVSHFLILFDOO\QRWHG SDJH DATE: DESCRIPTION: January 26, 2016 The Complainant is incorporated in 7XUNH\ May 9, 2016 The disputed domain name is UHJLVWHUHG )HEUXDU\ >$GGHGE\WKHSUHVHQW3DQHOIURPWKHILQGLQJVLQIDFWRIWKH,QWHULPMXGJPHQWE\WKH 'LVWULFW&RXUWRI7KH+DJXH1HWKHUODQGVGDWHG)HEUXDU\@0V6.LOLo ZLIHRI0UErol 8OX DVGHVFULEHGEHORZ UHFHLYHVDQLQYRLFHIURP<RXU+RVWLQJ %9IRUUHJLVWUDWLRQRIWKHGRPDLQQDPH SD\SRUWHUQO!6DLGILQGLQJis IXUWKHU FRQILUPHGLQILQGLQJLQWKH&RXUW¶VSULQFLSDOGHFLVLRQRI$SULO, GHVFULEHGEHORZ April 12, 7KHFRPSDQ\3D\3RUWHU%9LVLQFRUSRUDWHGLQWKH1HWKHUODQGV7KH sole VKDUHKROGHURI3D\3RUWHU%9LV6HEHU+ROGLQJ%90U8OXLVWKHGLUHFWRURIWKH company PayPorter %9 0D\ >$GGHGE\WKHSUHVHQW3DQHOIURPWKHILQGLQJVLQIDFWRIWKH,QWHULPMXGJPHQWE\WKH 'LVWULFW&RXUWRI7KH+DJXH1HWKHUODQGVGDWHG)HEUXDU\@“6HEHU%9” [the Panel presumes this means 6HEHU+ROGLQJ%9@ receives an invoice in the QDPHRI0V6.LOLoIURP'1&DSLWDO,QF, IRUSXUFKDVHRIthe disputed domain name6DLGILQGLQJis IXUWKHUFRQILUPHGLQILQGLQJRI the Court¶s principal GHFLVLRQRI$SULO, GHVFULEHGEHORZ -XQH >$GGHGE\WKHSUHVHQW3DQHOIURPWKHILQGLQJVLQIDFWRIWKH,QWHULPMXGJPHQWE\WKH 'LVWULFW&RXUWRI7KH+DJXH1HWKHUODQGVGDWHG)HEUXDU\@0U8OX UHFHLYHVDQLQYRLFHIURPUHJLVWUDU*R'DGG\ZLWKWKHVXEMHFW“&RQILUPDWLRQWUDQVIHU IURP>WKHGLVSXWHGGRPDLQQDPH@” June 7KHGLVSXWHGGRPDLQQDPHLVDFTXLUHGE\6HEHU+ROGLQJ%9D company incorporated LQWKH1HWKHUODQGV ,WLVDURXQGWKLVWLPHWKDW0U8OXEHJLQVKLVLQYROYHPHQWZLWKWKH&RPSODLQDQW :KLOHWKHFDSDFLW\LQZKLFK0U8OXZDVHQJDJHGE\WKH&RPSODLQDQWLVQRWFOHDUO\ GHILQHGKLVLQYROYHPHQWZLWKWKH&RPSODLQDQWLVQRWHGE\WKH5 HVSRQGHQWLQSUH- Complaint cRUUHVSRQGHQFH December 7KH&RPSODLQDQWFRPPHQFHVDFWLYHXVHRIWKH3$<3257(5 WUDGHPDUN December 7KH&RPSODLQDQWILOHVDSSOLFDWLRQVIRUWKHUHJLVWUDWLRQRIWKH3$<3257(5 trademark LQ7XUNH\ January 2018 0U8OXFRPPHQFHVZRUNDVDQHPSOR\HHRIWKH &RPSODLQDQW February 2018 7KH&RPSODLQDQWEHJLQVXVLQJWKHGLVSXWHGGRPDLQQDPHLQWKHFRXUVHRI its EXVLQHVVRSHUDWLRQV March 2018 0U8OXLVDSSRLQWHGDVD%RDUGPHPEHUDQG&(2RIWKH &RPSODLQDQW July 26, 2018 7KHFRPSDQ\3D\3RUWHU%9REWDLQVLWVSD\PHQWVOLFHQVHIURPWKH'XWFK&HQWUDO %DQN 'H1HGHUODQGVFKH%DQN19– '1% $XJXVW 26, 2019 The Complainant¶V3$<3257(5WUDGHPDUNLVILUVWUHJLVWHUHG in 7XUNH\ $XJXVW 29, 2019 The Complainant¶VVHFRQG3$<3257(5WUDGHPDUNLVUHJLVWHUHGLQ 7XUNH\ SDJH December 2019 7KH&RPSODLQDQWILOHVDQDSSOLFDWLRQIRUWKHUHJLVWUDWLRQRIWKH PAYPORTER WUDGHPDUNEHIRUHWKH(XURSHDQ8QLRQ,QWHOOHFWXDO3URSHUW\2IILFH “(8,32” 7KLV SURFHVVDSSHDUVWRKDYHEHHQRYHUVHHQE\0U8OX January 1, 2020 7KH&RPSODLQDQWEHJLQVRSHUDWLQJXQGHUWKHVXSHUYLVLRQRIWKH&HQWUDO%DQN RI 7XUNH\ May 29, 2020 The Complainant¶V3$<3257(5WUDGHPDUNLVUHJLVWHUHGLQWKH(XURSHDQ 8QLRQ June 2020 0U8OXLVGLVPLVVHGIURPWKH &RPSODLQDQW July 1, 2020 0U8OXFKDQJHVWKH'16VHWWLQJVIRUWKHGLVSXWHGGRPDLQQDPH$VD result, the &RPSODLQDQWORVHVDFFHVVWRLWVZHEVLWHDQGHPDLO VHUYHUV $XJXVW 21, 2020 The Complainant sends a cease-and-GHVLVWOHWWHUWR3D\3RUWHU%9DQG 6HEHU +ROGLQJ %9UHTXHVWLQJWKHYROXQWDU\WUDQVIHURIWKHGLVSXWHGGRPDLQ QDPH $XJXVW 28, 2020 3D\3RUWHU%9VHQGVDUHSO\WRWKH&RPSODLQDQW¶s cease-and-desist letter, DVVHUWLQJULJKWVDQGOHJLWLPDWHLQWHUHVWVLQWKHGLVSXWHGGRPDLQQDPHFODLPLQJ VRPH86'PLOOLRQRQEHKDOIRI0U8OXDVFRPSHQVDWLRQIRUKLVSHUFHQWVKDUH DVDSDUWQHURIWKH&RPSODLQDQW 6HSWHPEHU 2, 2020 3D\3RUWHU%9ILOHVDQDSSOLFDWLRQEHIRUHWKH(8,32IRUFDQFHOODWLRQ RI the Complainant¶s (XURSHDQ8QLRQPAYPORTER WUDGHPDUN 6HSWHPEHU 10, 2020 The Complainant submits the Complaint in WKH8'53FDVH $WWKLVWLPHWKHSDQHOUHFRUGVWKDWWKHGLVSXWHGGRPDLQQDPHUHVROYHVWRDZHEVLWH WKDWDSSHDUVWRRIIHUILQDQFLDO VHUYLFHVLQFOXGLQJPRQH\- WUDQVIHUVHUYLFHV6DLG 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GDWHG6HSWHPEHU,WLVGHWHUPLQHGWKDWDQLQYDOLGLW\FODLPFDQQRORQJHU EHXSKHOGEHFDXVHWKHFDQFHOODWLRQDSSOLFDQW 0RUSDUD%9 