WIPO Domain Name Decision D2022-2275 for aminamuadd.com

ARBITRATION AND MEDIATION CENTER ADMINISTRATIVE PANEL DECISION AM Design v. Yang Zhi Chao (杨智超) Case No. D2022-2275 1. The Parties Complainant is AM Design, France, represented by Coblence & Associés, France. Respondent is Yang Zhi Chao (杨智超), China. 2. The Domain Name and Registrar The disputed domain name is registered with eName Technology Co., Ltd. (the "Registrar"). 3. Procedural History The Complaint was filed in English with the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center (the "Center") on June 23, 2022. On June 23, 2022, the Center transmitted by email to the Registrar a request for registrar verification in connection with the disputed domain name. On June 24, 2022, 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 Complainant on June 24, 2022, providing the registrant and contact information disclosed by the Registrar, and inviting Complainant to submit an amendment to the Complaint. Complainant filed an amendment to the Complaint in English on June 27, 2022. On June 24, 2022, the Center transmitted another email communication to the Parties in English and Chinese regarding the language of the proceeding. On June 24, 2022, Complainant confirmed its request that English be the language of the proceeding. Respondent did not comment on the language of the proceeding. The Center verified that the Complaint together with the amendment to 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"). page 2 In accordance with the Rules, paragraphs 2 and 4, the Center formally notified Respondent of the Complaint, and the proceedings commenced on July 4, 2022. In accordance with the Rules, paragraph 5, the due date for Response was July 24, 2022. Respondent did not submit any response. Accordingly, the Center notified Respondent's default on July 25, 2022. The Center appointed Yijun Tian as the sole panelist in this matter on August 3, 2022. 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 A. Complainant Complainant, AM Design, is a company incorporated in France. It is a well-known company specialising in the sale of shoes and accessories (leather goods, jewelry, etc.) for women under the brand AMINA MUADDI. Complainant has exclusive rights in AMINA MUADDI and AMINA MUADDI-related marks (hereinafter "AMINA MUADDI marks"). Complainant and its CEO are the exclusive owners of numerous AMINA MUADDI marks, including an international trademark registration for AMINA MUADDI designating China, registered on July 27, 2017 (the trademark registration number 1371021); a UK trademark registration for AMINA MUADDI registered on March 21, 2018 (the trademark registration number UK00801371021); and Brazilian trademark registration for AMINA MUADDI registered on June 21, 2021 (the trademark registration number 923345590 (Annex F to the Complaint). Moreover, Complainant owns and operates domain names, which contain the AMINA MUADDI mark in its entirety, such as (Annex E to the Complaint). B. Respondent Respondent is Yang Zhi Chao (杨智超), China. The disputed domain name was registered on May 3, 2022, long after the AMINA MUADDI marks were registered (2017). The disputed domain name resolves to a pay-per-click ("PPC") website in English, which contains AMINA MUADDI marks and links for services that compete with Complainant, including links labelled "Amina Muaddi Shoes", "Amina Muaddi Heels", and "Amina Muaddi Begum". 5. Parties' Contentions A. Complainant Complainant contends that the disputed domain name is confusingly similar to the AMINA MUADDI trademark. The disputed domain name consists of a misspelling of Complainant's AMINA MUADDI mark, whereby the last letter "i" is omitted from the term "muaddi", and the Top-Level Domain ("TLD") ".com" which does not inhibit the finding of confusing similarity. Complainant contends that Respondent does not have any rights or legitimate interests in the disputed domain name. Complainant contends that Respondent has registered and used the disputed domain name in bad faith. Complainant requests that the disputed domain name be transferred to Complainant. page 3 B. Respondent Respondent did not reply to Complainant's contentions. 