Administrative Panel Decision: Case No. DPH 2011-0003
Administrative Panel Decision: Case No. DPH 2011-0003
Administrative Panel Decision: Case No. DPH 2011-0003
ADMINISTRATIVE PANEL DECISION Netrepreneur Connections Enterprises Inc. v. Anton Sheker, Seo.Com.Ph Case No. DPH 2011-000
1. The Parties !he Comp"ainant is Netrepreneur Connections Enterprises Inc. o# Pasi$ Cit%, Phi"ippines, represente& '% the (a) *##ices o# +a% ,i"'erto -. Espinosa, Phi"ippines. !he +espon&ent is Anton Sheker, Seo.Com.Ph o# .akati Cit%, Phi"ippines, represente& '% /era 0 Associates (a) 1irm, Phi"ippines.
2. The Domain Name and Registrar !he &ispute& &omain name 2su"it.ph3 is re$istere& )ith DotPH.
. Pro!ed"ra# $istor% !he Comp"aint )as #i"e& )ith the 4IP* Ar'itration an& .e&iation Center 5the 6Center78 on -une 19, 2011. *n -une 20, 2011, the Center transmitte& '% emai" to DotPH a re:uest #or re$istrar veri#ication in connection )ith the &ispute& &omain name. *n -u"% 21, 2011, DotPH transmitte& '% emai" to the Center its veri#ication response con#irmin$ that the +espon&ent is "iste& as the re$istrant an& provi&in$ the contact &etai"s. In response to a noti#ication '% the Center that the Comp"aint )as a&ministrative"% &e#icient, the Comp"ainant #i"e& an amen&e& Comp"aint on -u"% ;, 2011. !he Center veri#ie& that the Comp"aint to$ether )ith the amen&e& Comp"aint satis#ie& the #orma" re:uirements o# the .PH <ni#orm Domain Name Dispute +eso"ution Po"ic% 56phD+P7 or the 6Po"ic%78, the +u"es #or .PH <ni#orm Domain Name Dispute +eso"ution Po"ic% 5the 6+u"es78, an& the 4IP* Supp"ementa" +u"es #or <ni#orm Domain Name Dispute +eso"ution Po"ic% 5the 6Supp"ementa" +u"es78. In accor&ance )ith the +u"es, para$raphs 2518 an& =518, the Center #orma""% noti#ie& the +espon&ent o# the Comp"aint, an& the procee&in$s commence& on -u"% 12, 2011. In accor&ance )ith the +u"es, para$raph ;518, the &ue &ate #or +esponse )as Au$ust 1, 2011. !he +esponse )as #i"e& )ith the Center on -u"% 29, 2011. !he Center appointe& 1rancine !an as the so"e pane"ist in this matter on Au$ust 12, 2011. !he Pane" #in&s that it )as proper"% constitute&. !he Pane" has su'mitte& the Statement o# Acceptance an& Dec"aration o#
pa$e 2 Impartia"it% an& In&epen&ence, as re:uire& '% the Center to ensure comp"iance )ith the +u"es, para$raph >. &. 'a!t"a# Ba!(gro"nd !he Comp"ainant states that S<(I!.C*..PH is its tra&e mark )hich )as app"ie& #or in the Phi"ippines on .a% 1 , 200? an& re$istere& on *cto'er 1 , 200?, un&er !ra&emark +e$istration No. 200200?00;@02. !he eAc"usive use o# the e"ement 6.com.ph7 in the tra&e mark )as &isc"aime&. !he mark is re$istere& in respect o# a&vertisin$ services in C"ass ;. !he Comp"ainant #urther states that it has operate& its )e'site at 6))).su"it.com.ph7 56the 4e'site78 since Septem'er 11, 200@. !he 4e'site provi&es an on"ine c"assi#ie& a&vertisements porta" 6)hich incorporates interactivit% amon$ its users '% a""o)in$ peop"e to respon& to a&s via a persona" messa$e or postin$ messa$es. !his #aci"itates initia" contact an& ne$otiation. !he actua" sa"e is consummate& '% the 'u%er an& se""er themse"ves )hen the% eventua""% &eci&e to meet up7. .em'ers o# the 4e'site can, inter alia, maintain an on"ine pro#i"e, create an& mana$e their a&vertisements, an& chat )ith other mem'ers. !he Comp"ainant asserts that &ue to the "ar$e num'er o# postin$s o# a&vertisements, the 4e'site has 'ecome the most popu"ar on"ine a&vertisement "istin$s #aci"it% an& one o# the top #ive )e'sites in the Phi"ippines. !o &ate, the mem'ership num'ers have eAcee&e& one mi""ion. 1urther, the eAtent o# use o# the Comp"ainantBs tra&e mark has 'een such that most peop"e in the Phi"ippines, even those )ith "itt"e access to the Internet, have associate& the )or& 6su"it7 5a 1i"ipino )or& )hich means 6a $oo& 'u%78 )ith the 4e'site. !he Comp"ainant su'mitte& evi&ence o# an emai" eAchan$e in 1e'ruar% 2010 'et)een an in&ivi&ua" an& the +espon&ent as re$ar&s the avai"a'i"it% o# the &ispute& &omain name #or sa"e an& the cost. An initia" o##er )as ma&e in the amount o# <SD 1,000, to )hich the +espon&ent aske& #or the 6'est price7 that the in&ivi&ua" )as )i""in$ to o##er. !he o##er )as increase& to <SD 2,000 'ut no #urther response )as receive& #rom the +espon&ent. !he nature o# the re"ationship o# the in&ivi&ua" 5)ho ha& contacte& the +espon&ent as in&icate& a'ove8 to the Comp"ainant is not speci#ie& in the Comp"aint.
