Generic Top Level Domain Name (gTLD) Decisions

WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center

The Complainants is:
Air New Zealand, Ltd., of Level 21 Quay Tower, 29 Customs Street West, Auckland, New Zealand.
Represented by Breon Gravatt, of Baldwin Shelston Waters.

The Respondent is:
Christand Co. Ltd, of Greenland Garden 3D, 69 Lyttelton Road, Mid Levels, Hong Kong
Respondent’s Administrative Contact is Christine Li.

The domain name with which this dispute is concerned is: "airnewzealand.com". The Registrar with which the domain name is registered is: Network Solutions Inc., of 505 Huntmar Park Drive, Herndon, Virginia 20170, United States of America.

3.1. The Complaint was submitted electronically and in hard copy to the World Intellectual Property Organization Arbitration and Mediation Center (the "WIPO Center") on May 1 and May 4, 2000 respectively.

3.2. On May 3, 2000 the Registrar verified that the current registrant of the domain name is the Respondent and that Respondent’s administrative contact is:

Christine, Li (LC2218) christine@RESOLINK.COM

Christand Co Ltd
Greenland Garden 3D
69 Lyttelton Rd
Mid Levels
Hong Kong
HK

852-25461942

3.3 On May 4, 2000 all formal requirements for the establishment of the Complaint were checked by the WIPO Center and found to be in compliance with the applicable ICANN Rules ("the Rules") for Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy ("the Policy"), and WIPO Supplemental Rules. The Panel has checked the file and confirms the WIPO Center’s finding of proper compliance with the Rules and establishment of the Complaint.

3.4 Notification of Complainant and Commencement of Administrative Proceeding was sent to Respondent electronically on May 4, 2000 and by courier on May 5, 2000.

3.5 The Administrative Proceeding commenced on May 4, 2000.

3.6 The last day for filing a Response by Respondent was May 23, 2000. No response was filed and Notification of Respondent’s Default was sent to Respondent and Complainant electronically on May 24, 2000 and to Respondent by courier on May 31, 2000.

3.7 The Panel was appointed on May 31, 2000.

3.8 The Panel proceeds to its determination in accordance with the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy ("the Policy"), the Rules and the applicable rules and principles of law on the basis of the Complaint.

4.1 Complainant is Air New Zealand, Ltd., an airline operator.

4.2 Complainant is the registered proprietor of a large number of trade marks in New Zealand and elsewhere, including trade marks consisting of the words "Air New Zealand" and the device of a koru. A koru is a Maori totemic symbol. These registrations include the following:

Country Trade Mark

Argentina 2191872

2191873

Australia 727854

Brazil 821222031

821241648

Canada 522336

Chile 546888

China 1193933

European Community 000464628

Hong Kong 1088/96

B8413/1999

14925/1999

Indonesia 407019

407030

Japan 4233868

4245541

Malaysia 98/05396

98/05394

97/04000

98/05395

Mexico 600079

606966

New Zealand 105486

105487

272653

272654

272655

Republic of South Africa 9820971

9820972

Singapore 2007/97

Taiwan 101177

Thailand 329435

Bor8861

The Republic of Korea 46216

49412

46217

United States of America 1722528

75/273395

4.3 Complainant is the registrant of the domain name "airnz.co.nz"

4.4. Complainant is an international airline carrier having an extensive network throughout Asia and the Pacific, including Hong Kong. It spends substantial sums promoting its services. Included in its promotions have been the sponsorship of sporting and cultural events and other publicity in Hong Kong where it has operated a branch office since 1984.

4.5. Respondent appears, from its name, to be a corporation having an address in Hong Kong. Searches carried out by Complainant’s solicitors show that Complainant is not registered in Hong Kong either as a Hong Kong corporation or as a foreign corporation carrying on business in Hong Kong.

4.6. Pursuant to Respondent’s service agreement with Registrar, Respondent is bound to abide by Registrar’s current dispute resolution policy. That policy is currently the Policy.

4.7. Complainant asserts that:

a) the domain name was registered by First Defense International ("FDI"). No information is given as to the legal status of FDI;

b) on becoming aware of the registration of the domain name Complainant wrote to FDI requesting transfer of the name to it in consideration of the payment of $US 300;

c) following discussion between Complainant and FDI, FDI agreed to the transfer but shortly thereafter the name was transferred to Respondent. No information is given as to the dates or the nature of these discussions with FDI;

4.8 On 29, 1997 Complainant wrote by e-mail to Respondent demanding transfer of the domain name to it.

4.9 On September 26, 1997 Respondent replied to Complainant stating that:

a) it specialised in domain name listing/hosting;

b) the domain name is one which it has registered recently for market research purposes;

c) it has no present intention to bring up a site under the domain name;

d) it would offer to transfer the domain name for $US 20,000;

4.10 There is no evidence of any further communication between Complainant and Respondent until March 18, 2000, when Complainant’s solicitors wrote to Respondent demanding transfer of the domain name and offering to pay Respondent’s reasonable costs incurred in registering and maintaining the domain name.

