ARBITRATION AND MEDIATION CENTER ADMINISTRATIVE PANEL DECISION Petit Bateau v. 丹丹 陶 and Ccds Qcds Case No. D2022-4708 1. The Parties The Complainant is Petit Bateau, France, represented by CSC Digital Brand Services Group AB, Sweden. The Respondents are 丹丹 陶, China, and Ccds Qcds, Hong Kong, China. 2. The Domain Names and Registrar The disputed domain names
and are registered with Name.com, Inc. (the "Registrar"). 3. Procedural History The Complaint was filed with the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center (the "Center") on December 8, 2022. On December 8, 2022, the Center transmitted by email to the Registrar a request for registrar verification in connection with the disputed domain names. On December 12, 2022, the Registrar transmitted by email to the Center its verification response disclosing registrant and contact information for the disputed domain names which differed from the named Respondent (Whois Agent, Domain Protection Services, Inc.) and contact information in the Complaint. The Center sent an email communication to the Complainant on December 13, 2022, providing the registrant and contact information disclosed by the Registrar, and inviting the Complainant to amend the Complaint adding the Registrar-disclosed registrants as formal Respondents and provide relevant arguments or evidence demonstrating that all named Respondents are, in fact, the same entity and/or that all domain names are under common control; and/or file a separate complaint for any domain name for which it is not possible to demonstrate that all named Respondents are in fact the same entity and/or that all domain names are under common control and indicate (by short amendment or reply email) which domain name will no longer be included in the current Complaint. The Complainant filed an amended Complaint on December 15, 2022. 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"). page 2 In accordance with the Rules, paragraphs 2 and 4, the Center formally notified the Respondents of the Complaint, and the proceedings commenced on December 22, 2022. In accordance with the Rules, paragraph 5, the due date for Response was January 11, 2023. The Respondents did not submit any response. Accordingly, the Center notified the Respondents' default on January 12, 2023. The Center appointed Edoardo Fano as the sole panelist in this matter on January 18, 2023. 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. The Panel has not received any requests from the Complainant or the Respondents regarding further submissions, waivers or extensions of deadlines, and the Panel has not found it necessary to request any further information from the Parties. Having reviewed the communication records in the case file provided by the Center, the Panel finds that the Center has discharged its responsibility under the Rules, paragraph 2(a), "to employ reasonably available means calculated to achieve actual notice to the Respondent". Therefore, the Panel shall issue its Decision based upon the Complaint, the Policy, the Rules, and the Supplemental Rules, and without the benefit of a response from the Respondents. The language of the proceeding is English, being the language of the Registration Agreements, as per paragraph 11(a) of the Rules. 4. Factual Background The Complainant is Petit Bateau, a French company operating the clothing and underwear field and owning several trademark registrations for PETIT BATEAU, among which the following: - European Union Trademark Registration No. 001923820 for PETIT BATEAU, registered on January 18, 2002; - United States of America Trademark Registration No. 1,156,475 for PETIT BATEAU, registered on June 2, 1981; - Chinese Trademark Registration No. 1281084 for PETIT BATEAU, registered on June 7, 1999. The Complainant operates also on the Internet, its main website being "www.petit-bateau.com". The Complainant provided evidence in support of the above. According to the WhoIs records, the disputed domain names were registered on the following dates: on August 27, 2022, and on June 17, 2022. They resolve to very similar websites, one in English and the other one in Italian, in which the Complainant's trademark and logo are reproduced and the Complainant's products are supposedly offered for sale. 5. Parties' Contentions A. Complainant The Complainant states that the disputed domain names are confusingly similar to its trademark PETIT BATEAU, as the disputed domain names wholly contains the Complainant's trademark with the addition of the generic terms "kids" and "it", the latter preceded by a hyphen. page 3 Further to section 6.1 below, the Complainant argues that the disputed domain names are under common control and thus addresses the Respondents in the singular. The Complainant asserts that the Respondent has no rights or legitimate interests in respect of the disputed domain names since it has not been authorized by the Complainant to register the disputed domain names or to use its trademark within the disputed domain names, it is not commonly known by the disputed domain names, and it is not making either a bona fide offering of goods or services, or a legitimate noncommercial or fair use of the disputed domain names. The disputed domain names resolve to very