In a strange UDRP case involving the domain name HormelFood.org, the National Arbitration Forum sided with the Complainant, Hormel Foods Corporation, Hormel Foods Sales, LLC, and Hormel Foods, LLC.
It wasn’t the obvious violation of the Complainant’s long established trademarks that gave the case away, or the fact that Hormel came down as a Holy Triad of corporate entities, something noted by the sole panelist.
The decision against the Respondent, who shall remain anonymous due to privacy issues, was made due to the Respondent’s assertion that they didn’t register the domain.
If you’re confused, then read on.
After contacted about the UDRP by the registrar, eNom, the Respondent replied that they had been a victim of “identity theft” during December of 2013, in a fraudulent incident that apparently involved the theft of millions of credit cards.
“Respondent’s credit cards were compromised in December 2013, and Respondent believes whoever stole her credit card information likely registered the hormelfood.org domain name. Respondent is willing to transfer ownership of the disputed domain name to Complainant.”
While we aren’t fully convinced why a CC thief would go through the trouble of using someone else’s credit card, name *and* WHOIS protection on top of that, the panelist was convinced.
The UDRP thus ended by the direct transfer of the domain, HormelFood.org, to the Complainant and the case was closed without mentioning the Respondent’s name.
This post is 100% true!
