The Intricacies of WIPO Domain Name Case D2020-1822: Green Globe Limited vs. Domains By Proxy, LLC / Green Globe LLC

In the WIPO domain name dispute case D2020-1822, Green Globe Limited, a UK-based company, contested the domain name greenglobe.com, registered by Domains By Proxy, LLC / Green Globe LLC, based in the USA. The case centered around the legitimacy and use of the domain name, with Green Globe Limited asserting trademark rights over “Green Globe,” and challenging the respondent’s rights and use of the domain name.

Green Globe Limited, with registered trademarks for “Green Globe,” argued that the domain name was identical to its trademarks and that the respondent had no legitimate interests in it, using it in bad faith. In contrast, Domains By Proxy, LLC / Green Globe LLC countered, claiming rights and legitimate interests in the domain name under a licensing agreement, asserting its use for bona fide services and denying any bad faith.

The case’s complexity was amplified by the interplay between Green Globe LLC and Green Certifications, Inc. (GCI), with the latter operating the domain under a license agreement with Green Globe Limited. This licensing agreement, granted by Green Globe Limited to GCI, allowed the use of the “Green Globe” brand and was pivotal in the dispute. The panel found that GCI had a sufficient connection to the license, having used the domain name for a decade for services covered under this agreement.

The panel concluded that Green Globe Limited failed to establish the absence of rights or legitimate interests by the respondent, given the evidence related to the license and the long-standing use of the domain name. Furthermore, the panel found the complaint constituted Reverse Domain Name Hijacking, criticizing Green Globe Limited for not disclosing the license agreement in its initial complaint and denying its existence, despite its relevance.

The decision highlighted the significance of licensing agreements in domain name disputes and the necessity for full disclosure and transparency in UDRP proceedings.

In the WIPO domain name dispute case D2020-1822, Green Globe Limited, a UK-based company, contested the domain name greenglobe.com, registered by Domains By Proxy, LLC / Green Globe LLC, based in the USA. The case centered around the legitimacy and use of the domain name, with Green Globe Limited asserting trademark rights over “Green Globe,”…