QRORQJHUSRVVHVVHV DYDOLGHDUOLHUULJKWLQWKH1HWKHUODQGV SDUDJUDSKVDQGDOVRSHUWKH 1HWKHUODQGV&RXUW¶VDVVHVVPHQWSDUDJUDSKVDQG 7KHFDQFHOODWLRQ DSSOLFDWLRQLVWKHUHIRUHUHMHFWHG SDUDJUDSK 7KH5HJLVWUDU-YHULILHGKROGHURIWKHGLVSXWHGGRPDLQQDPHLVDQRUJDQL]DWLRQQDPHG“Privacy Protected by Hostnet” ZLWKDQDGGUHVVLQ$PVWHUGDP1HWKHUODQGV7KLVDSSHDUVWREHDFUHDWLRQRIHostnet %9 .9. number )D1HWKHUODQGVHQWLW\WKDWLVthe UHVHOOHURIWKHGLVSXWHGGRPDLQQDPH DVRSSRVHGWRWKH 5HJLVWUDU RIUHFRUGIRUWKHGLVSXWHGGRPDLQQDPH 6DLGUHVHOOHUDQGRULWVVDLGSULYDF\VHUYLFHZLOOEH UHIHUUHGWRKHUHLQDIWHUDV“Hostnet” The Response in the present case ZDVILOHGE\0U8OXEXWit GRHVQRWVWDWHZKHWKHUKHLVDFWLQJLQDQ\ SDUWLFXODUFDSDFLW\RURQEHKDOIRIDQ\XQGHUO\LQJKROGHUOn June 1, 2026, Hostnet issued an email to the &HQWHUVWDWLQJ“:HDUHWKHUHJLVWUDUIRUWKHGRPDLQ7KLVGRPDLQEHORQJVWRRXUFOLHQWThe contact LQIRUPDWLRQIRUWKLVGRPDLQLV >0U8OX¶s name DQGDQHPDLODGGUHVVIHDWXULQJLQWHUDOLD0U 8OX¶s initial and VXUQDPHDORQJZLWKDtelephone number and address LQWKH1HWKHUODQGV@”2Q-XQH0U8OX HPDLOHGWKH&HQWHUVWDWLQJ, “,KDYHHQFORVHGDVFUHHQVKRWWRGD\IURPHostnet VKRZLQJWKHGRPDLQLV UHJLVWHUHGRQP\QDPH[sic@DQG, KDYHDOVRHQFORVHGP\,'” 7KH5HVSRQVHLVDFFRPSDQLHGE\GRFXPHQWDU\HYLGHQFHVKRZLQJWKDW0U8OX UHFHLYHGUHQHZDOQRWLFHV IURPWKHSURYLGHURIWKHSULYDF\VHUYLFHZKLFKLVWKHUHJLVWUDU-YHULILHGKROGHURIWKHGLVSXWHGGRPDLQQDPH 5. Supplemental Filing As a procedural matter, the Panel KDVWRGHFLGHZKHWKHUWKH&RPSODLQDQW¶VXQVROLFLWHGVXSSOHPHQWDOILOLQJ WKH“6XSSOHPHQWDO)LOLQJ”) FDQEHDFFHSWHG7KHILOLQJZDVVXEPLWWHGWRWKH&HQWHURQ-XQH $FFRUGLQJWR:,322YHUYLHZ VHFWLRQXQVROLFLWHGVXSSOHPHQWDOILOLQJVDUHJHQHUDOO\GLVFRXUDJHG,Q DQ\FDVHWKHSDUW\VXEPLWWLQJRUUHTXHVWLQJWRVXEPLWDQXQVROLFLWHGVXSSOHPHQWDOILOLQJVKRXOGFOHDUO\VKRZ LWVUHOHYDQFHWRWKHFDVHDQGZK\LWZDVXQDEOHWRSURYLGHWKHLQIRUmation contained therein in its complaint RUUHVSRQVH HJRZLQJWRVRPHXQIRUHVHHQRUH[FHSWLRQDOFLUFXPVWDQFH 7KH6XSSOHPHQWDO)LOLQJFRQWDLQVDUHVSRQVHWRWKH$QQH[HVR-1 to R-WKDWWKH5HVSRQGHQWILOHGZLWKLWV 5HVSRQVH SDJH ,QLWV6XSSOHPHQWDO)LOLQJWKH&RPSODLQDQWDUJXHVWKDWWKHILOLQJ LVZDUUDQWHGVLQFH WKHGRFXPHQWVSUHVHQWQHZIDFWV DQGWKHEDVLVIRUQHZFODLPV WKDWWKH&omplainant GLGQRWNQRZRI DWWKHWLPHRIWKH&RPSODLQW WKHLGHQWLW\RIWKH5espondent LVUHYHDOHGDV0U(URO8OXZKLFKQHFHVVLWDWHVDGGLWLRQDOVXEPLVVLRQV UHJDUGLQJKLVSHUVRQDOLQYROYHPHQWLQWKHUHJLVWUDWLRQUHQHZDODQGXVHRIWKHGRPDLQQDPH GRFXPHQW5VKRZV6HEHU+ROGLQJ%9WRKDYHULJKWVWRWKHdisputed domain nameZKLFKUDLVHV ‘QHZIDFWXDOTXHVWLRQVFRQFHUQLQJWKHFKDLQRIWLWOH¶ that the Complainant has not had opportunity to DGGUHVV The Panel considers that WKHLGHQWLILFDWLRQRIWKHXQGHUO\LQJUHJLVWUDQWDQGWKHH[KLELWV51-6 are or contain LQIRUPDWLRQUHOHYDQWIRUWKHGHFLVLRQ, that they are or contain QHZIDFWVand that the Complainant did not and FRXOGQRWNQRZWKeVHIDFWVZKHQILOLQJWKH&RPSODLQW 7KHUHIRUHWKH3DQHOGHFLGHVWRDGPLWWKHVXSSOHPHQWDOILOLQJDVHYLGHQFHLQWKHSUHVHQWSURFHHGLQJV 7KH3DQHOKDVDOVRFRQVLGHUHGZKHWKHUGXHSURFHVVZRXOGUHTXLUHthat the Respondent LVRIIHUHGWKH RSSRUWXQLW\WRUHVSRQGWRWKH6XSpOHPHQWDOILOLQJThe Panel has decided that this is not necessary, since all WKHIDFWVWRZKLFKWKH&RPSODLQDQWUHDFWVLQWKH6XSSOHPHQWDO)LOLQJZHUHNQRZQWRDQGLQWKHGRPDLQRIWKH RespondentZKLOHWKH5HVSRQGHQWFRXOGKDYHDQWLFLSDWHG the Complainant¶s reaction in the Response 6. Parties’ Contentions A. Complainant (Complaint) 7KH&RPSODLQDQWFRQWHQGVWKDWLWKDVVDWLVILHGHDFKRIWKHHOHPHQWVUHTXLUHGXQGHUWKH3ROLF\IRUDWUDQVIHU RIWKHGLVSXWHGGRPDLQQDPH 1RWDEO\the Complainant states that the RHJLVWUDU-SURYLGHGLQIRUPDWLRQGRHVQRWGLVFORVHWKHLGHQWLW\RIWKH DFWXDOXQGHUO\LQJUHJLVWUDQWDV+RVWQHWLVD'XWFKKRVWLQJDQGGRPDLQUHJLVWUDWLRQFRPSDQ\RSHUDWLQJD SULYDF\SURWHFWLRQVHUYLFHFurther, the RHJLVWUDU-SURYLGHGLQIRUPDWLRQGRHVQRWLQFOXGHWKHUHJLVWUDWLRQRU WUDQVIHUGDWHRIWKHdisputed