6. Discussion and Findings 6.1. Language of the Proceeding The language of the Registration Agreement for the disputed domain name is Chinese. Pursuant to the Rules, paragraph 11(a), in the absence of an agreement between the Parties, or specified otherwise in the Registration Agreement, the language of the administrative proceeding shall be the language of the Registration Agreement. From the evidence presented on the record, no agreement appears to have been entered into between Complainant and Respondent to the effect that the language of the proceeding should be English. Complainant filed initially its Complaint in English, and has requested that English be the language of the proceeding for the following main reasons: a) the language of the Registration Agreement is English; b) the Registrar eName Technology Co., Ltd exercises its activity in English on its website; c) Respondent's website is in English; d) The Complaint is submitted in English. Respondent did not make any submissions with respect to the language of the proceeding and did not object to the use of English as the language of the proceeding. Paragraph 11(a) of the Rules allows the panel to determine the language of the proceeding having regard to all the circumstances. In particular, it is established practice to take paragraphs 10(b) and (c) of the Rules into consideration for the purpose of determining the language of the proceeding. In other words, it is important to ensure fairness to the parties and the maintenance of an inexpensive and expeditious avenue for resolving domain name disputes (Whirlpool Corporation, Whirlpool Properties, Inc. v. Hui'erpu (HK) electrical appliance co. ltd., WIPO Case No. D2008-0293; Solvay S.A. v. Hyun-Jun Shin, WIPO Case No. D2006-0593). The language finally decided by the panel for the proceeding should not be prejudicial to either one of the parties in its abilities to articulate the arguments for the case (Groupe Auchan v. xmxzl, WIPO Case No. DCC2006-0004). WIPO Overview of WIPO Panel Views on Selected UDRP Questions, Third Edition ("WIPO Overview 3.0") further states: "Noting the aim of conducting the proceedings with due expedition, paragraph 10 of the UDRP Rules vests a panel with authority to conduct the proceedings in a manner it considers appropriate while also ensuring both that the parties are treated with equality, and that each party is given a fair opportunity to present its case. Against this background, panels have found that certain scenarios may warrant proceeding in a language other than that of the registration agreement. Such scenarios include (i) evidence showing that the respondent can understand the language of the complaint, (ii) the language/script of the domain name particularly where the same as that of the complainant's mark, (iii) any content on the webpage under the disputed domain name, (iv) prior cases involving the respondent in a particular language, (v) prior correspondence between the parties, (vi) potential unfairness or unwarranted delay in ordering the complainant to translate the complaint, (vii) evidence of other respondent-controlled domain names registered, used, or corresponding to a particular language, (viii) in cases involving multiple domain names, the use of a particular language agreement for some (but not all) of the disputed domain names, (ix) currencies accepted on the webpage under the disputed domain name, or (x) other indicia tending to show that it would not be unfair to proceed in a language other than that of the registration agreement." (WIPO Overview 3.0, section 4.5.1; see also L'Oreal S.A. v. MUNHYUNJA, WIPO Case No. D2003-0585). page 4 The Panel has taken into consideration the facts that Complainant is a company from France, and Complainant will be spared the burden of working in Chinese as the language of the proceeding. The Panel has also taken into consideration the fact that the disputed domain name includes Latin characters ("amina muadd"), and is registered in the generic Top-Level Domain ("gTLD") space comprising of the Latin characters ".com" (Compagnie Gervais Danone v. Xiaole Zhang, WIPO Case No. D2008-1047). On the record, Respondent appears to be a Chinese resident and is thus presumably not a native English speaker. However, considering the following, the Panel has decided that English should be the language of the proceeding: (a) the disputed domain name includes Latin characters ("amina muadd"), rather than Chinese script; (b) the gTLD of the disputed domain name is ".com", so the disputed domain name seems to be prepared for users worldwide, particularly English speaking countries; (c) the disputed domain name resolves to an English website, which contains links labelled in English, such as "Amina Muaddi Shoes", "Amina Muaddi Heels", and "Amina Muaddi Begum"; (d) the Center has notified Respondent of the proceeding in both Chinese and English, and Respondent has indicated no objection to Complainant's request that English be the language of the proceeding; and (e) the Center informed the Parties, in English and Chinese, that it would accept a Response in either English or Chinese. The Panel would have accepted a response in Chinese but none was filed. Accordingly, the Panel finds the choice of English as the language of the present proceeding is fair to both Parties and is not prejudicial to either one of the Parties in its ability to articulate the arguments for this case. Having considered all the matters above, the Panel determines under paragraph 11(a) of the Rules that English shall be the language of the proceeding, and the decision will be rendered in English. 