WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center
ADMINISTRATIVE PANEL DECISION
Zuffa LLC v. LGRE
Case No. D2001-0458
1. The Parties
Complainant is Zuffa LLC, a Nevada limited liability corporation with its headquarters in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States of America. Complainant is represented by Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy, LLP.
Respondent is LGRE located in West Patterson, New Jersey, United States of America. Raymond A. Mardo is acting on behalf of Respondent.
2. Domain Name and Registrar
The domain name at issue is: .
The Registrar is R of Seattle, Washington.
3. Procedural History
The WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center (the "Center") received Zuffa LLC�s complaint (the "Complaint") by hard copy on March 29, 2001 and by email on April 3, 2001. The Center verified that the Complaint satisfied the formal requirements of the ICANN Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (the "Policy"), the Rules for Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (the "Rules"), and the Center�s Supplemental Rules for Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (the "Supplemental Rules"). Zuffa LLC requested to have the dispute decided by a single-member administrative panel. All payments required of Complainant were timely made. The formal date of the commencement of this administrative proceeding was April 17, 2001.
On May 5, 2001, the Respondent submitted by email its Response to the Complaint. The Response was submitted in a timely manner and WIPO, on May 10, 2001, acknowledged receipt of the Response. In its Response, Respondent did not request a three-member panel to hear the dispute. Accordingly, on May 22, 2001, the Center appointed Barbara Solomon as the panelist for this matter. The panelist agrees with the Center�s assessment that the Complaint and Response satisfy the requirements of the Policy, Rules and Supplemental Rules.
4. Parties� Contentions
Complainant states that it is the corporate successor to Semaphore Entertainment Group, the corporation that created the "Ultimate Fighting Championship" competition. Competitions under the name have been held since 1993 in various states in the United States as well as internationally. The competitions have been broadcast in over 51 countries and have been available for viewing live on Pay-Per-View in North America, Latin American and Japan. In addition, Complainant states that competitions under the mark ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP have been converted to a video format available in various versions. Complainant alleges that the mark ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP enjoys recognition and brand awareness throughout the martial arts community and in sports media.
According to the Complaint, effective January 10, 2001, Complainant acquired the "Ultimate Fighting Championship" name and business in connection with a purchase of the assets of Semaphore. As a result, Complainant became the owner of U.S. trademark registrations for ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP as well as various pending U.S. trademark applications for the mark. In addition, Complainant became the owner of European and other worldwide trademark registrations and applications for the mark although the specifics of those marks are not set forth in the Complaint.
Complainant asserts that as a result of its acquisition of Semaphore�s trademark rights as well as the use of the mark by its predecessor in interest and Zuffa, Zuffa has rights in the ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP trademark. Complainant further asserts that the domain name is identical or similar to its ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP trademark.
Complainant next asserts that Respondent has no rights or legitimate interests in the domain name because Respondent has no trademark registrations for the mark; Zuffa has not agreed or consented to Respondent�s use or registration of the domain name incorporating the mark; and Respondent has not used the domain name in connection with an active website.
Further, Complainant states that Respondent registered and is using the domain name in bad faith. In support of this contention, Complainant states that Respondent proposed transferring the domain name in exchange for obtaining employment with Complainant as a promoter of "Ultimate Fighting Championship" competitions; that Respondent knew or should have known of Zuffa�s prior adoption, use and rights in the mark since Respondent claims to be operating in the sports field; that there can be no credible argument that Respondent arrived at the name independently and without knowledge of Complainant or its predecessor�s rights; and there was no evidence of any actual or contemplated good faith use of the domain name by Respondent.
In its Response, Respondent first states that it obtained the domain name prior to Complainant�s acquisition of any rights in the name "Ultimate Fighting Championship." Respondent does not suggest that its domain name was registered before Semaphore, Complainant�s predecessor in interest, acquired rights in the ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP mark. Respondent further contends that the mark ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP is generic.
Respondent next asserts that its domain name is not identical or confusingly similar to Complainant�s registered trademark in part because the Complainant does not use the term "Ultimate Fighting Championship" but rather uses only the acronym "UFC."