4.11 Absent reply from Respondent, Complainant’s solicitors sent follow up e-mail on March 28 and March 31 including in the letter a without prejudice offer to pay $US 1,000 for the transfer. This offer was repeated in a letter dated April 7, 2000.

4.12 No reply has been received to Complainant’s solicitor’s letters.

4.13 No reply has been received to communication addressed to Respondent by the Center by e-mail and by courier and no Response has been filed.

5. Applicable Dispute

5.1 To succeed in their complaint, Complainant must show that each of the conditions of paragraph 4(a) of the Policy are satisfied, namely that:

(i) the domain name is identical or confusingly similar to a trade mark or service mark in which Complainant has rights;

(ii) the Respondent has no rights or legitimate interests in the domain name;

(iii) the domain name has been registered and is being used in bad faith.

Complainant asserts that the domain name is identical with or confusingly similar to one or more of the trade marks set out in paragraph 4.2.

5.2.1 The identifying part of the domain name is "airnewzealand".

5.2.2 Complainant’s trade mark comprises the words "Air New Zealand" plus the koru device. The dominant identifying part of Complainant’s trade mark is "Air New Zealand". It is by those words that Complainant and its trade mark is known and the domain name is formed by running those same words together.

5.2.3 The Panel finds that the domain name is confusingly similar to the domain name.

Respondent’s Rights or Legitimate Interests

Complainant asserts that Respondent has no right or legitimate interest in the domain name.

Respondents have not asserted any legitimate right or interest in the domain name and the file does not suggest that any such right or interest exists.

5.3.2 The Panel therefore concludes that Respondent has no legitimate rights or interests.

6. Registration and Use in Bad Faith

6.1 Complainant asserts that Respondent has registered and used the domain name in bad faith.

6.1.1. The original registration was not made by Respondent but by FDI. The record fails to show the circumstances of the original registration of the domain name by FDI or the connection, if any, between FDI and Respondent. The question arises therefore whether FDI’s registration was made in bad faith and, if so, whether it is necessary to show this.

6.1.2. All that is shown on the record is that FDI registered the domain name, that it agreed to transfer it to Complainant and that instead it transferred the same to Respondent. Nevertheless certain facts speak for themselves. The fact that FDI, without apparent legitimate interest, registered as its domain name the name of a well known international airline, itself suggests bad faith. The fact that it subsequently agreed to transfer the registration to Complainant but transferred to Respondent instead further suggests a lack of bone fides on the part of FDI in relation to the registration. The Panel therefore concludes that the registration by FDI was in bad faith.

6.1.3. Irrespective of the original registration by FDI, the transfer to Respondent required the Registrar to make an entry in its register to register Complainant as the owner of the domain name. The circumstances of the transfer and the subsequent conduct of Complainant clearly indicate that their registration was made in bad faith. The Panel considers, were it necessary to so decide, that the Policy includes, under registration, the registration of the transfer.

6.1.4. The Panel therefore finds that the domain name was registered in bad faith.

6.1.5. Paragraph 4(a)(iii) of the Policy requires not only that the domain name be registered in bad faith but also that it is being used in bad faith. Examples of conduct deemed to be evidence of bad faith include, in paragraph 4(b)(i) of the Policy, circumstances indicating that Respondent registered or acquired the domain name for the purpose of renting selling or otherwise transferring the domain name registration to Complainant for consideration in excess of Respondent’s documented out-of-pocket expenses.

6.1.6. Respondent’s e-mail to Complainant of September 26, 2000 clearly indicates that Respondent acquired the domain name for the purpose of selling it to the Complainant.

6.1.7. The Panel therefore concludes that the domain name is being used in bad faith.

7. Decision

The Panel therefore concludes and decides that:

(i) the domain name of Respondent is confusingly similar to trade marks in which Complainant has rights;

(ii) Respondent has no rights or legitimate interest in respect of the domain name;

(iii) the domain name has been registered and is being used in bad faith;

(iv) the domain name should be transferred to Complainant.

D.J. Ryan
Presiding Panelist

Dated: June 14, 2000