WIPO Domain Name Decision D2018-1189 for klarna.group
WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center ADMINISTRATIVE PANEL DECISION Klarna AB v. Syed Hussain, Domain Management MIC Case No. D2018-1189 1. The Parties
The Complainant is Klarna AB of Stockholm, Sweden, represented by SILKA Law AB, Sweden.
The Respondent is Syed Hussain, Domain Management MIC of Closter, New Jersey, United States of America (“United States”). 2. The Domain Name and Registrar
The disputed domain name is registered with N, Inc. (N LLC) (the “Registrar”). 3. Procedural History
The Complaint was filed with the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center (the “Center”) on May 29, 2018. On May 30, 2018, the Center transmitted by email to the Registrar a request for registrar verification in connection with the disputed domain name. On May 31, 2018, the Registrar 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 and 4, the Center formally notified the Respondent of the Complaint, and the proceedings commenced on June 6, 2018. In accordance with the Rules, paragraph 5, the due date for Response was June 26, 2018. The Respondent did not submit any response. Accordingly, the Center notified the Respondent’s default on June 27, 2018.
The Center appointed Miguel B. O’Farrell as the sole panelist in this matter on July 6, 2018. 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, Klarna AB, is a Swedish e-commerce company that provides payment services for online storefronts. The company was founded in Stockholm in 2005 and is one of the fastest growing companies in Europe, offering safe and easy-to-use payment solutions to e-stores.
The Complainant claims that Klarna Group has more than 1,400 employees, is active in 18 markets, serves 45 million consumers and works with 65,000 merchants, attracting major international clients such as Spotify, Disney, Samsung and many others.
The Complainant is the proprietor, among others, of Unites States trademark registration No. 4582346 KLARNA, dated August 12, 2014; KLARNA International Registration No. 1217315, dated March 4, 2014; KLARNA International Registration No. 1182130, dated August 1, 2013 and KLARNA International Registration No. 1066079, dated December 21, 2010 covering services related to its business.
The Complainant has registered several domain names under generic Top-Level Domains (“gTLDs”) containing the trademark KLARNA, such as which it uses to connect to websites through which it informs potential customers about its services.
The Complainant has also a rather significant presence with many subscribers on various social media platforms, such as Facebook, Youtube, Instagram, Google+ and Twitter.
The disputed domain name was registered on August 12, 2017. It is being offered for sale and currently does not resolve to any active website. 5. Parties’ Contentions A. Complainant
The Complainant claims that the Respondent has no trademark rights in the word “klarna” nor has it become known under that name. Moreover, that the Respondent is not affiliated with the Complainant in any way, nor has the Complainant authorized the Respondent to use and/or register domain names incorporating the KLARNA trademark.
In summary, the Complainant contends that the disputed domain name is confusingly similar to the Complainant’s trademark KLARMA, that the Respondent has no rights or legitimate interests with respect to the disputed domain name, and that the disputed domain name was registered and is being used in bad faith.
The Complainant requests transfer of the disputed domain name to the Complainant. B. Respondent
The Respondent did not reply to the Complainant’s contentions. 6. Discussion and Findings
According to paragraph 4(a) of the Policy, for this Complaint to succeed in relation to the disputed domain name, the Complainant must prove each of the following, namely that:
(i) The disputed domain name is identical or confusingly similar to a trademark or service mark in which
the Complainant has rights; and
(ii) The Respondent has no rights or legitimate interests in respect of the disputed domain name; and
(iii) The disputed domain name was registered and is being used in bad faith. A. Identical or Confusingly Similar
The Panel is satisfied that the Complainant has