WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center

ADMINISTRATIVE PANEL DECISION

Royal Unibrew A/S v. Name Redacted

Case No. D2018-2706

1. The Parties

The Complainant is Royal Unibrew A/S of Faxe, Denmark, self-represented.

The Respondent is Name Redacted¹.

2. The Domain Name and Registrar

The disputed domain name <royalunbrew.com> is registered with Ligne Web Services SARL (the “Registrar”).

3. Procedural History

The Complaint was filed with the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center (the “Center”) on November 23, 2018. On November 23, 2018, the Center transmitted by email to the Registrar a request for registrar verification in connection with the disputed domain name. On November 28, 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 and contact information for the disputed domain name which differed from the named Respondent and contact information in the Complaint. The Center has also indicated to the Complainant that the language of the Registration Agreement was French, and invited the Complainant to provide sufficient evidence of an agreement between the Parties for English to be the language of proceeding, a Complaint translated into French, or a request for English to be the language of proceeding.

The Complainant filed a request for English to be the language of proceeding on December 5, 2018.

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 December 11, 2018.

On December 14, 2018 and on December 21, 2018, representatives of a company named as the registrant of the disputed domain name contacted the Center explaining that apparently the Respondent misused the identity of this company to register and use the domain name for “criminal” activities.

In accordance with the Rules, paragraph 5, the due date for Response was December 31, 2018. The Respondent did not submit any response. Accordingly, the Center notified the Respondent’s default on January 2, 2019.

The Center appointed Andrea Mondini as the sole panelist in this matter on January 7, 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 produces, markets and sells beers and other beverages.

The Complainant is the owner of several registrations for the trademark ROYAL UNIBREW, including International Trade Mark No. 854698 registered on June 7, 2005 designating among others the European Union, and maintains a website under the domain name <royalunibrew.com>.

The disputed domain name was registered on September 24, 2018.

5. Parties’ Contentions

A. Complainant

The Complainant contends in essence:

- That the disputed domain name <royalunbrew.com> is confusingly similar to its trademark ROYAL UNIBREW because it incorporates this trademark in its entirety, whereas the omission of the letter “i” does not avoid a likelihood of confusion but rather constitutes typosquatting;

- That the Complainant discovered that an unidentified third party misuses the identity of an actual manager of the Complainant and a false “[...]@royalunbrew.com” email address to lure potential customers to make prepayments for Coca-Cola products by issuing false pro-forma invoices in the name of the Complainant.

- That the Respondent has no rights or legitimate interests in respect of the disputed domain name, because (i) there is no affiliation or other relationship whatsoever between the Parties, and (ii) the Respondent is using the disputed domain name to conduct fraudulent activities;

- That the Respondent registered and is using the disputed domain name in bad faith to make customers believe that they are dealing with the Complainant and thereby inducing customers to make payments to a bank account that does not belong to the Complainant.

B. Respondent

The Respondent has not submitted a response.

However, on December 14, 2014, a representative of a company named as the registrant of the disputed domain name wrote to the Center that this company did not register the disputed domain name but that someone else is using its name.

On December 21, 2018, a patent attorney acting for said company stated that the person who registered the disputed domain name is unknown to them and that apparently there are “criminal elements” who act in the name of the company named as the registrant of the disputed domain name without any authorization.

6. Discussion and Findings

According to paragraph 4(a) of the Policy, in order to succeed, a complainant must establish each of the following elements:

(i) The disputed domain name is identical or confusingly similar to the trademark or service mark in which the Complainant has rights;

(ii) The 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.

6.1. Language of the Proceeding

In the present case, French is the language of the registration agreement. Pursuant to paragraph 11 of the Rules, unless otherwise agreed by the parties, the default language of the proceeding is the language of the registration agreement, subject to the authority of the panel to determine otherwise.

Paragraph 10 of the 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.

The Complainant filed the Complaint in English and, on December 5, 2018, it submitted its request for English to be the language of the proceeding. The Respondent did not submit any request regarding the language of the proceeding.

Considering (i) that the Respondent did not submit a response or any request regarding the language of the proceeding, and (ii) that the German company named as the registrant of the disputed domain name does seem to be the real Respondent; and (iii) the actual registrant used the disputed domain name in its email address to send messages in English, the Panel determines that the language of the proceeding is English.

6.2 Substantive Issues

A. Identical or Confusingly Similar

The Complainant has shown that it holds several registrations for the trademark ROYAL UNIBREW, including International Trade Mark No. 854698 registered on June 7, 2005.

The Panel finds that the disputed domain name is confusingly similar to the Complainant’s trademark ROYAL UNIBREW, because the omission of the letter “i” does not dispel confusing similarity. Rather, this is a matter of typosquatting.

Accordingly, the Panel finds that the Complainant has satisfied the requirement under paragraph 4(a)(i) of the Policy.

B. Rights or Legitimate Interests

The Complainant contends that it has not authorized the Respondent to use the disputed domain name, and that there is no relationship whatsoever between the Parties. Moreover, the Complainant has provided credible evidence that the Respondent is misusing the disputed domain name for fraudulent activities.

Accordingly, the Panel finds that the Respondent does not have rights or legitimate interests in the disputed domain name.

Therefore, the Panel finds that the Complainant has satisfied the requirement under paragraph 4(a)(ii) of the Policy.

C. Registered and Used in Bad Faith

The Complainant has credibly shown that the Respondent registered and is using the disputed domain name in bad faith to make customers believe that they are dealing with the Complainant and thereby induce customers to make payments to a bank account that does not belong to the Complainant. This is corroborated by the fact that representatives of the “real” company named as the registrant of the disputed domain name confirmed to the Center that they have nothing to do with the disputed domain name. Apparently, the Respondent misused the identity of both the Complainant (and one of its managers) and of a third entity for its fraudulent activities.

Under these circumstances, the panel finds that the Respondent registered and is using the disputed domain name in bad faith.

The Panel therefore finds that the Complainant has satisfied the requirement under paragraph 4(a)(iii) of the Policy.

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 name <royalunbrew.com> be transferred to the Complainant.

Andrea Mondini
Sole Panelist
Date: January 10, 2019

¹ The Panel has decided to redact the name of the named Respondent, adopting the criterion of the panel in Banco Bradesco S.A. v. FAST-12785241 Attn. Bradescourgente.net / Name Redacted, WIPO Case No. D2009-1788 ("The Panel has decided that no purpose is to be served by including the named Respondent in this decision, and has therefore redacted its name from the caption and body of this decision. The Panel has, however, attached as Annex 1 to this Decision an instruction to the Registrars regarding transfer of the disputed domain names that includes the named Respondent, and has authorized the Center to transmit Annex 1 to the Registrars as part of the order in this proceeding. However, the Panel has further directed the Center, pursuant to paragraph 4(j) of the Policy and paragraph 16(b) of the Rules, that Annex 1 to this Decision shall not be published based on exceptional circumstances").