similar websites in which the Complainant's trademark and logo are reproduced and the Complainant's products are supposedly offered for sale. The Complainant submits that the Respondent has registered the disputed domain names in bad faith, since the Complainant's trademark PETIT BATEAU is distinctive and known in the clothing and underwear field. Therefore, the Respondent targeted the Complainant's trademark at the time of registration of the disputed domain names and the Complainant contends that the use of the disputed domain names with the purpose to sell clothing and underwear goods and attract, for commercial gain, Internet users by creating a likelihood of confusion with the Complainant's trademark as to an affiliation between the Respondent and the Complainant, qualifies as bad faith registration and use. B. Respondents The Respondents have made no reply to the Complainant's contentions and are in default. In reference to paragraphs 5(f) and 14 of the Rules, no exceptional circumstances explaining the default have been put forward or are apparent from the record. A respondent is not obliged to participate in a proceeding under the Policy, but if it fails to do so, reasonable facts asserted by a complainant may be taken as true, and appropriate inferences, in accordance with paragraph 14(b) of the Rules, may be drawn (see, e.g., Reuters Limited v. Global Net 2000, Inc., WIPO Case No. D2000-0441; Microsoft Corporation v. Freak Films Oy, WIPO Case No. D2003-0109; SSL International PLC v. Mark Freeman, WIPO Case No. D2000-1080; Altavista Company v. Grandtotal Finances Limited et. al., WIPO Case No. D2000-0848; and Confédération Nationale du Crédit Mutuel, Caisse Fédérale du Crédit Mutuel Nord Europe v. Marketing Total S.A., WIPO Case No. D2007-0288). 6. Discussion and Findings 6.1 Consolidation of Multiple Respondents The Complainant has requested consolidation of multiple Respondents and stated that the disputed domain names are subject to common control. No objection to this request was made by the Respondents. Pursuant to the WIPO Overview of WIPO Panel Views on Selected UDRP Questions, Third Edition ("WIPO Overview 3.0") section 4.11.2, "[w]here a complaint is filed against multiple respondents, panels look at whether (i) the domain names or corresponding websites are subject to common control, and (ii) the consolidation would be fair and equitable to all parties. Procedural efficiency would also underpin panel consideration of such a consolidation scenario". The Panel may consider a range of factors to determine whether consolidation is appropriate, such as examining relevant registrant contact information, and any naming patterns in the disputed domain names, or other evidence of respondent affiliation that indicate common control of the disputed domain names. The Panel notes that the disputed domain names resolve to very similar websites, in which the same products as the Complainant's are offered for sale and the Complainant's trademark and logo are reproduced; they are both registered with the same Registrar and the same hosting service provider; both the registrants are reportedly located in China, but have furnished incomplete or fake contact details in light of the courier's inability to deliver the Center's written communications. The Panel finds that there is evidence that the disputed domain names are subject to common control, and that it would be procedurally efficient, fair and equitable to all Parties to accept the Complainant's consolidation request. The Panel page 4 further notes that the Respondents did not object to the consolidation request. The Panel therefore accepts the Complainant's consolidation request. Hereinafter, the Panel will refer to the Respondents in the singular, i.e., "the Respondent". 6.2 Substantive Issues Paragraph 4(a) of the Policy lists three elements, which the Complainant must satisfy in order to succeed: (i) the disputed domain names are 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 names; and (iii) the disputed domain names have been registered and are being used in bad faith. A. Identical or Confusingly Similar The Panel finds that the Complainant is the owner of the trademark PETIT BATEAU both by registration and acquired reputation and that the disputed domain names are confusingly similar to the trademark PETIT BATEAU. Regarding the addition of the terms "kids" and "it" in the respective disputed domain names, the latter preceded by a hyphen, the Panel notes that it is now well established that the addition of other terms (whether descriptive, geographical terms, letters, or otherwise) to a domain name does not prevent a finding of confusing similarity between the disputed domain name and the trademark. The addition of the terms "kids", "it", and of a hyphen in the respective disputed domain names does not therefore prevent the disputed domain names from being confusingly similar to the Complainant's trademark. See WIPO Overview 3.0, section 1.8. It is also well accepted that a generic Top-Level Domain ("gTLD"), in this case ".com", is typically ignored when assessing the similarity between a trademark and a domain name. See WIPO Overview 3.0, section 1.11. The Panel finds that the Complainant has therefore met its