Maindron.com – lost in UDRP.
Maindron.com was just lost at the WIPO, after a French company alleged rights to the mark MAINDRON.
The extraordinary fact of this UDRP: the Respondent’s own name is Michael Maindron.
FLM (Maindron Group) of Treillières, France claimed that it has rights to the MAINDRON mark since April 4th, 2016. They allege prior use of the mark since at least 1991, by providing evidence of a French publication referencing the founder’s name.
The Respondent acquired the domain Maindron.com in January 2016. According to the UDRP:
“The Respondent submits that he has rights and legitimate interests in the disputed domain name because it is a generic surname which anyone is entitled to register. He states that he acquired the disputed domain name for the purpose of a website providing generic information about the Maindron surname and that he will develop that website when he has the time and funds in the future. He states that there is no requirement for a domain name registrant to offer goods and services under a trademark that matches that domain name.”
In January 2016, the Complainant attempted to acquire the domain via the GoDaddy service, only to be told that it had been sold. The new owner, presumably the Respondent, sought a price of $15,000 dollars for Maindron.com.
Steven A. Maier, sole panelist at the WIPO, issued a decision on behalf of the Complainant, ordering Maindron.com to be transferred.
Read the full UDRP text here.
