Sheraton hotel in Dallas. Need a cab?
The owners of the mega-hotel chain, the Sheraton, aren’t going to sit and watch their intellectual property get squatted.
Hence, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc., The Sheraton LLC, Sheraton International IP, LLC filed a UDRP at the WIPO against the registrant of the domain name Sheraton.cab.
This is the first UDRP we’re aware of, that involves a dot .cab gTLD domain name.
There’s no question about the infringement here, as outlined in the Complainant’s statement:
“The Complainant contends that the Respondent targeted the Complainant’s trademark, among other hotel and casino marks that it registered in the “.cab” gTLD, being well aware of the fame of the trademark SHERATON when it registered the Domain Name. The Complainant also alleges that the Respondent’s purpose when registering the disputed domain name was to offer the domain for sale, at a price substantially greater than what he paid for it, and to falsely imply some sort of endorsement by or connection with the Complainant and its SHERATON hotels that does not exist. The Complainant concludes that such use demonstrates neither a bona fide offering of goods or services nor a legitimate interest.”
The Respondent didn’t bother to respond in this case and we don’t have to wonder why, it’s evident.
Sheraton.cab is parked at GoDaddy, and the sole panelist, Luca Barbero, naturally ordered it transferred to the Complainant.
For the full case, click here.
