Mistral Internet Group Ltd -v- Pinnegar [2003] DRS 909 (30 April 2003)

Mistral Internet Group Ltd -v- Pinnegar [2003] DRS 909 (30 April 2003)

The Respondent’s registration of a domain name identical to the Complainant’s trading style, with the intention to use it for criticism, is unfairly detrimental to the Complainant’s rights. The Complainant has the right to control its customer relations and the Respondent’s intended use detracts from this right. The registration is therefore abusive under the Policy.

Citation
[2003] DRS 909
Parties
Complainant: Mistral Internet Group Ltd; Respondent: David Pinnegar
Jurisdiction
United Kingdom
Judgment Date
30 April 2003
Procedural Posture
Domain Name Dispute / Expert Decision
Outcome
Domain name transferred to Complainant
Legal Topics
Domain Name Disputes, Abusive Registration, Trade Mark Rights, Criticism Sites
Intellectual Property Information Technology Domain Name Disputes Abusive Registration Trade Mark Rights Criticism Sites

Case Brief

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Parties

Mistral Internet Group Ltd

Complainant

David Pinnegar

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Domain Name Dispute / Expert Decision

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the registration of mistralinternet.co.uk by the Respondent constitutes an abusive registration under Nominet's Dispute Resolution Policy
  2. 2 Whether the Complainant has rights in the domain name
  3. 3 Whether the Respondent's intended use of the domain name is unfairly detrimental to the Complainant's rights

Ratio Decidendi

The Respondent’s registration of a domain name identical to the Complainant’s trading style, with the intention to use it for criticism, is unfairly detrimental to the Complainant’s rights. The Complainant has the right to control its customer relations and the Respondent’s intended use detracts from this right. The registration is therefore abusive under the Policy.

Court Disposition

Domain name transferred to Complainant

Orders

  • The domain name mistralinternet.co.uk is to be transferred to Mistral Internet Group Ltd.