And The Disputed Domain Name Winner Is . . .

In this WIPO dispute, Complainant sought transfer of the disputed domain names "goldenglobe.com" and "goldenglobes.com".  Complainant's Golden Globe Award Ceremony is world famous and Complainant is the registered owner of three US trademark registrations for "GOLDEN GLOBE" covering, among other things, services associated with its award ceremony.

The disputed domain names were not in use and were not connected to any website.  Complainant sent Respondent a cease and desist letter, but got no reply to that or its WIPO Complaint.  The Panel ordered that the disputed domain names be transferred to Complainant, holding that Respondent did not appear to have any legitimate rights or interest in the disputed domain names and that they had been registered and used in bad faith.  In so holding, the Panel accepted Complainant's argument that Respondent had registered the domains with the intention of selling them at a profit.  In that regard, the Registrar's Whois database identified the Administrative Contact of the domains as "Sale, For" (i.e. For Sale).  The Panel believed that, under the circumstances, Complainant's argument was a reasonable assumption, particularly since Respondent had not challenged the allegation.  Given that Respondent had no active use planned for the domains and they had remained unused for over 10 years, the Panel accepted that their sale was Respondent's objective at the date of registration. Registration of a domain name with knowledge that it reproduces the Complainant's trademark and with a view to profiting from its sale is bad faith registration and use, warranting transfer of the disputed domain names. Hollywood Foreign Press Association v. F.M.I., WIPO Case No. D2008-1610