The Veena Kumaravel vs. Daegu Law Auction Domain Dispute: A Study in UDRP and the Challenge of Generic Domain Names
- by Staff
In the domain name dispute case Veena Kumaravel v. Daegu Law Auction (Case No. D2019-2508), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Arbitration and Mediation Center evaluated a conflict over the domain name “naturals.com.” The complainant, Veena Kumaravel, a prominent beauty salon chain in India, claimed rights to the NATURALS trademark. The respondent, Daegu Law Auction from the Republic of Korea, contended that the domain name was generic and had been registered in good faith.
The domain “naturals.com” was registered in 2001, and the dispute was filed with WIPO on October 14, 2019. The complainant argued that the domain name was identical to their NATURALS trademark, which they claimed had been in use since 1991, although evidence supporting this early use was limited. The respondent defended their position by stating the generic nature of the term “naturals” and their lack of knowledge of the complainant’s brand at the time of registration.
The panel, led by Christopher S. Gibson, found that the domain name was indeed generic and that the respondent had legitimate interests in it, countering the complainant’s claims of bad faith registration and use. The decision favored the respondent, denying the domain transfer to the complainant. Notably, there was no finding of Reverse Domain Name Hijacking (RDNH) in this case.
This case highlights the complexities of domain name disputes, especially involving generic terms, and the challenges trademark holders face in proving bad faith registration and use in such scenarios.
In the domain name dispute case Veena Kumaravel v. Daegu Law Auction (Case No. D2019-2508), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Arbitration and Mediation Center evaluated a conflict over the domain name “naturals.com.” The complainant, Veena Kumaravel, a prominent beauty salon chain in India, claimed rights to the NATURALS trademark. The respondent, Daegu Law Auction…