WIPO Domain Name Decision D2019-1032 for hmrcuk.com
WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center ADMINISTRATIVE PANEL DECISION The Commissioners for HM Revenue and Customs v. Domain Administrator, See PrivacyG / Paul Judge Case No. D2019-1032 1. The Parties
The Complainant is The Commissioners for HM Revenue and Customs, United Kingdom (“UK), represented by Demys Limited, UK.
The Respondent is Domain Administrator, See PrivacyG, United States of America / Paul Judge, UK. 2. The Domain Name and Registrar
The disputed domain name is registered with NameSilo, LLC (the “Registrar”). 3. Procedural History
The Complaint was filed with the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center (the “Center”) on May 6, 2019. On May 6, 2019, the Center transmitted by email to the Registrar a request for registrar verification in connection with the disputed domain name. On May 6, 2019, the Registrar transmitted by email to the Center its verification response disclosing registrant and contact information for the disputed domain name which differed from the named Respondent and contact information in the Complaint. The Center sent an email communication to the Complainant on May 8, 2019, 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 May 8, 2019.
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”).
In accordance with the Rules, paragraphs 2 and 4, the Center formally notified the Respondent of the Complaint, and the proceedings commenced on May 10, 2019. In accordance with the Rules, paragraph 5, the due date for Response was May 30, 2019. The Respondent did not submit any response. Accordingly, the Center notified the Respondent’s default on May 31, 2019.
The Center appointed Clive Duncan Thorne as the sole panelist in this matter on June 6, 2019. 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, The Commissioners for HM Revenue and Customs, is a non-ministerial department of the UK Government responsible for the collection of UK taxes, the payment of some forms of state support and the administration of some other regulatory regimes. It is formally known as “Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs” but this is often shortened to the initials “hmrc”.
The Complainant can trace its predecessors to the Board of Taxes in 1665 and the Board of Inland Revenue in 1849. The Inland Revenue and HM Customs and Excise merged in April 2005 pursuant to The Commissioners for Revenue and Customs Act 2005 to become The Commissioners for HM Revenue and Customs.
As the UK Government’s tax authority almost every UK individual and business is a direct customer of the Complainant and user of its services. Further information as to its activities can be found on its website which can be accessed through the domain name . At Annex 03 are exhibited indicative screenshots from the website.
The Complainant draws attention to the fact that it, as with other tax authorities worldwide, is frequently targeted by phishing, online scams, and other criminal activity. It points out that domain name characteristics have been used to target the Complainant and its customers. For example, the use of domain names made up of the Complainant’s marks and additional terms such as “tax”, “contact”, or “advice”, or suggesting actions such as “refund”, “rebate”, or “demand”.
To support these assertions the Complainant exhibits a number of articles which set out the common characteristics of the threats against it and its customers. Most of these relate to scam emails, fraudulent