domain name to WKHFXUUHQWUHJLVWUDQW7KH&RPSODLQDQWUHTXHVWVWKDWWKH Panel VHHNFODULILFDWLRQIURPWKH5HJLVWUDURIWKHGDWHRIUHJLVWUDWLRQRUWUDQVIHURIWKHdisputed domain name WRWKHFXUUHQWUHJLVWUDQWDQGFRQILUPDWLRQRIZKHWKHUDQ\WUDQVIHURIWKHdisputed domain name has taken place since the decision in WKH8'53FDVH The Complainant nonetheless observes that in WKH8'53FDVH, the disputed GRPDLQQDPHZDVDOVR UHJLVWHUHGXQGHUDSULYDF\SURWHFWLRQVHUYLFHSURYLGHGE\+RVWQHW and submits that tKHXVHRIWKHVDPH privacy protection service, ZLWKWKHLGHQWLFDO+RVWQHWDGGUHVVGLVFORVHG here VWURQJO\VXJJHVWVWKDWWKH disputed GRPDLQQDPHUHPDLQVXQGHUWKHFRQWURORIWKHVDPHRUDVVRFLDWHGparties as in WKH8'53 case7KH&RPSODLQDQWVXEPLWVWKDWWKLVFRQWLQXLW\RISULYDF\SURWHFWLRQLVLWVHOIDQLQGLFDWRURIEDGIDLWK The Complainant contends that the disputed GRPDLQQDPHUHPDLQVXQGHUWKHFRQWURORIWKHRULJLQDO UHJLVWUDQWRUDVVRFLDWHGSDUWLHVDQGDFFRUGLQJO\ WKLVLVDUHILOHGFRPSODLQW, VXEPLWWHGRQWKHEDVLVRIQHZDQG material circumstances ZKLFK ZHUHQRWEHIRUHWKHSDQHOLQWKH8'53FDVH DQGZKLFKZRXOGdirectly DQGPDWHULDOO\LPSDFWWKHEDVLVIRUWKHSULRUGHQLDO6DLGFLUFXPVWDQFHVDUH L IRXUELQGLQJMXGLFLDODQG DGPLQLVWUDWLYHGHFLVLRQVUHQGHUHGDIWHUFRQILUPLQJWKH&RPSODLQDQW¶VH[FOXVLYHULJKWV in the PAYPORTER mark LL WKH5HVSRQGHQt¶VFRPPHQFHPHQWRIWUDGHPDUN-WDUQLVKLQJXVHRIWKHdisputed GRPDLQQDPHDVRI'HFHPEHU DQG LLL WKHUHQHZDORIWKHdisputed GRPDLQQDPHUHJLVWUDWLRQIROORZLQJ DILQDOFRXUWRUGHUSURKLELWLQJXVHRIWKHPDUN The Complainant contends that WKH5HVSRQGHQWKDVQRULJKWVRUOHJLWLPDWHLQWHUHVWVLQUHVSHFWRIWKH disputed domain name on the basis that aOOFRXUWUXOLQJVDQG(8,32GHFLVLRQVUHQGHUHGDIWHUKDYH FRQILUPHGWKDWWKHULJKWVin the trademark 3$<3257(5EHORQJWRWKH&RPSODLQDQWDVIROORZV SDJH8 – The &DQFHOODWLRQ'LYLVLRQRIWKH(8,32decided RQ6HSWHPEHU, that tKHDSSOLFDWLRQIRUD GHFODUDWLRQRILQYDOLGLW\ RIthe Complainant¶s PAYPORTER trademark by PayPRUWHU%9ZDVUHMHFWHGLQ IDYRURIWKH&RPSODLQDQWLQLWVHQWLUHW\; – TKH'LVWULFW&RXUWRI7KH+DJXH1HWKHUODQGV in an iQWHULPMXGJHPHQWdated February 10, 2022, ordered 3D\3RUWHUHWDOWRFHDVHDQGGHVLVWDOOXVHZLWKLQWKH(XURSHDQ8QLRQRIWKHComplainant¶s European 8QLRQ trademark PAYPORTER RUVLPLODUVLJQLQFOXGLQJWKHXVHRIWKHZRUG“PayPorter” RUDVLPLODUZRUGDV SDUW RI LWVUHJLVWHUHGEXVLQHVVQDPHWUDGHQDPHDQG,QWHUQHWGRPDLQQDPHV$VRI0DUFK9, 2022, the GHIHQGDQWVin such case FKDQJHGWKHVWDWXWRU\QDPHVDQGWUDGHQDPHVRIWKHLUFRPSDQLHV¶ QDPHVIURP “Payporter” to “Morpara”; – TKH'LVWULFW&RXUWRI7KH+DJXH1HWKHUODQGV, in its 3ULQFLSDO-XGJPHQWdated April , UXOHGWKDW since the various QDPHFKDQJHs0RUSDUD IRUPHUO\3D\SRUWHU%9HWDO FDQQRWDVVHUWDQ\ULJKWVWRWKH trademark PAYPORTER or related WUDGHQDPHRQWKHEDVLVRIWKHUHOHYDQWOHJLVODWLRQ – TKH(8,326HFRQG%RDUGRI$SSHDORQ&DQFHOODWLRQ3URFHHGLQJV decided on April 15, 2026, that the appeal by 3D\SRUWHU%9UHODWLQJWRthe GHWHUPLQDWLRQRIWKHCancellation Division RIthe (8,32GDWHG 6HSWHPEHUZDVXQVXFFHVVIXOand WKXVGLVPLVVHG 7KH&RPSODLQDQWWKHUHIRUHFRQWHQGVWKDWWKH5HVSRQGHQWFDQQRWDVVHUWDQ\ULJKWVWRuse the PAYPORTER markLQFOXGLQJLQWKHGLVSXWHGGRPDLQQDPHThe Complainant adds that the Respondent¶s UHQHZDORIWKH disputed GRPDLQQDPHDIWHUWKH)HEUXDU\Court decision, DQGIROORZLQJWKH$SULODQG$SULO GHFLVLRQVWKDWGHILQLWLYHO\FRQILUPHGWKH&RPSODLQDQW¶VH[FOXVLYHWUDGHPDUNULJKWV , FRQVWLWXWHVRQJRLQJEDG IDLWKFRQGXFW TKH&RPSODLQDQWIXUWKHUFRQWHQds that the Respondent¶VXVHRIWKHGLVSXWHGGRPDLQQDPHIRUDZHEVLWH DGYHUWLVLQJZRPHQ¶VOLQJHULHconstitutes trademark tarnishment XQGHUWKH3ROLF\ The Complainant submits that, LQWKHHYHQWWKDWWKH3DQHOILQGVthat the disputed domain name has been WUDQVIHUUHGWRDQHZUHJLVWUDQWany SURVSHFWLYHUHJLVWUDQWDFTXLULQJWKHdisputed domain name had FRQVWUXFWLYHQRWLFHRIWKHvarious MXGLFLDORUDGPLQLVWUDWLYHdecisions, and RIthe Complainant¶s trademark