Respondent also challenges Complainant�s assertion that it lacks legitimate interest and rights in and to the domain name. Specifically, Respondent claims that before receiving notice of the dispute it registered the domain name and posted a web page informing visitors that the site would be moving in soon. Respondent also claims that it has plans to develop a professional wrestling/sports entertainment tournament consisting of monthly matches and that it has registered other domain names to promote the tournaments.
Finally, in addressing Complainant�s claim that Respondent registered and is using the domain name in bad faith, Respondent states that it never offered to exchange the URL in question for employment or a job with the Complainant and that it was, in fact, Complainant who offered Respondent the possibility of employment with Complainant.
In addition to Responding to the allegations made by Complainant, Respondent also has affirmatively alleged that Complainant has engaged in reverse domain name hijacking and has asked the panel to make a finding that the Complaint was brought in bad faith because it was unsupportable or filed with reckless disregard as to whether the allegations were supportable.
5. Discussion and Findings
Under paragraph 4(a) of the Policy, Complainant must prove each of the following to obtain the transfer of a domain name:
(1) that the domain name registered by the Respondent is identical or confusingly similar to a trademark or service mark in which the Complainant has rights;
(2) that the Respondent has no rights or legitimate interests in respect of the domain name; and
(3) that the Respondent has registered and is using the domain name in bad faith.
A. The Domain Name is Identical or Confusingly Similar to the "Ultimate Fighting Championship" Trademark
Respondent argues that ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP is not a protectable mark in which Complainant has rights. Specifically, Respondent takes the position that because the trademark consists of generic terms, somehow the mark as a whole is not protectable. This is not correct as a matter of U.S. trademark law.
It is not disputed that Complainant has acquired U.S. trademark registrations for the mark ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP as a result of its acquisition of the assets of Semaphore. The existence of these trademark registrations are prima facie evidence of Complainant�s rights in the ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP mark. Respondent has the burden of proof of refuting this evidence which burden it has not carried. As such, Complainant is found to have sufficient rights in the mark ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP to bring the Complaint. See Educational Testing Service v. TOEFL, WIPO D2000-0044 (presume mark is distinctive based on existence of trademark registration); accord, eAuto L.L.C. v. Triple S Auto Parts, WIPO D2000-0047.
Respondent also suggests that its domain name is not similar or identical to the ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP trademark. However, as can be readily seen, the domain name in fact is identical to the ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP mark. The fact that the Complainant, according to Respondent, may use the acronym "UFC" is beside the point when determining whether the domain name is similar or identical to the registered trademark ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP which it clearly is.
Accordingly, Complainant has satisfied this element of the Policy.
B. The Respondent Does Not Have a Legitimate Interest in the Domain Name
Although Complainant has the burden of persuasion on all elements of the Policy, Respondent must offer some evidence of legitimate use once the Complainant has made a prima facie case that no legitimate interest exists. Here, Complainant has made such a prima facie case by showing that Respondent owns no trademark registration for ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP, that Complainant neither consented nor agreed to Respondent�s use or registration of a domain name incorporating the ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP mark, that the domain name does not resolve to any website or online presence and that Respondent has made no legitimate or commercial use of the domain name.
The Policy sets forth certain circumstances which are sufficient to demonstrate rights or legitimate interest in a domain name. In this case, Respondent has no evidence to show that it was using or made demonstrable preparations to use the domain name before notice to it of the dispute. Policy � 4(c)(i). While Respondent claims that it has plans to use the domain name, Respondent has not provided any evidence other than mere allegations to show any preparations for legitimate use. Because Respondent has failed to provide evidence including, for example, business plans, use of the name on a non-Internet based business, or other evidence reasonably related to preparations for legitimate use, Respondent�s arguments that it is preparing to make a bona fide use of the domain name cannot be credited. Unlike some of the cases relied upon by Respondent, here there is no evidence of any preparations, however perfunctory, that Respondent has made to use the domain name. While it may be the case that, in fact, Respondent has made some preparations to use the name sufficient to demonstrate rights or legitimate interests, for purposes of this proceeding Respondent has failed to prove those rights or interests.