burden of proving that the disputed domain names are confusingly similar to the Complainant's trademark, pursuant to the Policy, paragraph 4(a)(i). B. Rights or Legitimate Interests Paragraph 4(a)(ii) of the Policy requires the Complainant to prove that the Respondent has no rights or legitimate interests in the disputed domain names. The Respondent may establish rights or legitimate interests in the disputed domain names by demonstrating in accordance with paragraph 4(c) of the Policy any of the following circumstances, in particular but without limitation: "(i) before any notice to you of the dispute, your use of, or demonstrable preparations to use, the domain name or a name corresponding to the domain name in connection with a bona fide offering of goods or services; or (ii) you (as an individual, business, or other organization) have been commonly known by the domain name, even if you have acquired no trademark or service mark rights; or (iii) you are making a legitimate noncommercial or fair use of the domain name, without intent for commercial gain to misleadingly divert consumers or to tarnish the trademark or service mark at issue." page 5 According to paragraph 4(a) of the Policy, the Complainant has the burden of proving the three elements of the Policy. However, satisfying the burden of proving a lack of the Respondent's rights or legitimate interests in respect of the disputed domain names according to paragraph 4(a)(ii) of the Policy is potentially quite difficult, since proving a negative circumstance is generally more complicated than establishing a positive one. As such, it is well accepted that it is sufficient for the Complainant to make a prima facie case that the Respondent has no rights or legitimate interests in the disputed domain names in order to shift the burden of production to the Respondent. If the Respondent fails to demonstrate rights or legitimate interests in the disputed domain names in accordance with paragraph 4(c) of the Policy or on any other basis, the Complainant is deemed to have satisfied paragraph 4(a)(ii) of the Policy. The Complainant in its Complaint, and as set out above, has established a prima facie case that the Respondent has no rights or legitimate interests in the disputed domain names. It asserts that the Respondent, who is not currently associated with the Complainant in any way, is not commonly known by the disputed domain names, and is not making a bona fide offering of goods or services or a legitimate noncommercial or fair use of the disputed domain names: the disputed domain names resolve to very similar websites in which the Complainant's trademark and logo are reproduced and the Complainant's products are supposedly offered for sale, the Respondent likely attempting to pass off as the Complainant or as being affiliated to the Complainant. According to the WIPO Overview 3.0, section 2.13.1: "Panels have categorically held that the use of a domain name for illegal activity (e.g., the sale of counterfeit goods or illegal pharmaceuticals, phishing, distributing malware, unauthorized account access/hacking, impersonation/passing off, or other types of fraud) can never confer rights or legitimate interests on a respondent [.]". The prima facie case presented by the Complainant is enough to shift the burden of production to the Respondent to demonstrate that it has rights or legitimate interests in the disputed domain names. However, the Respondent has not presented any evidence of any rights or legitimate interests it may have in the disputed domain names. Should the products sold on the websites to which the disputed domain names are directing Internet users be the Complainant's genuine products, legitimately acquired by the Respondent, the question that would arise is whether the Respondent would therefore have a legitimate interest in using the disputed domain names that are confusingly similar to the Complainant's trademark in circumstances that are likely to give rise to confusion. According to the current state of UDRP decisions in relation to the issue of resellers as summarized in the WIPO Overview 3.0, section 2.8.1: "[...] resellers, distributors, or service providers using a domain name containing the complainant's trademark to undertake sales or repairs related to the complainant's goods or services may be making a bona fide offering of goods and services and thus have a legitimate interest in such domain name. Outlined in the 'Oki Data test', the following cumulative requirements will be applied in the specific conditions of a UDRP case: (i) the respondent must actually be offering the goods or services at issue; (ii) the respondent must use the site to sell only the trademarked goods or services; (iii) the site must accurately and prominently disclose the registrant's relationship with the trademark holder; and (iv) the respondent must not try to 'corner the market' in domain names that reflect the trademark." page 6 This summary is based on the UDRP decision in Oki Data Americas, Inc. v. ASD, Inc., WIPO Case No. D2001-0903. Even if the products sold by the Respondent were the Complainant's genuine products, from inspection of the Respondent's websites, in addition to the composition of the disputed domain names