). Parties* Contentions A. Com+#ainant !he Comp"ainant su'mits as #o""o)sC !he &ispute& &omain name is i&entica" or con#usin$"% simi"ar to a tra&e mark or service mark in )hich the Comp"ainant has ri$hts. In this re$ar&, it is su'mitte& that the Comp"ainantBs tra&e mark S<(I!.C*..PH is 6in#rin$e&7 '% the &ispute& &omain name 6as the secon&-"eve" &omain name 'oth use the same )or& 6su"it7 an& are 'oth use& '% an on"ine c"assi#ie& a& "istin$7. !he +espon&ent has no ri$hts or "e$itimate interests in respect o# the &ispute& &omain name. !he +espon&ent operates its o)n on"ine c"assi#ie& a&vertisin$ "istin$ ca""e& 6c"assi#ie&a&s.ph7 at a )e'site o# the same name 'ut )hich is 6patterne& a#ter7 the 4e'site o# the Comp"ainant. !he &ispute& &omain name )hen entere& on an Internet 'ro)ser re&irects the Internet user to 6))).c"assi#ie&a&s.ph7. !he +espon&ent has no tra&emark re$istration ri$hts in the term 6su"it7 nor &oes the )or& 6su"it7 appear on the +espon&entBs )e'site eAcept in re#erence to the 4e'site o# the Comp"ainant. !he &ispute& &omain name )as re$istere& an& is 'ein$ use& in 'a& #aith. !he +espon&entBs o'Dective is to ri&e on the popu"arit% o# the 4e'site an& con#use peop"e )ishin$ to "ook #or an item throu$h the Comp"ainantBs a&vertisement "istin$s to en& up usin$ the +espon&entBs )e'site. !he #act that the &ispute& &omain name is not use& on a )e'site re#"ectin$ 2su"it.ph3 'ut mere"% as a re&irector to 6))).c"assi#ie&a&s.ph7 is, '% itse"#, evi&ence that the +espon&ent has no "e$itimate interest in the &ispute& &omain name an& is usin$ it in 'a& #aith. +e#erence )as ma&e in this re$ar& to the emai" communication 'et)een the parties re$ar&in$ the propose& sa"eEtrans#er o# the &ispute& &omain name #or monetar% consi&eration. /isua" an& reca"" con#usion can easi"% occur asC
pa$e the on"% &i##erence 'et)een the Comp"ainantBs &omain name an& the &ispute& &omain name is in the e"ement 6.com7F an& the e"ement 6.ph7 is the countr% co&e top "eve" &omain #or the Phi"ippines an& 'oth the Comp"ainantBs an& the +espon&entBs )e'sites are tar$ete& at the Phi"ippines market. B. Res+ondent !he +espon&ent ma&e the #o""o)in$ su'missions in its +esponseC 6S<(I!.C*..PH is a &escriptive tra&e mark )hich &eserves scant protection un&er Inte""ectua" Propert% "a)s in the Phi"ippines. 6!he on"% protection the Comp"ainant has is the )or& Gsu"itB &isc"aimin$ 'oth G.comB an& the G.phB. +ather, Comp"ainantBs protection is on"% on the artistic presentation o# the )or& GSu"itB an& not the )or& GSu"itB itse"# HIJ )hich cannot an& never 'e in an actua" <+(7. !he tra&emark re$istration to )hich the Comp"ainant re"ies on is there#ore )eakF 6a )eak tra&emark that is a""e$e& to have 'een in#rin$e& shou"& 'e tota""% simi"ar or an actua" cop%. An actua" vie)in$ o# the tra&emark an& the <+( sho)s on"% resem'"ance in the spe""in$7. !he Comp"ainant has %et to present concrete evi&ence to prove the c"aim that it is a 6top ; )e'site7, an& that the tra&e mark S<(I!.C*..PH is so success#u" an& pervasive. As a&mitte& '% the Comp"ainant, the )or& 6su"it7 is a &escriptiveE$eneric )or& )hich cannot 'e re$istere& as a tra&e mark. !here is evi&ence o# an a'an&one& Phi"ippines tra&emark app"ication '% the Comp"ainant #or the )or& 6su"it.com7. !he Comp"ainant has not presente& evi&ence that this )or& has ac:uire& a secon&ar% meanin$ other than mere assertions o# the Comp"ainantBs #ame an& reputation. !he Comp"ainant has not esta'"ishe& a prima facie case as its statements have 'een unsu'stantiate&. 