The Policy further states that evidence of rights or legitimate interest in a domain name can be shown if the Respondent has been commonly known by the domain name or if the Respondent is making a legitimate noncommercial or fair use of the domain name. Policy �4(c). Here, Respondent does not allege that either circumstance is applicable in this case. Accordingly, Complainant has met its burden on this element.
C. The Respondent Registered and is Using the Domain Name in Bad Faith
The purpose of the Policy is to prevent clearly abusive acts of cybersquatting. The Policy is not designed to address any issue of unfair competition or misuse of a domain name. It is for this reason that there is a requirement under the Policy for the Complainant to prove that the Respondent registered and used the domain name in bad faith. The Policy sets forth various factors to be examined in considering whether there is such bad faith registration and use although the Policy recognizes that there may be other circumstances not enumerated in the Policy that might show bad faith.
In support of its claim that Respondent registered and is using the domain name in bad faith, Complainant alleges that the Respondent proposed a transfer of the domain name in exchange for obtaining employment with the Complainant as a promoter of the ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP competitions. Respondent denies these allegations, stating that it never offered to exchange the URL in question for employment or a job and states that it was Complainant who proposed employment as a possible means to resolve the dispute. As to other evidence of bad faith use and registration of the domain name, Complainant has not shown that the domain name was registered in order to prevent the owner of the mark or service mark from reflecting its own mark in a corresponding domain name, that the domain name was registered primarily for the purposes of disrupting the business of Zuffa, or that the domain name has been registered to attract for commercial gain Internet users by creating a likelihood of confusion. See Policy � 4(b). Indeed, given that there has been no use of the domain name, there could be no likelihood of confusion at least at this time.
Thus, the crux of the issue comes down to whether the Respondent offered to transfer the domain name in exchange for employment. On this, there is obviously a difference of opinion. Based on the submissions, Complainant has therefore not carried its burden of proof. Furthermore, the submissions make it apparent that this case is not the type of clear-cut case of cybersquatting that is appropriate for resolution under the UDRP. The issues presented by the parties are more properly determined by a trial court with appropriate offers of evidence.
It should be kept in mind that this determination does not mean or suggest that the domain name was not registered and used in bad faith, only that a factual determination on that issue cannot be made on this record. Further, the question of whether Respondent�s use of the domain name may result in trademark infringement or other violations of Complainant�s rights is not at issue here, has not been decided, and is beyond the scope of the policy. Adaptive Molecular Technologies, Inc. v. Priscilla Woodward & Charles R. Thorton, WIPO D2000-0006.
Allegation of Reverse Domain Name Hijacking
Respondent has alleged that Complainant is involved in reverse domain name hijacking. Reverse domain name hijacking is defined in paragraph 1 of the Rules as meaning "using the Policy in bad faith to attempt to deprive a registered domain name holder of a domain name." In this case, the Panel does not find that the complaint was brought in bad faith. When Complainant filed the complaint, it was the owner of U.S. trademark registrations for the mark ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP. At the time the complaint was filed, Respondent was not making active use of the domain name in connection with a website or in connection with provision of any goods and services. Complainant�s predecessor in interest had established rights in the mark ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP prior to the registration date of the domain name. And, as evidenced by the complaint, Complainant clearly believes that there was an offer made to exchange the domain name for employment. Taken together, Complainant had a good faith basis for bringing the complaint.
7. Decision
Despite the fact that Complainant has established rights in the mark ULTIMATE FIGHTING CHAMPIONSHIP, that the domain name is identical to Complainant�s mark and that the Respondent did not show rights or legitimate interest in the domain name, Complainant has failed to prove that the Respondent registered and is using the domain name in bad faith. This failure of proof is based solely on the disputed issues of fact raised by the parties which cannot be resolved by the Panel. Accordingly, for the specific reasons set forth herein, Complainant�s request for transfer of the domain name is denied.
As to Respondent�s request for a declaration that Complainant has engaged in reverse domain name hijacking, Respondent has failed to make out such a claim against the Complainant. As such, Respondent�s request that the Panel make a finding that the complaint was brought in bad faith is denied. The evidence shows that Complainant had a good faith basis for proceeding.
Barbara A. Solomon
Sole Panelist
Dated: June 12, 2001
Full & Egal Universal Law Academy