ULJKWVDGGLQJWKDWD simple ,QWHUQHWVHDUFKIRU“payporter” or IRUWKHGLVSXWHGGRPDLQQDPH ZRXOGKDYH UHYHDOHGWKHH[LVWHQFHRIWKHSXEOLFO\DYDLODEOHGHFLVLRQVDQGWKH&RPSODLQDQW¶VUHJLVWHUHGWUDGHPDUNV $FFRUGLQJO\WKHDFTXLVLWLRQRIWKHdisputed GRPDLQQDPHZLWKVXFKFRQVWUXFWLYHQRWLFHFRQVWLWXWHVEDGIDLWK UHJLVWUDWLRQXQGHUWKH3ROLF\ Further to Procedural Order 1RWKH&RPSODLQDQWFRQWHQGVthat the Respondent¶VIDLOXUHWRdisclose the LGHQWLW\RIWKHXQGHUO\LQJUHJLVWUDQWLVFRQVLVWHQWZLWKDQLQWHQWWRFRQFHDOWKHSDUW\UHVSRQVLEOHIRUWKH WDUQLVKLQJXVHRIWKHGLVSXWHGGRPDLQQDPHDQGWKHLQIULQJHPHQWRIWKH&RPSODLQDQW¶VWUDGHPDUNULJKWV 7KH&RPSODLQDQWLQYLWHVWKH3DQHOWRGUDZDGYHUVHLQIHUHQFHVIURPWKH5HVSRQGHQW¶s said IDLOXUH The Complainant submits WKDWLIWKHUHJLVWUDQWRIWKHGLVSXWHGGRPDLQQDPHUHPDLQV6HEHU+ROGLQJ%9 WKHQWKHOHJLWLPDWHEDVLVWKDWRULJLQDOO\SHUPLWWHGLWVUHJLVWUDWLRQDQGXVHRIWKHGLVSXWHGGRPDLQQDPHno ORQJHUH[LVWV7KHIDFWWKDWWKHRULJLQDOUHJLVWUDWLRQRIWKHGLVSXWHGGRPDLQQDPHZDVLQJRRGIDLWKFDQQRW VHUYHDVDOHJLWLPDWHEDVLVIRUEDGIDLWKUHQHZDOVDQGWDUQLVKLQJXVH7KLVFRQVWLWXWHVDQDEXVHRIULJKWV, and under the Rules, SDUDJUDSK D WKH3DQHOmay ILQGWKDWthe Respondent¶s condXFWDVDZKROH constitutes EDGIDLWKUHJLVWUDWLRQDQGXVHZLWKLQWKHPHDQLQJRISDUDJUDSK D LLL RIWKH3ROLF\,QWKHHYHQW WKDWWKHGLVSXWHGGRPDLQQDPHZDVUHQHZHGE\6HEHU+ROGLQJ%9all VXFKUHQHZDOVZHUHPDGHLQWKH NQRZOHGJHRIWKHMXGLFLDODQGDGPLQLVWUDWLYHGHFLVLRQVZKLFKFRQILUPHGWKH&RPSODLQDQW¶VH[FOXVLYH WUDGHPDUNULJKWVDQGZHUHDFFRUGLQJO\LQEUHDFKRIWKHZDUUDQW\ XQGHUSDUDJUDSKRIWKH3ROLF\ ZKLFK provides WKDWUHJLVWUDWLRQRIWKHGRPDLQQDPHconcerned ZLOOQRWLQIULQJHXSRQRURWKHUZLVHYLRODWHWKHULJKWs RIDQ\WKLUGSDUW\,QVXFKFLUFXPVWDQFHVWKH&RPSODLQDQWVXEPLWVWKDWHDFKSRVW- MXGJHPHQWUHQHZDOis a GLVWLQFWDQGLQGHSHQGHQWDFWRIEDGIDLWKZKLFKVDWLVILHVWKHUHJLVWUDWLRQHOHPHQWRISDUDJUDSK D LLL RIWKH Policy The Complainant notes that the response ZDVILOHGE\0U8OXLQKLVSHUVRQDOFDSDFLW\ZLWKQRLQGLFDWLRQWKDW SDJH9 KHZDVDFWLQJRQEHKDOIRIRUDVUHSUHVHQWDWLYHRI6HEHU+ROGLQJ%9RUDQ\RWKHUFRUSRUDWHHQWLW\The Respondent¶V$QQH[5-FRQWDLQVDQQXDOUHQHZDOLQYRLFHVLQUHVSHFWRIWKHGLVSXWHGGRPDLQQDPHissued to 0U8OXSHUVRQDOO\since -XO\7KHUHLVQRHYLGHQFHWKDWVDLGUHQHZDOVZHUHPDGe RQEHKDOIRI6HEHU +ROGLQJ%9DQGLWLVWKHUHIRUHUHDVRQDEOHWRLQIHUWKDWWKHGLVSXWHGGRPDLQQDPHZDVWUDQVIHUUHGWR0U8OX SHUVRQDOO\$OORIWKHUHQHZDOVHYLGHQFHGE\VDLGLQYRLFHVSRVW-date the )HEUXDU\LQWHULPLQMXQFWLRQRI WKH'LVWULFW&RXUWRI7KH+DJXHFRQILUPLQJWKH&RPSODLQDQW¶VH[FOXVLYHULJKWVWRWKHtrademark PAYPORTER and VXFKUHQHZDOVFDQQRWWKHUHIRUHEHVDLGWRKDYHEHHQmade LQJRRGIDLWK $FFRUGLQJO\, WKH&RPSODLQDQWVXEPLWVWKDWZKHWKHUWKHUHJLVWUDQWLV6HEHU+ROGLQJV%9, 0U8OX, or RWKHUZLVHXQGLVFORVHGWKHGLVSXWHGGRPDLQQDPHKDVEHHQUHJLVWHUHGDQGXVHGLQEDGIDLWK B. Respondent 7KH5HVSRQGHQWFRQWHQGVWKDWWKH&RPSODLQDQWKDVQRWVDWLVILHGDOOWKUHHRIWKHHOHPHQWVUHTXLUHGXQGHUWKH 3ROLF\IRUDWUDQVIHURIWKHGLVSXWHGGRPDLQQDPH ,QSDUWLFXODUWKHRespondent QRWHVWKDWWKHGLVSXWHGGRPDLQQDPHZDVDOUHDG\WKHVXEMHFWRIthe 2020 8'53FDVHLQZKLFKWKH&RPSODLQDQWUHTXHVWHGWUDQVIHURIWKHdisputed domain name and such remedy ZDVGHQLHGThe Respondent contends that the Complainant cannot establish that the disputed domain QDPHZDVUHJLVWHUHGLQEDGIDLWK DVLWZDVUHJLVWHUHGDQGDFTXLUHGE\“the Respondent¶s side” EHIRUHWKH Complainant¶VWUDGHPDUNILOLQJVDQGEHIRUHWKH&RPSODLQDQW¶VDFWLYHXVHRItrademark 3$<3257(5 The Respondent submits that the FXUUHQWDQGLQWHQGHGXVHRIWKHGLVSXWHGGRPDLQQDPHFRQFHUQVD“non- ILQDQFLDOUHWDLOSURMHFWLQWKHOLQJHULHVHFWRU”DGGLQJWKDWVXFKVHFWRULVIXQGDPHQWDOO\GLIIHUHQWDQGDVVHUWLQJ that tKH5HVSRQGHQWLVQRWWU\LQJWRHQWHUWKH&RPSODLQDQW¶s market, nor LVRIIHULQJVHUYLFHVWKDWFRPSHWH ZLWKWKH&RPSODLQDQW ,QWKLVFRQWH[WWKH5HVSRQGHQWVXEPLWVWKHIROORZLQJH[KLELWVDVHYLGHQFH - $QQH[5-(YLGHQFHRIFRQWLQXHGFRQWURODQGRUUHJLVWUDWLRQPDQDJHPHQWRIthe disputed domain