A couple of weeks ago, I saw that Finwise.com was pending delete and would be auctioned. I liked the name because it was a mashup of two words – fin (for financial) and wise. FinWise seems like a pretty nice brand name. I did not backorder the domain name, though, because a search I did showed there is a bank called FinWise Bank, and I was concerned they could claim a right to this name, particularly because it would have a new registration date.
Sold 2 Weeks Ago for $4,190, FinWise.com Subject of UDRP (Updated)
Bought for $917,000 in 2019, Stars.com Saved in UDRP
When I saw a UDRP filing against Stars.com at the National Arbitration Forum, I did a double take. Stars.com is clearly a valuable domain name, and the generic nature of Stars.com should make it entirely defensible. Attorney Stevan Lieberman represented the registrant, Leo Radvinsky / Cybertania Inc., in this proceeding, and the three member panel ruled in favor of the registrant. The UDRP decision was posted to the NAF website this morning.
The UDRP was filed by a company called Al-Dabbagh Group Holding Company, and the allegation in the complaint shows why it filed this UDRP:
Pet Mart of Vietnam Beats PetSmart in UDRP
PetSmart is one of, if not the largest, pet care companies in the United States. My wife and I occasionally shop at PetSmart when we need something for our puggle and it is convenient for us. The company filed a UDRP against three domain names – PetMart.info, PetMartVietnam.com, and PetMartVN.com. The UDRP decision was published yesterday, and the Vietnamese respondent prevailed in the WIPO decision.
RDNH Finding on Picture.com UDRP
In August of this year, I reported that a UDRP had been filed against the Picture.com domain name at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). It is always surprising to see an attempt to take a descriptive one word .com domain name via the UDRP. What was not surprising was when attorney Stevan Lieberman shared that his firm won the UDRP on behalf of the registrant, and the panel ruled that “the Complainant has abused the administrative proceeding and engaged in reverse domain name hijacking.”
Mrs Jello Wins Spase.com UDRP with RDNH Finding
A UDRP was filed against Spase.com at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). The domain name is registered to Mrs Jello, LLC, the company founded by the late Igal Lichtman, which is now operated by his wife, Michal Lichtman. Attorney Stevan Lieberman shared the decision with me, which went in favor of the domain registrant. The panel also found the complaint was brought in bad faith (Reverse Domain Name Hijacking – RDNH).
The factual background section in the decision pretty much tells us why this UDRP was flawed from the beginning and resulted in a finding of RDNH:
Merlin Kauffman Files Suit Over 420.com
Politico published an extensive article about High Times, a long-established publication covering the marijuana industry, culture, and lifestyle. In the article, it was revealed that a lawsuit has been filed by Merlin Kauffman related to the 420.com domain name. Here’s an excerpt from the article that discussed the lawsuit: