BMW images on Google.
If you’re a fan of domain hacks – the manipulations of a keyword with the TLD to form another keyword – then it’s time to cry.
The domain name B.MW, was challenged in a UDRP.
Naturally, the Complainant was BMW, and they succeeded in this case, as B.MW was ordered to be transferred.
The fact that the Respondent wanted $1,000,000 dollars for this domain, did not help.
“For the reasons discussed under this and the preceding heading, the Panel considers that the Respondent’s conduct in this case constitutes bad faith registration and use of the disputed domain name within the meaning of paragraph 4(a)(iii) of the Policy.
As noted above the Panel concludes that the Respondent was aware of the Complainant’s BMW mark when registering the disputed domain name. For the reasons noted earlier, and in the absence of any explanation from the Respondent, the Panel concludes that the Respondent’s has engaged in the abusive registration and use of the disputed domain name, seeking to trade on the goodwill and reputation of the Complainant’s well-known BMW mark, and attempting to sell the disputed domain name for an amount well in excess of any out-of-pocket registration costs.
This is underscored by the fact that the disputed domain name is offered for sale at a price exponentially higher than any other domain name offered for sale by the Respondent.
In other words, the inescapable conclusion is that the Respondent is clearly targeting the Complainant with a view to extracting money on the back of the Complainant’s fame in its mark.”
For the full text of the UDRP decision for B.MW click here.