name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omplainant (Supplemental Filing) 7KH&RPSODLQDQWLQWKH6XSSOHPHQWDO)LOLQJremarks WKHIROORZLQJLQFRQQHFWLRQZLWKWKHHYLGHQFHVXEPLWWHG E\WKH5HVSRQGHQWUHODWLQJWRWKHSUHSDUDWLRQVRILWVEXVLQHVVSULRUWRQRWLFHRIWKHSUHVHQWGLVSXWH the IOLJKW ticket to %HLMLQJ $QQH[5-6) establishes only WKDWDMRXUQH\ ZDV made and does not prove any business discussions UHODWLQJ to the DOOHJHG OLQJHULH SURMHFW the FDWDORJXH submitted $QQH[5-5) is a JHQHULF promotional document RI the type distributed by PDQXIDFWXUHUV to thousands RI potential clients ZRUOGZLGHDQG its receipt does not demonstrate any commitment, QHJRWLDWLRQ or business relationship; the identity and role RI the party ZLWK ZKRP the Respondent H[FKDQJHG :KDWV$SS PHVVDJHV $QQH[ R- has not been established; SDJH10 t here is no purchase order, no VLJQHG supply DJUHHPHQW no payment record, and no other REMHFWLYH evidence RIJHQXLQHFRPPHUFLDO commitment to WKHDOOHJHGOLQJHULHSURMHFW ,QFRQFOXVLRQWKH&RPSODLQDQWVXEPLWVWKDWWKLVFROOHFWLRQRIGRFXPHQWVIDOOVZHOO VKRUWRIWKe standard UHTXLUHGWRHVWDEOLVKERQDILGHSUHSDUDWLRQVXQGHU3ROLF\SDUDJUDSK F L 7KH&RPSODLQDQWDOVRSRLQWVRXWWKDWWKHWKHZHEVLWHWRZKLFK SD\SRUWHUFRP!UHVROYHVLWVHOIGLUHFWO\ contradicts the Respondent¶VFODLPRIDJHQXLQHFRPPHUFLDOSURMHFW, as it does not display contact LQIRUPDWLRQDEXVLQHVVQDPHRUDPHDQVIRUSRWHQWLDOFXVWRPHUVRUVXSSOLHUVWRPDNHLQTXLULHV,WRQO\ GLVSOD\VOLQJHULHLPDJHU\XQGHUWKH3D\3RUWHUEUDQGQDPHZLWKD‘Coming Soon’ PHVVDJHWKDWKDV UHPDLQHGXQFKDQJHGIRURYHUWZR\HDUV 7KH&RPSODLQDQWVXEPLWVWKDWWKLVZHEVLWHFDQQRWFUHGLEO\EHFKDUDFWHUL]HGDVD PHDQVIRU ERQDILGH EXVLQHVVSUHSDUDWLRQ :LWKUHVSHFWWRWUDGHPDUNWDUQLVKPHQWWKH&RPSODLQDQWHPSKDVL]HVWKDWWKHIDFWWKDWproducts or services are in a GLIIHUHQWsector and non-FRPSHWLQJGRHVQRWpreclude tarnishment The Complainant also submits that this tarnishment constitutes real-ZRUOGconsumer harm, FRQVLVWLQJRIFRQIXVLRQDPRQJ consumerVZKR are ORRNLQJIRULQIRUPDWLRQRQ3$<3257(5ILQDQFLDOVHUYLFHV and then encounter OLQJHULHFRQWHQW $FFRUGLQJWRWKH&RPSODLQDQWWKLVerodes conILGHQFHLQD,LFHQVHGSD\PHQWLQVWLWXWLRQZKRVHEXVLQHVV PRGHOGHSHQGVHQWLUHO\RQWUXVW Furthermore, the Complainant contends, ZKHQSrospective partner institutions conductLQJ GXHGLOLJHQFHRQ the Complainant EHIRUHHQWHULQJLQWRFRRSHUDWLRQDJUHHPHQWV ZRXOG encounter the <SD\SRUWHUFRP! ZHEVLWHGLVSOD\LQJOLQJHULHLPDJHU\, this ZRXOGQRWRQO\FUHDWHFRQIXVLRQDV to the Complainant¶s business activities but also serious doubts about the Complainant¶s reputation and SURIHVVLRQDOVWDQGLQJ The Complainant also submits that the RespondentE\VWDWLQJ on tKHZHEVLWe that QHZEUDQGVDUHEHLQJLQWURGXFHG“under the PayPorter umbrella”, is actively DSSURSULDWLQJWKH“Complainant¶s WUDGHPDUNDVDQXPEUHOODEUDQGIRUWKe Respondent¶VRZQFRPPHUFLDl DFWLYLWLHV” Thereby, the Respondent adopts the Complainant¶VUHJLVWHUHGWUDGHPDUNDVDEUDQGLGHQWLILHU 7. Discussion and Findings 7.1 Procedural matters Refiling $VWKLVFDVHLVFODLPHGE\ERWKRIWKH3DUWLHVWREHDUHILOLQJRIWKH8'53FDVHWKH3DQHOPXVW GHWHUPLQHDVDWKUHVKROGLVVXHZKHWKHULWVKRXOGEHDFFHSWHG,IWKH3DQHOGHWHUPLQHVWKDWLWVKRXOGQRWEH DFFHSWHGWKHVXEVWDQFHRIWKH&RPSODLQWEHFRPHVLUUHOHYDQW Seminole Tribe of Florida v. propertyusa, ltd, :,32&DVH1RD2019- $OWKRXJKWKH3ROLF\LWVHOIFRQWDLQVQRSURYLVLRQVGHDOLQJGLUHFWO\ZLWKWKHLVVXHRIUHILOLQJVWKHVWDUWLQJSRLQW IRUWKH3DQHOLVWKH:,322YHUYLHZVHFWLRQ7KLVGHILQHVDUHILOHGFDVHDV“RQHLQZKLFKDQHZO\- ILOHG8'53FDVHFRQFHUQVLGHQWLFDOGRPDLQQDPH V DQGSDUWLHVWRDSUHYLRXVO\-GHFLGHG8'53FDVHLQ ZKLFKWKHSULRUSDQHOGHQLHGWKHFRPSODLQWRQWKHPHULWV”The disputed domain name here is the same as that in the 8'53FDVHEXWWKH3DQHOPXVWDOVRGHFLGHZKHWKHUWKH3DUWLHVDUHWKHVDPHThe Complainant is the same entity as in such