6.2. Substantial Issues Paragraph 4(a) of the Policy requires that Complainant must prove each of the following three elements to obtain an order that the disputed domain name should be cancelled or transferred: (i) the disputed domain name registered by Respondent is identical or confusingly similar to a trademark or service mark in which Complainant has rights; and (ii) Respondent has no rights or legitimate interests in respect of the disputed domain name; and (iii) the disputed domain name has been registered and is being used in bad faith. On the basis of the evidence introduced by Complainant and in particular with regard to the content of the relevant provisions of the Policy (paragraphs 4(a)-(c)), the Panel concludes as follows: A. Identical or Confusingly Similar The Panel finds that Complainant has rights in the AMINA MUADDI marks. The AMINA MUADDI marks have been registered internationally, including an international trademark registration for AMINA MUADDI (designating China) registered since 2017, a UK trademark registration for AMINA MUADDI since 2018, and a Brazilian trademark registration for AMINA MUADDI since 2021. The Panel finds that the essential part of the disputed domain name ("amina muadd") differs from Complainant's trademark AMINA MUADDI by only one letter - the last letter "i" is omitted from the term "muaddi". This does not eliminate the confusing similarity between Complainant's registered trademarks and the disputed domain name (Walgreen Co. v. Lin yanxiao / Linyanxiao, WIPO Case No. D2016-1605). Previous UDRP panels have consistently held that a domain name is identical or confusingly similar to a trademark for purposes of the Policy "when the domain name includes the trademark, or a confusingly similar approximation, regardless of the other terms in the domain name". (Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. v. Richard MacLeod d/b/a For Sale, WIPO Case No. D2000-0662). page 5 Moreover, as to "typosquatting", section 1.9 of WIPO Overview 3.0 states: "A domain name which consists of a common, obvious, or intentional misspelling of a trademark is considered by panels to be confusingly similar to the relevant mark for purposes of the first element." The second-level portion of the disputed domain name ("amina muadd") differs from Complainant's AMINA MUADDI marks only by the omitted letter "i" in the end, the Panel finds the omission of a single letter constituted typo-squatting (Accenture Global Services Limited v. 石磊 (Lei Shi), WIPO Case No. D2020-1568; and Trivago N.V. v. Adam Smith, WIPO Case No. D2019-1957). Thus, the Panel finds that the one letter typographical error of Complainant's AMINA MUADDI marks does not prevent the confusing similarity between the disputed domain name and the AMINA MUADDI marks. Further, in relation to the gTLD suffix, WIPO Overview 3.0 further states: "The applicable Top Level Domain ('TLD') in a domain name (e.g., '.com', '.club', '.nyc') is viewed as a standard registration requirement and as such is disregarded under the first element confusing similarity test." (WIPO Overview 3.0, section 1.11.1.) The Panel therefore holds that the Complaint fulfils the first condition of paragraph 4(a) of the Policy. B. Rights or Legitimate Interests Paragraph 4(c) of the Policy provides a list of circumstances any of which is sufficient to demonstrate that Respondent has rights or legitimate interests in the disputed domain name: (i) before any notice to Respondent of the dispute, the use by Respondent of, or demonstrable preparations to use, the disputed domain name or a name corresponding to the disputed domain name in connection with a bona fide offering of goods or services; or (ii) Respondent has been commonly known by the disputed domain name, even if Respondent has acquired no trademark or service mark rights; or (iii) Respondent is making a legitimate noncommercial or fair use of the disputed domain name, without intent for commercial gain to misleadingly divert consumers or to tarnish Complainant's trademarks. The overall burden of proof on this element rests with Complainant. However, it is well established by previous UDRP panel decisions that once a complainant establishes a prima facie