Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc & Ors v Girault [2006] DRS 3806 (10 August 2006)

Royal Bank of Scotland Group Plc & Ors v Girault [2006] DRS 3806 (10 August 2006)

Complainants demonstrated rights in marks similar to the domain names; respondent registered and used domain names to unfairly disrupt complainants' business and profit from diverted traffic; respondent failed to rebut presumption of abusive registration; domain names constitute abusive registration under the Policy.

Citation
[2006] DRS 3806
Parties
Lead Complainant: The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc; Complainant: National Westminster Bank plc; Complainant: Direct Line Insurance plc; Complainant: Privilege Insurance Company Limited; Respondent: Laurent Girault
Jurisdiction
United Kingdom
Judgment Date
10 August 2006
Procedural Posture
Domain Name Dispute / Expert Determination
Outcome
complaint upheld
Legal Topics
Domain Name, Trademark Infringement, Abusive Registration, Typosquatting
Intellectual Property Internet Law Domain Name Trademark Infringement Abusive Registration Typosquatting

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Parties

The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc

Lead Complainant

National Westminster Bank plc

Complainant

Direct Line Insurance plc

Complainant

Privilege Insurance Company Limited

Complainant

Laurent Girault

Respondent

Procedural Posture

Domain Name Dispute / Expert Determination

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether complainants have rights in respect of names or marks similar to the domain names.
  2. 2 Whether the domain names in the hands of the respondent constitute abusive registration under the Nominet UK DRS Policy.

Ratio Decidendi

Complainants demonstrated rights in marks similar to the domain names; respondent registered and used domain names to unfairly disrupt complainants' business and profit from diverted traffic; respondent failed to rebut presumption of abusive registration; domain names constitute abusive registration under the Policy.

Court Disposition

complaint upheld

Orders

  • Domain names natwestcards.co.uk and privalege.co.uk to be transferred to the lead complainant.