case, QRWLQJWKDWLWKDVVLQFHFKDQJHGLWVQDPHWRWKDWVKRZQLQ WKHLQVWDQFHRIWKLV'HFLVLRQ7KHTXHVWLRQWKHUHIRUHLVZKHWKHUWKH5HVSRQGHQWLVWKHVDPHDVWKH UHVSRQGHQWLQWKH8'53FDVH 7KH5HJLVWUDU-YHULILHG5HVSRQGHQWLVWKHVDPHSULYDF\VHUYLFHas in WKH8'53FDVHOn DVWULFWYLHZ WKLVLVWKHKROGHURIWKHGLVSXWHGGRPDLQQDPHZKLFKKDVQRWFKDQJHG1HYHUWKHOHVVD TXHVWLRQKDVDULVHQ EHIRUHWKH3DQHODVWRZKHWKHUWKHXQGHUO\LQJKROGHURIWKHGLVSXWHGGRPDLQQDPHGHVFULEHGLQthe 2020 8'53FDVHDV6HEHU+ROGLQJ%9KDVFKDQJHG:KLOHFHUWDLQLQIHUHQFHVFRXOGEHPDGHIURPWKHUHFRUG EHIRUHLWWKH3DQHOFRQVLGHUHGWKDWLWVKRXOGEHDVWUDLJKWIRUZDUGPDWWHUWRREWDLQDGHILQLWLYHDQVZHURQWKLV point, DQGDFFRUGLQJO\the 3DQHOLVVXHG3URFHGXUDO2UGHU1RWRWKH3DUWLHVUHTXHVWLQJVXLWDEOHGLVFORVXUH SDJH11 IURPWKH5HVSRQGHQW)RUUHDVRQVXQNQRZQWRWKH3DQHOWKH5HVSRQGHQWFKRVHQRWWRUHSO\WR3URFHGXUDO 2UGHU1R,QLWVFRPPHQWVIROORZLQJWKH5HVSRQGHQW¶VIDLOXUHWRDQVZHU 3URFHGXUDO2UGHU1RWKH &RPSODLQDQWLQGLFDWHGWKDWDVIDUDVLWZDVFRQFHUQHGWKHXQGHUO\LQJ5HVSRQGHQWKDGHLWKHUUHPDLQHGDV 6HEHU+ROGLQJ%9RUWKHGLVSXWHGGRPDLQQDPHKDGWUDQVIHUUHGWR0U8OXRUit KDGWUDQVIHUUHGWRDQ RWKHUZLVHXQGLVFORVHGWKLUGSDUW\ ,QFDVHVZKHUHWKHGRPDLQQDPHUHJLVWUDWLRQLVPDVNHGE\DSULYDF\RUSUR[\VHUYLFHDQGWKHFRPSODLQDQW FUHGLEO\DOOHJHVWKDWDUHOHYDQWFKDQJHLQUHJLVWUDWLRQKDVRFFXUUHGLWZRXOGEHLQFXPEHQWRQWKHUHVSRQGHQW WRSURYLGHVDWLVIDFWRU\HYLGHQFHRIDQXQEURNHQFKDLQRIUHJLVWUDWLRQ UHVSRQGHQWIDLOXUHWRGRVRKDVOHG SDQHOVWRLQIHUDQDWWHPSWWRFRQFHDOWKHWUXHXQGHUO\LQJUHJLVWUDQWIROORZLQJDFKDQJHLQWKHUHOHYDQW UHJLVWUDWLRQ:,322YHUYLHZVHFWLRQ +HUHWKH5HVSRQGHQWGLGQRWWDNHWKHRSSRUWXQLW\WRDGGWR the UHFRUGUHJDUGLQJHYLGHQFHRIDQ un)EURNHQFKDLQRIUHJLVWUDWLRQ The record DQGWKHPRVWSHUWLQHQWVXEPLVVLRQVRIWKH3DUWLHVVKRZthat 6HEHU+ROGLQJ%9RULJLQDOO\ DFTXLUHGWKHGLVSXWHGGRPDLQQDPH VHHWKHFactual %DFNJURXQGVHFWLRQDERYHHQWULHVIRU$SULO, and 0D\ From the Complaint and the Response, LWZRXOGDSSHDUWKDWERWK Parties assume or, in WKHFDVHRIWKH5HVSRQGHQWVXJJHVWWKDWDWWKHWLPHRIWKH8'53FDVH0U8OXZDVWKHVROH VKDUHKROGHUDQGGLUHFWRURI6HEHU+ROGLQJ%9+RZHYHULQGHSHQGHQWUHVHDUFKE\WKH3DQHOKDVIRXQGWKDW DFFRUGLQJWRWKH'XWFK&RPSDQ\5HJLVWHU Handelsregister), 0V6.LOLo has been the sole shareholder and GLUHFWRURI6HEHU+ROGLQJ%9VLQFH$SULO0U8OXEHFDPHDGLUHFWRUDXWKRUL]HGWRUHSUHVHQWWKH company, only on March 1, ,QOLJKWRIWKHVHIDFWVWKH3DQHOILQGVWKDWDWWKHWLPHRIWKH8'53 case 0V6.LOLo RZQHGDQGFRQWUROOHG6HEHU+ROGLQJ%9ZKLFKDWWKDWWLPHZDVWKHKROGHURIWKHGLVSXWHG GRPDLQQDPH $VWRWKHXQGHUO\LQJUHJLVWUDQWDWWKHWLPHRIILOLQJRIWKH&RPSODLQWWKH3DQHOKDVIRXQGWKDW 10U8OXKDVVLJQHGDQGILOHG WKH5HVSRQVH WKXVpresumably UHFHLYHGWKHQRWLILFDWLRQRIthe Complaint), and appears to be LQFRQWURORIWKHGLVSXWHGGRPDLQQDPH at present; 2%\HPDLORI-XQH+RVWQHWSURYLGHG 0U8OX¶s details as the only FRQWDFWLQIRUPDWLRQIRUWKH disputed domain nameZKLOHDOVRVWDWLQJ“This domain >QDPH@EHORQJVWRRXUFOLHQW” %\HPDLORI June 2, 20260U8OXVWDWHGWRWKH&HQWHU “,KDYHHQFORVHGDVFUHHQVKRWWRGD\IURP+RVWQHW VKRZLQJWKHGRPDLQLVUHJLVWHUHG>LQ@P\QDPHDQG,KDYHDOVRHQFORVHGP\,'” The Respondent¶s $QQH[5-VKRZVVHTXHQWLDODQQXDOUHQHZDOQRWLFHV IRUWKHGLVSXWHGGRPDLQQDPH issued by Hostnet to 0U8OX LQWKHIRUPRILQYRLFHVVSHFLILFDOO\DGGUHVVHGWRKLP and to no other natural or OHJDOSHUVRQ) since at least 0D\ 20227KLV VSDQVWKHSRLQWDWZKLFKWKHHDUOLHVWGDWHRIWKHFKDQJHRI use RIWKHZHEVLWHDVVRFLDWHGZLWKWKHGLVSXWHGGRPDLQQDPHto WKHDOOHJHGOLQJHULH business is recorded VHHWKHIDFWXDOEDFNJURXQGVHFWLRQDERYHHQWULHVIRU'HFHPEHU, and 'HFHPEHU) 7KH3DQHOFRQFOXGHVWKDWWKH5HVSRQGHQWDQGWKHXQGHUO\LQJUHJLVWUDQWRIWKHGLVSXWHGGRPDLQQDPHLV0U 8OX Furthermore, based upon the above items numbered 1 to DQGWDNLQJLQWRDFFRXQWWKDWWKH5HVSRQGHQWKDV consistently UHIUDLQHGIURPLGHQWLI\LQJLWVHOIHYHQXSRQGHPDQGRI the Procedural Order, the Panel considers that the Complainant has raised a credible case that there has