4ithout havin$ &ischar$e& its 'ur&en, the 'ur&en there#ore remains )ith the Comp"ainant to prove its case an& the +espon&ent &oes not have to prove the contrar%. !here are numerous &omain names that incorporate the term 6su"it7, e.g. 2e-su"it.com3, 2su"it'aha%.com3, 2su"it#ranchisene$os%o.com3, 2su"ithomes.com3, 2su"itmo'i"e.com3, 2su"it)e'so"utions.com3. !he sheer num'er o# &omain names usin$ the term 6su"it7 as )e"" as the popu"arit% o# tra&emark re$istrations in the Phi"ippines incorporatin$ the )or& 6su"it7 sho) that the +espon&ent &i& not an& cou"& not vio"ate an% "e$itimate ri$ht or interest o# the Comp"ainant )ith respect to the &ispute& &omain name. !he &ispute& &omain name )as re$istere& in the 'e"ie# that 6su"it7 is a $eneric or &escriptive )or& that is common"% use& in a'un&ance #or a&vertisin$ or in a 'usiness that invo"ves the commerce o# 'u%in$ an& se""in$ $oo&s an& )hich cannot 'e the su'Dect o# a tra&emark re$istration. !he term 6su"it7 is common"% an& )i&e"% use& on the Internet an& it is there#ore not possi'"e #or the Comp"ainant to su'stantiate its c"aim that the term is associate& )ith the Comp"ainant as to source. As re$ar&s the communication 'et)een the parties in re"ation to the Comp"ainantBs o##er to 'u% the &ispute& &omain name an& the +espon&entBs reDection o# the o##er, this per se &oes not prove 'a& #aith on the +espon&entBs part.
,. Dis!"ssion and 'indings A. -enera# Prin!i+#es Para$raph 1;518 o# the +u"es re:uires pane"ists to 6&eci&e a comp"aint on the 'asis o# the statements an& &ocuments su'mitte& in accor&ance )ith the Po"ic%, these +u"es an& an% ru"es an& princip"es o# "a) that it &eems app"ica'"eK. 1urther para$raph 105=8 o# the +u"es states that 6the Pane" sha"" &etermine the a&missi'i"it%, re"evance, materia"it% an& )ei$ht o# the evi&ence7.
pa$e = <n&er para$raph =518 o# the Po"ic%, a comp"ainant has to prove a"" three e"ementsC 518 !hat the &omain name is i&entica" or con#usin$"% simi"ar to a tra&emark or service mark in )hich the comp"ainant has ri$htsF an& !hat the respon&ent has no ri$hts or "e$itimate interests in respect o# the &omain nameF an& !hat the &ispute& &omain name has 'een re$istere& an& is 'ein$ use& in 'a& #aith.
528 5 8
Para$raph =528 o# the Po"ic% "ists a num'er o# circumstances )hich, )ithout "imitation, are &eeme& to 'e evi&ence o# the re$istration an& use o# a &omain name in 'a& #aith. !hose circumstances areC 518 circumstances in&icatin$ that the respon&ent has re$istere& or ac:uire& the &omain name primari"% #or the purpose o# se""in$, rentin$, or other)ise trans#errin$ the &omain name re$istration to the comp"ainant )ho is the o)ner o# the tra&emark or service mark or to a competitor o# that comp"ainant, #or va"ua'"e consi&eration in eAcess o# the respon&entBs &ocumente& out-o#-pocket costs &irect"% re"ate& to the &omain nameF or the respon&ent has re$istere& the &omain name in or&er to prevent the o)ner o# the tra&emark or service mark #rom re#"ectin$ the mark in a correspon&in$ &omain name, provi&e& that the respon&ent has en$a$e& in a pattern o# such con&uctF or the respon&ent has re$istere& the &omain name primari"% #or the purpose o# &isruptin$ the 'usiness o# a competitorF or '% usin$ the &omain name, the respon&ent has intentiona""% attempte& to attract, #or commercia" $ain, Internet users to the respon&entBs )e'site or other on-"ine "ocation, '% creatin$ a "ike"ihoo& o# con#usion )ith the comp"ainantBs mark as to the source, sponsorship, a##i"iation, or en&orsement o# the respon&entBs )e'site or "ocation or o# a pro&uct or service on the respon&entBs )e'site or "ocation.
