Rayden Engineering Ltd v Charlton [2009] DRS 6284 (01 May 2009)

Rayden Engineering Ltd v Charlton [2009] DRS 6284 (01 May 2009)

Registration and use of domain names identical to the complainant's trade name for a criticism site, without any modifier indicating protest, constitutes abusive registration under the Nominet DRS Policy as it takes unfair advantage of and is unfairly detrimental to the complainant's rights by causing confusion and misdirection, regardless of disclaimers or absence of commercial use.

Citation
[2009] DRS 6284
Parties
Complainant/appellant: Rayden Engineering Ltd; Respondent: Diane Charlton
Jurisdiction
United Kingdom
Judgment Date
01 May 2009
Procedural Posture
Domain Name Dispute (nominet UK DRS Appeal) / Appeal Decision
Outcome
Appeal allowed; domain names found to be abusive registrations.
Legal Topics
Domain Name Registration, Abusive Registration, Fair Use, Trademark Rights, Criticism Websites
Intellectual Property Internet Law Domain Name Registration Abusive Registration Fair Use Trademark Rights Criticism Websites

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Parties

Rayden Engineering Ltd

Complainant/appellant

Diane Charlton

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Domain Name Dispute (nominet UK DRS Appeal) / Appeal Decision

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether registration of domain names identical to complainant's trade name for criticism purposes constitutes abusive registration under Nominet DRS Policy
  2. 2 Whether fair use applies to criticism sites using identical domain names
  3. 3 Whether initial interest confusion amounts to unfair advantage or detriment under the Policy

Ratio Decidendi

Registration and use of domain names identical to the complainant's trade name for a criticism site, without any modifier indicating protest, constitutes abusive registration under the Nominet DRS Policy as it takes unfair advantage of and is unfairly detrimental to the complainant's rights by causing confusion and misdirection, regardless of disclaimers or absence of commercial use.

Court Disposition

Appeal allowed; domain names found to be abusive registrations.

Orders

  • Transfer of <rayden-engineering.co.uk> and <rayden-engineering.org.uk> to Rayden Engineering Ltd.