case that a respondent lacks rights or legitimate interests in a domain name, the burden of production shifts to the respondent to rebut the complainant's contentions. If the respondent fails to do so, a complainant is deemed to have satisfied paragraph 4(a)(ii) of the Policy. (Danzas Holding AG, DHL Operations B.V. v. Ma Shikai, WIPO Case No. D2008-0441; WIPO Overview 3.0, section 2.1 and cases cited therein). The AMINA MUADDI marks have been registered as international trademarks (designating China and some other countries) since 2017, which preceded Respondent's registration of the disputed domain name (in 2022). According to the Complaint, Complainant is a well-known company specialising in the sale of shoes and accessories (leather goods, jewelry, etc.) for women under the brand AMINA MUADDI. Moreover, Respondent is not commonly known by "amina muadd" or "amina muaddi" nor is it authorized or licensed to use Complainant's mark in a domain name or otherwise. Complainant has therefore established a prima facie case that Respondent has no rights or legitimate interests in the disputed domain name and thereby shifted the burden to Respondent to produce evidence to rebut this presumption (The Argento Wine Company Limited v. Argento Beijing Trading Company, WIPO Case No. D2009-0610; Do The Hustle, LLC v. Tropic Web, WIPO Case No. D2000-0624; Croatia Airlines d.d. v. Modern Empire Internet Ltd., WIPO Case No. D2003-0455). page 6 Based on the following reasons the Panel finds that Respondent has no rights or legitimate interests in the disputed domain name: (a) There has been no evidence adduced to show that Respondent is using the disputed domain name in connection with a bona fide offering of goods or services. Respondent has not provided evidence of a legitimate use of the disputed domain name or reasons to justify the choice of the terms "amina muadd" (misspelled version of "amina muaddi") in the disputed domain name and in his/her business operation. There has been no evidence to show that Complainant has licensed or otherwise permitted Respondent to use the AMINA MUADDI marks or to apply for or use any domain name incorporating the AMINA MUADDI marks. (b) There has been no evidence adduced to show that Respondent has been commonly known by the disputed domain name. There has been no evidence adduced to show that Respondent has any registered trademark rights with respect to the disputed domain name. Respondent registered the disputed domain name in 2022, after the AMINA MUADDI marks were registered (as early as in 2017) and became widely known. The disputed domain name is confusingly similar to the AMINA MUADDI marks. (c) There has been no evidence adduced to show that Respondent is making a legitimate noncommercial or fair use of the disputed domain name. By contrast, the disputed domain name resolves to a PPC website, which contains links for services that compete with Complainant, including links labelled "Amina Muaddi Shoes", "Amina Muaddi Heels", and "Amina Muaddi Begum". It seems that Respondent is making profits through the Internet traffic attracted to the website under the disputed domain name. (See BKS Bank AG v. Jianwei Guo, WIPO Case No. D2017-1041; BASF SE v. Hong Fu Chen, Chen Hong Fu, WIPO Case No. D2017-2203.) The Panel notes that Respondent has not produced any evidence to establish his/her rights or legitimate interests in the disputed domain name. Accordingly, Complainant has established that Respondent has no rights or legitimate interests in the disputed domain name. The Panel therefore holds that the Complaint fulfils the second condition of paragraph 4(a) of the Policy. C. Registered and Used in Bad Faith Paragraph 4(b) of the Policy sets out four circumstances, which, without limitation, shall be evidence of the registration and use of the disputed domain name in bad faith, namely: (i) circumstances indicating that Respondent has registered or acquired the disputed domain name primarily for the purpose of selling, renting, or otherwise transferring the disputed domain name registration to Complainant who is the owner of the trademark or service mark or to a competitor of Complainant, for valuable consideration in excess of Respondent's documented out-of-pocket costs directly related to the disputed domain name; or (ii) Respondent has registered the disputed domain name in order to prevent the owner of the trademark or service mark from reflecting the mark in a corresponding domain name, provided that Respondent has engaged in a pattern of such conduct; or (iii) Respondent has registered the disputed domain name primarily for the purpose of disrupting the business of a competitor; or (iv) by using the disputed domain name, Respondent has intentionally attempted to attract, for commercial gain, Internet users to Respondent's website or other online location, by creating a likelihood of confusion with Complainant's mark as to the source, sponsorship, affiliation, or endorsement of Respondent's website or location or of a product or service on the website or location. page 7 The Panel concludes that the circumstances referred to in paragraph 4(b)(iv) of the Policy are applicable to the present case and upon the evidence of these circumstances and other relevant circumstances, it is adequate to conclude that Respondent has registered and used the disputed domain name in bad faith. (a) Registration in Bad Faith The Panel finds that Complainant has a widespread reputation as a company specialising in the sale of shoes and accessories (leather goods, jewelry, etc.) for women under the brand AMINA MUADDI. As mentioned above, AMINA MUADDI marks have been registered internationally, including international trademarks (designating China and some other countries) since 2017. And the website resolved by the disputed domain name contains Complainant's AMINA MUADDI trademark (such as the link labelled "Amina Muaddi Shoes"). It is not conceivable that Respondent would not have had actual notice of the AMINA MUADDI marks at the time of the registration of the disputed domain name (in 2022). The Panel, therefore, finds that the AMINA MUADDI mark is not one that a trader could legitimately adopt other than for the purpose of creating an impression of an association with Complainant (The Argento Wine Company Limited v. Argento Beijing Trading Company, supra). Moreover, Respondent has chosen not to respond to Complainant's allegations. According to the UDRP decision in The Argento Wine Company Limited v. Argento Beijing Trading Company, supra, "the failure of the Respondent to respond to the Complaint further supports an inference of bad faith". See also Bayerische Motoren Werke AG v. (This Domain is For Sale) Joshuathan Investments, Inc., WIPO Case No. D2002-0787. Thus, the Panel concludes that the disputed domain name was registered in bad faith. (b) Use in Bad Faith Respondent is using the website resolved by the disputed domain name to provide links for services that compete with Complainant, including links labelled "Amina Muaddi Shoes", "Amina Muaddi Heels", and "Amina Muaddi Begum", and sell purported AMINA MUADDI branded products. Thus, the Panel concludes that Respondent is currently using the confusingly similar disputed domain name with the intention to attract, for commercial gain, Internet users to Respondent's website. Given the reputation of the AMINA MUADDI marks, the Panel finds that the public is likely to be confused into thinking that the disputed domain name has a connection with Complainant, contrary to the fact. There is a strong likelihood of confusion as to the source, sponsorship, affiliation or endorsement of the website to which the disputed domain name resolves. In other words, Respondent has through the use of a confusingly similar disputed domain name created a likelihood of confusion with the AMINA MUADDI marks. Moreover, as mentioned above, the disputed domain name resolves to a PPC website, which contains links for services that compete with Complainant, including links labelled "Amina Muaddi Shoes", "Amina Muaddi Heels", and "Amina Muaddi Begum", and sell purported AMINA MUADDI branded products. The Panel therefore concludes that the disputed domain name was registered and is being used by Respondent in bad faith. Such use of the disputed domain name is also disruptive in relation to the interests of Complainant. In summary, Respondent, by choosing to register and use the disputed domain name, which is confusingly similar to the AMINA MUADDI marks, intended to ride on the goodwill of this trademark in an attempt to exploit, for commercial gain, Internet users destined for Complainant. In the absence of evidence to the contrary and rebuttal from Respondent, the choice of the disputed domain name and the conduct of Respondent as far as the website to which the disputed domain name resolves is indicative of registration and use of the disputed domain name in bad faith. The Panel therefore holds that the Complaint fulfils the third condition of paragraph 4(a) of the Policy. page 8 7. Decision For all the foregoing reasons, in accordance with paragraphs 4(i) of the Policy and 15 of the Rules, the Panel orders that the disputed domain name be transferred to Complainant. /Yijun Tian/ Yijun Tian Sole Panelist Dated: September 6, 2022


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