528
5 8
5=8
Para$raph =5 8 o# the Po"ic% sets out a num'er o# circumstances, a$ain )ithout "imitation, )hich ma% 'e e##ective #or a respon&ent to &emonstrate that it has ri$hts to, or "e$itimate interests in, a &omain name. !hose circumstances areC 518 Le#ore an% notice to the respon&ent o# the &ispute, use '% the respon&ent o#, or &emonstra'"e preparations to use, the &omain name or a name correspon&in$ to the &omain name in connection )ith a 'ona #i&e o##erin$ o# $oo&s or servicesF or 4here the respon&ent 5as an in&ivi&ua", 'usiness, or other or$aniMation8 has 'een common"% kno)n '% the &omain name, even i# the respon&ent has ac:uire& no tra&emark or service mark ri$htsF or 4here the respon&ent is makin$ a "e$itimate noncommercia" or #air use o# the &omain name, )ithout intent #or commercia" $ain to mis"ea&in$"% &ivert consumers or to tarnish the tra&emark or service mark at issue.
528
5 8
B. Identi!a# or Con."sing#% Simi#ar !he Comp"ainant has sho)n that it has re$istere& tra&emark ri$hts in the com'ination S<(I!.C*..PH. !he certi#icate su'mitte& in evi&ence re#"ects that the tra&emark re$istration )as in respect o# a st%"iMe& mark )ith a co"our c"aim. !here is, ho)ever, no evi&ence #rom )hich the Pane" is a'"e to #in& that the Comp"ainant has tra&emark ri$hts in the )or& 6Su"it7 on its o)n. !he issue there#ore to 'e consi&ere& '% the Pane" un&er para$raph =518518 o# the Po"ic% is )hether the &ispute& &omain name 2su"it.ph3 is con#usin$"% simi"ar to the tra&e mark S<(I!.C*..PH in )hich the Comp"ainant has re$istere& tra&emark ri$hts. As has 'een )e"" esta'"ishe& in previous &ecisions un&er the
pa$e ; <ni#orm Dispute +eso"ution Po"ic% 56<D+P78 )hich the Pane" consi&ers to 'e re"evant to the &ecision herein, the $!(D e"ements e.g. 6.com7 shou"& 'e &isre$ar&e& )hen consi&erin$ the issue o# i&entit% or con#usin$ simi"arit%. !he Pane" is o# the vie) that the )or& 6su"it7 in the &ispute& &omain name is con#usin$"% simi"ar to the tra&e mark S<(I!.C*..PH as the )or& 6su"it7 in the tra&e mark is the more &ominant component o# the tra&e mark. !he Pane" there#ore #in&s that the #irst e"ement o# para$raph =518 o# the Po"ic% has 'een satis#ie&. C. Rights or Legitimate Interests Para$raph 2.1 o# the 4IP* *vervie) o# 4IP* Pane" /ie)s on Se"ecte& <D+P Nuestions, Secon& E&ition 564IP* *vervie) 2.078 states that 6)hi"e the overa"" 'ur&en o# proo# rests )ith the comp"ainant, pane"s have reco$niMe& that this cou"& resu"t in the o#ten impossi'"e task o# provin$ a ne$ative, re:uirin$ in#ormation that is o#ten primari"% )ithin the kno)"e&$e o# the respon&ent. !here#ore a comp"ainant is re:uire& to make out a prima facie case that the respon&ent "acks ri$hts or "e$itimate interests. *nce such prima facie case is ma&e, the 'ur&en o# pro&uction shi#ts to the respon&ent to come #or)ar& )ith appropriate a""e$ations or evi&ence &emonstratin$ ri$hts or "e$itimate interests in the &omain name. I# the respon&ent #ai"s to come #or)ar& )ith such appropriate a""e$ations or evi&ence, a comp"ainant is $enera""% &eeme& to have satis#ie& para$raph =5a85ii8 o# the <D+P HIJ. I# the respon&ent &oes come #or)ar& )ith some a""e$ations or evi&ence o# re"evant ri$hts or "e$itimate interest, the pane" then )ei$hs a"" the evi&ence, )ith the 'ur&en o# proo# a")a%s remainin$ on the comp"ainant.7 In re"ation to this secon& e"ement o# para$raph =518 o# the Po"ic%, the Comp"ainant has su'mitte&, inter alia, thatC the +espon&ent operates its o)n on"ine