themselves which give an impression of being affiliated with the Complainant, the Panel finds that the use of the Complainant's trademark and logo very prominently on the top and center of the homepages and the lack of any disclaimer would falsely suggest to Internet users, under the Oki Data principles (see above), that the websites to which the disputed domain names resolve are owned by the Complainant or at least affiliated to the Complainant. The Panel also notes that the products of two Complainant's competitors, namely Kläder and Leif Nelson, are offered for sale on the website at the disputed domain name , in whose "about us" section there is written "This is a new Negozio online Petit Bateau Italia 2022" ("negozio" meaning "shop" in Italian). The Panel therefore concludes that the disputed domain names are not being used in connection with a bona fide offering of goods or services. Moreover, the Panel finds that the composition of the disputed domain names carries a risk of implied affiliation as they effectively impersonate or suggest sponsorship or endorsement by the Complainant. See WIPO Overview 3.0, section 2.5.1. The Panel therefore finds that paragraph 4(a)(ii) of the Policy has been satisfied. C. Registered and Used in Bad Faith Paragraph 4(b) of the Policy provides that "for the purposes of paragraph 4(a)(iii) of the Policy, the following circumstances, in particular but without limitation, if found by the Panel to be present, shall be evidence of the registration and use of a domain name in bad faith: (i) circumstances indicating that [the respondent has] registered or has acquired the domain name primarily for the purpose of selling, renting, or otherwise transferring the domain name registration to the complainant who is the owner of the trademark or service mark or to a competitor of the complainant, for valuable consideration in excess of its documented out-of-pocket costs directly related to the domain name; or (ii) that [the respondent has] registered the 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 [the respondent has] engaged in a pattern of such conduct; or (iii) that [the respondent has] registered the domain name primarily for the purpose of disrupting the business of a competitor; or (iv) that by using the domain name, [the respondent has] intentionally attempted to attract, for commercial gain, Internet users to [the respondent's] website or other on-line location, by creating a likelihood of confusion with the complainant's mark as to the source, sponsorship, affiliation, or endorsement of [the respondent's] web site or location or of a product or service on [the respondent's] web site or location". Regarding the registration in bad faith of the disputed domain names, the reputation of the Complainant's trademark PETIT BATEAU in the clothing and underwear field is clearly established and the Panel finds that the Respondent likely knew of the Complainant and deliberately registered the disputed domain names, especially because the disputed domain names resolve to very similar websites consisting of advertising for the sale of clothing and underwear products and where the Complainant's trademark and logo are reproduced. Moreover, as noted above, the contact details provided by the Respondent for the registration of the disputed domain names appear to be either false or incomplete, since the courier was unable to deliver the Center's written communications, which further supports a finding of bad faith. page 7 The Panel further notes that the disputed domain names are also being used in bad faith since the Respondent is trying to attract Internet users to its websites by creating likelihood of confusion with the Complainant's trademark in order to sell what appears to be the same products as the Complainant's, an activity detrimental to the Complainant's business. The above suggests to the Panel that the Respondent intentionally registered and is using the disputed domain names in order both to disrupt the Complainant's business, in accordance with paragraph 4(b)(iii) of the Policy, and to attract, for commercial gain, Internet users to its websites in accordance with paragraph 4(b)(iv) of the Policy. Furthermore, the Panel considers that the nature of the inherently misleading disputed domain names, which are almost identical to the Complainant's trademark PETIT BATEAU with the mere addition of the terms "kids" and "it", the latter preceded by a hyphen, further supports a finding of bad faith and intent to confuse users about a non-existent affiliation trading off of the Complainant's reputation and goodwill. See WIPO Overview 3.0, section 3.2.1. The Panel finds that the Complainant has presented evidence to satisfy its burden of proof with respect to the issue of whether the Respondent has registered and is using the disputed domain names in bad faith. The Panel therefore finds that paragraph 4(a)(iii) of the Policy has been satisfied. 7. Decision For the foregoing reasons, in accordance with paragraphs 4(i) of the Policy and 15 of the Rules, the Panel orders that the disputed domain names and be transferred to the Complainant. /Edoardo Fano/ Edoardo Fano Sole Panelist Date: January 27, 2023
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