Elgi Equipments Limited vs. Michael Zielinski, Worldengine Holdings LLC: A Study in Domain Name Disputes

In the WIPO domain name dispute case D2018-1625, Elgi Equipments Limited, an Indian air compressor manufacturer, contested the domain name “elgi.net” held by Michael Zielinski, Worldengine Holdings LLC. Filed on July 18, 2018, the case focused on whether the domain name, identical to Elgi’s trademark, was registered in bad faith.

Elgi, established in 1960, argued that the domain name was registered to mislead consumers, given its long-standing use and registration of the ELGI mark. Conversely, Zielinski, a domain investor with over 1,000 four-letter domain names, claimed he acquired “elgi.net” for its inherent value, without targeting any specific trademark.

The Panel, led by Andrew D. S. Lothian, concluded that while “elgi.net” was identical to Elgi’s trademark, there was insufficient evidence of bad faith registration by Zielinski. The Panel noted that Elgi’s market presence in the U.S. post-dated Zielinski’s domain registration. The decision highlighted the complexity in proving bad faith in domain name disputes, especially when the domain name in question is a generic term or common acronym.

The decision, denying Elgi’s complaint, is a significant case in understanding the nuances of domain name disputes under the UDRP policy.

In the WIPO domain name dispute case D2018-1625, Elgi Equipments Limited, an Indian air compressor manufacturer, contested the domain name “elgi.net” held by Michael Zielinski, Worldengine Holdings LLC. Filed on July 18, 2018, the case focused on whether the domain name, identical to Elgi’s trademark, was registered in bad faith. Elgi, established in 1960, argued…

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