Buffalo-Erie Marathon Association, Inc. vs. John Elliott: A Case of Domain Dispute and RDNH
- by Staff
In the WIPO case of Buffalo-Erie Marathon Association, Inc. (“BEMA”) v. John Elliott (Case No. D2019-0638), the dispute centered around the domain name “buffalomarathon.com”. The complainant, BEMA, a non-profit organization that organizes the Buffalo Marathon, claimed the domain was confusingly similar to its registered trademarks. BEMA alleged that John Elliott, the respondent, registered the domain name without authorization.
Elliott, who had registered the domain in 2000, denied these allegations. He explained that the domain name was part of a broader strategy to enhance internet traffic to his website, Marathon Guide, which provided information on various marathon races. The panel found Elliott’s explanation plausible and determined there was no evidence of bad faith registration. As a result, the complaint was denied, and no finding of Reverse Domain Name Hijacking was made.
For more detailed information, you can visit the WIPO Domain Name Decision: D2019-0638.
In the WIPO case of Buffalo-Erie Marathon Association, Inc. (“BEMA”) v. John Elliott (Case No. D2019-0638), the dispute centered around the domain name “buffalomarathon.com”. The complainant, BEMA, a non-profit organization that organizes the Buffalo Marathon, claimed the domain was confusingly similar to its registered trademarks. BEMA alleged that John Elliott, the respondent, registered the domain…