c"assi#ie& a&vertisin$ "istin$ ca""e& 6c"assi#ie&a&s.ph7 )hich is patterne& a#ter the 4e'site o# the Comp"ainantF the &ispute& &omain name )hen entere& on an Internet 'ro)ser re&irects the Internet user to 6))).c"assi#ie&a&s.ph7F an& the +espon&ent has no tra&emark re$istration ri$hts in the )or& 6Su"it7. In re"ation to point 518, there is nothin$ on the #ace o# the +espon&entBs )e'site )hich appears to 'e a cop% or a "ooka"ike o# the 4e'site. In the a'sence o# #urther c"ari#ication an& su'stantiatin$ evi&ence #rom the Comp"ainant, the Pane" is not persua&e& '% the Comp"ainantBs su'mission on this point. As re$ar&s point 5 8, the re"evant issue is )hether the +espon&ent has a "e$itimate interest 5)hich &oes not necessari"% re:uire the +espon&ent to have tra&emark re$istration ri$hts in the )or& 6su"it78. !he Pane" o'serves that there is an overa"" "ack o# evi&ence to su'stantiate the Comp"ainantBs various assertions. 1urther, takin$ into account the meanin$ an&Eor $eneric nature o# the )or& 6su"it7, an& the #act that the Comp"ainant has not sho)n it has tra&emark ri$hts in the )or& 6su"it7 as a stan& a"one term, the Pane" is o# the vie) that the Comp"ainantBs case is mar$ina". Para$raph 2.2 o# the 4IP* *vervie) 2.0 states thatC 6Pane"s have reco$niMe& that mere re$istration o# a &omain name, even one that is comprise& o# a con#irme& &ictionar% )or& or phrase 5)hich ma% 'e $eneric )ith respect to certain $oo&s or services8, ma% not o# itse"# con#er ri$hts or "e$itimate interests in the &omain name. Norma""%, in or&er to #in& ri$hts or "e$itimate interests in a &omain name 'ase& on the $eneric or &ictionar% meanin$ o# a )or& or phrase containe& therein, the &omain name )ou"& nee& to 'e $enuine"% use& or at "east &emonstra'"% inten&e& #or such use in connection )ith the re"ie&-upon meanin$ 5an& not, #or eAamp"e, to tra&e o## thir&-part% ri$hts in such )or& or phrase8.7
pa$e @ !he +espon&ent appears to 'e $enuine"% usin$ the &ispute& &omain name comprisin$ a $eneric )or& in connection )ith the 6re"ie&-upon meanin$7 o# the )or& 6su"it7, i.e. a $oo& 'u%. It has provi&e& a p"ausi'"e eAp"anation in its choice o# the &ispute& &omain name, name"% that it )as re$istere& in the 'e"ie# that since 6su"it7 is a $eneric or &escriptive )or& that is common"% use& in a'un&ance #or a&vertisin$ or in a 'usiness that invo"ves the 'u%in$ an& se""in$ $oo&s, it )ou"& not vio"ate the Po"ic%. !he Pane" is o# the vie) that the #act that the +espon&entBs )e'site at 6))).su"it.ph7 is "inke& to the )e'site at 6))).c"assi#ie&a&s.ph7 &oes not, in itse"#, constitute conc"usive evi&ence o# a "ack o# ri$hts or "e$itimate interests 5especia""% as the Pane" #in&s that the use is consistent )ith the &escriptive nature o# the term 6su"it78. !he +espon&ent appears to have ri$hts or "e$itimate interests in the &ispute& &omain name in re"ation to a bona fide o##erin$ o# $oo&s an& services on its on"ine c"assi#ie& a&vertisement porta", )hich is not inconsistent )ith the meanin$ o# the )or& 6su"it7. !he Pane" there#ore #in&s that the Comp"ainant has #ai"e& to esta'"ish the secon& e"ement o# para$raph =518 o# the Po"ic%. In vie) o# the Pane"Bs #in&in$ on this point, there is no necessit% #or the Pane" to consi&er para$raph =5185 8 o# the Po"ic%.
Note: This service is not intended for secure transactions such as banking, social media, email, or purchasing. Use at your own risk. We assume no liability whatsoever for broken pages.
Alternative Proxies: