RDNH Case D2017-0777
- by Staff
The WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center’s decision in the case of Crestron Electronics, Inc. v. ATTN: crestronasia.com, Domain Discreet Privacy Service / Transtrade Hong Kong Co. Limited, Case No. D2017-0777, is a notable example of a domain name dispute involving allegations of Reverse Domain Name Hijacking (RDNH).
The case involved the domain names crestronasia.com, crestronasia.asia, and crestron.asia, which were registered by the respondent, a former distributor of the complainant’s products in Asia. The complainant, Crestron Electronics, Inc., is a New Jersey-based company specializing in home automation devices. The relationship between the parties, once close and collaborative, deteriorated leading to the complainant seeking the transfer of the domain names, alleging they were identical or confusingly similar to its trademark, registered without rights or legitimate interests, and in bad faith.
The Panel, however, found that the domain names were not registered in bad faith, considering the history and nature of the relationship between the parties. It was deemed likely that the complainant had consented to the registrations, especially given the intertwined business operations at the time. Consequently, the complaint was not only denied but was also marked as an instance of Reverse Domain Name Hijacking, highlighting the inappropriate use of the Policy in attempting to deprive the respondent of the domain names.
This decision underscores the complexity of domain name disputes, especially where historical business relationships and trademark rights intersect, and it illustrates the consequences of misusing the UDRP process.
For more details on the case, you can visit the WIPO website.
The WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center’s decision in the case of Crestron Electronics, Inc. v. ATTN: crestronasia.com, Domain Discreet Privacy Service / Transtrade Hong Kong Co. Limited, Case No. D2017-0777, is a notable example of a domain name dispute involving allegations of Reverse Domain Name Hijacking (RDNH). The case involved the domain names crestronasia.com, crestronasia.asia,…