EHHQDUHOHYDQWWUDQVIHURIWKHGLVSXWHG domain name to a third party, ZKLFKLVWKH5HVSRQGHQWLQWKHSUHVHQWFDVHTKHUHIRUHDQGFRQWUDU\WRZKDW the Parties themselves have submitted, the Parties to the current dispute are not the same as the parties to WKH8'53FDVH 7KH3DQHOKDVFRQVLGHUHGZKHWKHU LWZRXOGEHQHFHVVDU\WRSODFHWKHRXWFRPHRIits independent research EHIRUHWKH&RPSODLQDQWHJE\DIXUWKHU3rocedural OrderLQRUGHUWRVHHNLWVFRPPHQWV ,WLVFOHDUIURPWKH Complainant¶s contentions that it believes WKDW0U8OXZDVWKHRZQHUDQGVROHGLUHFWRURI6HEHU+ROGLQJ%9 DWWKHWLPHRIWKH8'53FDVH)XUWKHUPRUHWKH5HVSRQGHQWKDVEHHQRSDTXHDERXWLWVLGHQWLW\LQWKH Response and KDVUHIUDLQHGIURPDUHVSRQVHWRWKH3URFHGXUDO2UGHUZKLFKPD\KDYHVXSSRUWHGWKLVEHOLHI SDJH12 RIWKH&RPSODLQDQW,QWKLVFRQWH[WLWVKRXOGDOVREHQRWHGWKDWWKHpDQHOLQWKH8'53FDVHVWDWHG LQFRUUHFWO\ WKDW0U8OXZDVthen WKHVROHGLUHFWRURI6HEHU+ROGLQJ%9 These circumstances may have contributed to tKHSUHVHQW&RPSODLQWODUJHO\SURFHHGLQJ on the PLVXQGHUVWDQGLQJWKDWthe Respondent in the SUHVHQWFDVHLVWKHVDPHDV RUFRQWUROOHGE\ WKHUHVSRQGHQWLQWKH8'53FDVH DQGWKDWWKHUHIRUH WKHSUHVHQWFDVHZDVDUHILOLQJ +RZHYHUthe true position LHWKDW0V6.LOLo RZQHGDQGFRQWUROOHG6HEHU+ROGLQJ%9DWWKHWLPHRIWKH 8'53FDVH) ZDVDOZD\VDYDLODEOHWRWKH&RPSODLQDQWLQWKH&RPSDQ\5HJLVWHUDQGLWLVWKH Complainant¶VUHVSRQVLELOLW\WRVDWLVI\LWVHOIDVWRDOOVXFKPDWHULDOIDFWVEHIRUHILOLQJWKH&RPSODLQW,Q DGGLWLRQWKH&RPSODLQDQWLQERWKWKH&RPSODLQWDQGWKH6XSSOHPHQWDO)LOLQJKDVH[SOLFLWO\NHSWRSHQWKH SRVVLELOLW\WKDWWKHGLVSXWHGGRPDLQQDPHKDVEHHQWUDQVIHUUHGWRDWKLUGSDUW\GUDZLQJFRQVHTXHQFHVIRU EDGIDLWKUHJLVWUDWLRQDQGXVHRIWKHGLVSXWHGGRPDLQQDPH7KHDUJXPHQWVEURXJKWIRUZDUGLQWKLV FRQQHFWLRQZLOOEHWDNHQLQWRDFFRXQWZKHQGLVFXVVLQJWKHVHWRSLFV &RQVLGHULQJ DOORIWKHDERYHWKH3DQHOKDVdecided not to issue a Procedural Order LQYLWLQJWKH Complainant¶VFRPPHQWVRQWKHLQIRUPDWLRQLQWKH&RPSDQ\5HJLVWHU,QWKLVFRQWH[WWKH3DQHOalso considered that to do so “ZRXOGQRWEHLQOLQHZLWKWKHVSLULWRIH[SHGLHQF\DQGHIILFLHQF\VXJJHVWHGLQWKH Policy” Tufco Technologies, Inc., Tufco LP, Hamco Manufacturing and Distributing LLC v. Hamco Alabama LLC, :,32&DVH1RD2011-)$nd, as the panel put it in Robert Kennedy College v. Domain Name Proxy Service, Inc.:,32&DVH1R'- “complainants should ‘JHWit ULJKW¶ WKHILUVWWLPHDQGVKRXOG SURYLGHDOOWKHLQIRUPDWLRQQHFHVVDU\WRSURYHWKHLUFDVHIURPWKHPDWHULDOFRQWDLQHGLQWKHFRPSODLQWDQGLWV DQQH[HVDORQH ,QYLHZRIDOORIWKHVHFLUFXPVWDQFHVWKH3DQHOILQGVWKDWWKHSUHVHQWFDVHLVnot DUHILOLQJRIWKH8'53 case DQGWKDWWKHFDVHZLOOWKHUHIRUHEHFRQVLGHUHGRQWKHPHULWV)RUFRPSOHWHQHVVDQGUHFRJQL]LQJWKH IDFWWKDWERWKRIWKH3DUWLHVODUJHO\proceeded on the basis that the case ZDVLQGHHGDUHILOLQJWKH3DQHO UHFRUGVLWVYLHZWKDWWKHRXWFRPHRIWKHFDVHZRXOGEHWKHVDPHHYHQKDGthe Panel concluded that the WUDQVIHUEHWZHHQ6HEHU+ROGLQJ%9DQG0U8OXZDVIRUPDOWHFKQLFDOLQQDWXUHDQGWKDW, due to the shared KLVWRU\EHWZHHQWKHdramatis personae on the Respondent¶s sidHRIWKHHTXDWLRQWKHUHZDVHIIHFWLYHO\DQ XQEURNHQXQGHUO\LQJFKDLQRISRVVHVVLRQRIWKHGLVSXWHGGRPDLQQDPH7KLVZRXOGKDYHOHGWRWKHFDVH EHLQJFRQVLGHUHGDVDUHILOLQJZKHUHE\LW ZRXOGKDYHIDLOHGin the Panel¶s opinion HYHQLIWKHUHILOLQJKDG been accepted and the merits had been GHWHUPLQHGRQWKDWEDVLV 1 &UXFLDOO\WKHRULJLQDODFTXLVLWLRQRIWKH disputed domain name by 6HEHU+ROGLQJ%9LQ0D\-XQHZDV PDGHLQJRRGIDLWK LQFRQWHPSODWLRQRI DEXVLQHVVYHQWXUHZKLFKinvolved both the Complainant and the dramatis personae on the Respondent¶s VLGH,WZDVQRWPDGHLQEDGIDLWKWRWDUJHWWKH&RPSODLQDQW¶s WKHQQDVFHQW WUDGHPDUN 1 ,WLVin any event E\QRPHDQVFHUWDLQWKDWWKH3DQHOZRXOGKDYHDFFHSWHGWKHUHILOLQJ7KHEDVLVIRUVXFKZDVDVVHUWHGE\WKH Complainant to beILUVWOHJDOO\UHOHYDQWGHYHORSPHQWVIROORZLQJthe 8'53FDVH, notably the (8,32DQG&RXUWGHFLVLRQV7KHVH GHFLVLRQVZKLOHOHJDOO\UHOHvantGRQRWLPSDFWWKHGHFLVLRQLQWKH8'53FDVH directly and materially:,322YHUYLHZ, section ,QEULHIDOWKRXJKDFFRUGLQJWRWKH7KH+DJXH&RXUWGHFLVLRQ0U8OXDQG0V.LOLo told the Court that Morpara IRUPHUO\ 3D\3RUWHU%9 had QRLQWHQWLRQRIXVLQJWKHQDPH3D\3RUWHUDQGRUWKH3D\3RUWHUORJRDJDLQ0RUSDUDZDVQRWWKHKROGHURIWKH GLVSXWHGGRPDLQQDPHDWWKHWLPHRIWKH8'53FDVH WRZKLFKLWZDVQRWDSDUW\ DQGKDGQHYHUEHHQLWVKROGHUThe Court case DQG(8,32DGPLQLVWUDWLYHGHFLVLRQVGLGQRWGLUHFWO\DGGUHVVWKHRZQHUVKLSRIWKHGLVSXWHGGRPDLQQDPHThere is no impact on the decision LQWKH8'53FDVHDVWRWKH5HVSRQGHQW¶VULJKWVRUOHJLWLPDWHLQWHUHVWVLQWKHGLVSXWHGGRPDLQQDPHRUDVWRWKH UHJLVWUDWLRQRIWKHGLVSXWHGGRPDLQQDPHLQEDGIDLWKThe Complainant also asserted, secondly, WKDWUHILOLQJZDVDSSURSULDWHLQOLJKWRI QHZPDWHULDOHYLGHQFHQDPHO\WKHFKDQJHRIXVHRIWKHGLVSXWHGGRPDLQQDPHIRUWKHSXUSRVHVRIWKHpurported OLQJHULHEXVLQHVVDQG WKHVXEVHTXHQWUHQHZDOVRIWKHGLVSXWHGGRPDLQQDPHGXULQJVXFKXVH6XFKHYLGHQFHLVQHZEXWLWLVQRWPDWHULDOEHFDXVHLWFDQQRW LPSDFWWKHGHFLVLRQLQWKH8'53FDVHRQUHJLVWUDWLRQLQEDGIDLWKJLYHQWKDWLWRQO\UHODWHVWRDVXEVHTXHQWXVH DQGUHQHZDO RI the disputed domain name:,322YHUYLHZVHFWLRQ 7KHDOOHJDWLRQRIWUDGHPDUNWDUQLVKPHQWOLNHZLVHZRXOGUHPDLQWKHVDPH DVGHWHUPLQHGKHUH SDJH 7.2. 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Reverse Domain Name Hijacking The Respondent has submitted that WKH&RPSODLQDQWDSSHDUVWREHXVLQJWKH8'53WRREWDLQWKH“FRP” GRPDLQQDPHEHFDXVHLWLVFRPPHUFLDOO\LQFRQYHQLHQWWKDWWKH5HVSRQGHQWFRQWUROVLWZKLOHWKH&RPSODLQDQW uses the “FRPWU” GRPDLQ7KH5HVSRQGHQWVXJJHVWVWKDWWKH&RPSODLQDQWLVDEXVLQJWKH8'53V\VWHP to REWDLQDGRPDLQQDPHWRZKLFKLWKDVQRULJKWDQGUHTXHVWVWKH3DQHOWRFRQVLGHUZKHWKHUWKHSUHVHQWUHILOHG &RPSODLQWDPRXQWVWRDQDEXVHRIWKH8'53SURFHVVLQOLJKWRIWKHSULRU:,32GHFLVLRQWKH coPSOH[ FRPPHUFLDOEDFNJURXQGDQGWKH5HVSRQGHQW¶s non-FRPSHWLQJXVHRIWKHGRPDLQ As set out in :,322YHUYLHZVHFWLRQ3DUDJUDSK H RIWKH8'535XOHVSURYLGHVWKDWLI“DIWHU FRQVLGHULQJWKHVXEPLVVLRQVWKHSDQHOILQGVWKDWWKHFRPSODLQWZDVEURXJKWLQEDGIDLWKIRUH[DPSOHLQDQ DWWHPSWDW5HYHUVH'RPDLQ1DPH+LMDFNLQJRUZDVEURXJKWSULPDULO\WRKDUDVVWKHGRPDLQ-name holder, the panel shall declare in its decision thaWWKHFRPSODLQWZDVEURXJKWLQEDGIDLWKDQGFRQVWLWXWHVDQDEXVHRIWKH DGPLQLVWUDWLYHSURFHHGLQJ” 5HYHUVH'RPDLQ1DPH+LMDFNLQJ “5'1+”) LVIXUWKHUPRUHGHILQHGXQGHUWKH 8'535XOHVDV“XVLQJWKH8'53LQEDGIDLWKWRDWWHPSWWRGHSULYHDUHJLVWHUHGGRPDLQ-QDPHKROGHURID GRPDLQQDPH” 3DQHOVKDYHDOVRUHIHUUHGWRSDUDJUDSKV E [LLL DQG [LY RIWKH8'535XOHVLQDGGUHVVLQJ SRVVLEOH5'1+VFHQDULRV SDJH 3DQHOVKDYHFRQVLVWHQWO\IRXQGWKDWWKHPHUHODFNRIVXFFHVVRIDFRPSODLQWLVQRWLWVHOIVXIILFLHQWIRUD ILQGLQJRI5'1+ LQSDUWLFXODUZKHUHWKHUHVSRQGHQWPD\KDYHDFWHGLQHTXLWDEO\ ,QWKLVFDVH, the Panel is QRWSHUVXDGHGWKDWWKHFLUFXPVWDQFHVMXVWLI\DILQGLQJRI5'1+7KH&RPSODLQDQWKDVDORQJ-VWDQGLQJ UHJLVWUDWLRQIRUWKH3$<3257(50DUNZKLFKLVUHSURGXFHGLQWKHdisputed domain nDPH7KH Complainant¶s DUJXPHQW that the 5HVSRQGHQWODFNVULJKWVRUOHJLWLPDWHLQWHUHVWVLQWKHdisputed domain name DQGUHJLVWHUHGit LQEDGIDLWK ZDVQRWVRZHDNDVWRUHQGHUWKHILOLQJRIWKH&RPSODLQWDQDFWRIEDG IDLWK,QWKLVFRQWH[WWKH3DQHODOVRQRWHVWKH5HVSRQGHQW¶VIDU-UHDFKLQJDWWHPSWVto hide its true identity and to contribute to, or at least maintain, the incorrect DVVXPSWLRQRIERWKParties that there had been a WUDQVIHURIWKHGLVSXWHGGRPDin name EHWZHHQFRPPRQO\FRQWUROOHGHQWLWLHV ,QWKeVHFLUFXPVWDQFHVWKH3DQHOILQGVWKDWWKH&RPSODLQDQWKDGDSODXVLEOHEDVLVIRULWV&RPSODLQW and the 3DQHOGRHVQRWPDNHDILQGLQJWKDWWKH&RPSODLQDQWKDVHQJDJHGLQ5HYHUVH'RPDLQ1DPH+LMDFNLQJ 8. Decision )RUWKHIRUHJRLQJUHDVRQVWKH&RPSODLQWLVGHQLHG /Andrew D. S. Lothian/ Andrew D. S. Lothian 3UHVLGLQJ3DQHOLVW /Wolter Wefers Bettink/ Wolter Wefers Bettink Panelist /Willem J. H. Leppink/ Willem J. H. Leppink Panelist 'DWH July 18, 2026
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