DECISION

G.D. Searle & Co. v. SD Domains a/k/a Steve Dyke

Claim Number: FA0208000118276

PARTIES

Complainant is G.D. Searle & Co., Skokie, IL, USA (“Complainant”) represented by Paul D. McGrady, of Ladas & Parry.  Respondent is SD Domains a/k/a Steve Dyke, Hawkhurst, Kent, GREAT BRITAIN (“Respondent”).

REGISTRAR AND DISPUTED DOMAIN NAME

The domain name at issue is <viagra-xenical-propecia-celebrex.com>, registered with Enom.

PANEL

The undersigned certifies that he has acted independently and impartially and to the best of his knowledge has no known conflict in serving as Panelist in this proceeding.

Tyrus R. Atkinson, Jr., as Panelist.

PROCEDURAL HISTORY

Complainant submitted a Complaint to the National Arbitration Forum (the “Forum”) electronically on August 15, 2002; the Forum received a hard copy of the Complaint on August 19, 2002.

On August 16, 2002, Enom confirmed by e-mail to the Forum that the domain name <viagra-xenical-propecia-celebrex.com> is registered with Enom and that Respondent is the current registrant of the name.  Enom has verified that Respondent is bound by the Enom registration agreement and has thereby agreed to resolve domain-name disputes brought by third parties in accordance with ICANN’s Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (the “Policy”).

On August 19, 2002, a Notification of Complaint and Commencement of Administrative Proceeding (the “Commencement Notification”), setting a deadline of September 9, 2002 by which Respondent could file a Response to the Complaint, was transmitted to Respondent via e-mail, post and fax, to all entities and persons listed on Respondent’s registration as technical, administrative and billing contacts, and to postmaster@viagra-xenical-propecia-celebrex.com by e-mail.

Having received no Response from Respondent, using the same contact details and methods as were used for the Commencement Notification, the Forum transmitted to the parties a Notification of Respondent Default.

On September 27, 2002, pursuant to Complainant’s request to have the dispute decided by a single-member Panel, the Forum appointed Tyrus R. Atkinson, Jr., as Panelist.

Having reviewed the communications records, the Administrative Panel (the “Panel”) finds that the Forum has discharged its responsibility under Paragraph 2(a) of the Rules for Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (the “Rules”) “to employ reasonably available means calculated to achieve actual notice to Respondent.”  Therefore, the Panel may issue its decision based on the documents submitted and in accordance with the ICANN Policy, ICANN Rules, the Forum’s Supplemental Rules and any rules and principles of law that the Panel deems applicable, without the benefit of any Response from Respondent.

PROCEDURAL ISSUE – MARKS OF MULTIPLE PARTIES

Respondent’s <viagra-xenical-propecia-celebrex.com> domain name incorpates numerous parties’ marks and interests. More specifically, the following drug companies are implicated by way of Respondent’s domain name: Pfizer (VIAGRA), Roche (XENICAL), Merck (PROPECIA), and Pharmacia (Complainant) (CELEBREX). Due to practical difficulties inherent in the UDRP, cooperative complaint initiation is unlikely and unfeasible. Because Complainant initiated this dispute prior to any other interested party it has the opportunity to acquire the domain name, while seeking to protect its CELEBREX mark from an infringing use. However, due to the procedural complexities presented by the current dispute the following issue must be addressed: Complainant seeks acquisition of the subject domain name in good faith, and will forfeit its interest in the contested domain name if the other represented marks are infringed upon following a transfer of the domain name registration to Complainant.  

RELIEF SOUGHT

Complainant requests that the domain name be transferred from Respondent to Complainant.

PARTIES’ CONTENTIONS

A. Complainant makes the following assertions:

1. Respondent’s <viagra-xenical-propecia-celebrex.com> domain name is confusingly similar to Complainant’s CELEBREX mark.

2. Respondent does not have any rights or legitimate interests in the <viagra-xenical-propecia-celebrex.com> domain name.

3. Respondent registered and used the <viagra-xenical-propecia-celebrex.com> domain name in bad faith.

B. Respondent failed to submit a Response in this proceeding.

FINDINGS

Complainant’s CELEBREX mark is registered on the Principal Register of the United States Patent and Trademark Office as Registration Number 2,321,622. Significantly, Complainant also obtained trademark registration for its CELEBREX mark with the European Community on February 28, 2000 (Reg. No. 825,372). Complainant has registered its CELEBREX mark in 112 countries around the world, and has promoted the mark and its products on a global scale. Complainant’s mark represents “pharmaceutical products in the nature of anti-inflammatory analgesics.”  Due to the extensive marketing and advertising engaged in by Complainant in order to promote its CELEBREX mark, the mark has earned worldwide fame.  The New York Times referred to Complainant’s CELEBREX product as a “blockbuster arthritis drug,” and Forbes magazine called CELEBREX “the $2 billion (sales) crown jewel in Pharmacia’s new portfolio.”  Complainant avidly advertises its mark on the Internet and operates a website at <celebrex.com>.

Because of Complainant’s extensive advertising and marketing campaign, its CELEBREX mark has acquired significant source identity as representing Complainant’s goods and products.

Respondent registered the <viagra-xenical-propecia-celebrex.com> domain name on February 13, 2002. Complainant’s Submission indicates Respondent is using the subject domain name to resolve to a website that advertises various pharmaceuticals and solicits orders for drugs. Complainant has not authorized or licensed Respondent to use the CELEBREX mark in any fashion.

DISCUSSION

Paragraph 15(a) of the Rules instructs this Panel to “decide a complaint on the basis of the statements and documents submitted in accordance with the Policy, these Rules and any rules and principles of law that it deems applicable.”

In view of Respondent's failure to submit a Response, the Panel shall decide this administrative proceeding on the basis of the Complainant's undisputed representations pursuant to paragraphs 5(e), 14(a) and 15(a) of the Rules and draw such inferences it considers appropriate pursuant to paragraph 14(b) of the Rules.

Paragraph 4(a) of the Policy requires that the Complainant must prove each of the following three elements to obtain an order that a domain name should be cancelled or transferred:

(1) the domain name registered by Respondent is identical or confusingly similar to a trademark or service mark in which Complainant has rights; and

(2) Respondent has no rights or legitimate interests in respect of the domain name; and

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

Identical and/or Confusingly Similar

Complainant has established rights in the CELEBREX mark by registering, or applying for registration, of the mark in 112 countries.

Respondent’s <viagra-xenical-propecia-celebrex.com> domain name is confusingly similar to Complainant’s CELEBREX mark. Irregardless of the fact that Respondent’s domain name incorporates the marks of Complainant’s competitors, Complainant’s CELEBREX mark is represented in its entirety without any deviation or variation thereof. Complainant has a significant interest in protecting its fanciful mark whether standing alone or incorporated into a string of industry-related marks. Respondent’s use of other drug-related marks in the domain name increases the liklihood that Internet users will be confused when confronted with Respondent’s website and products. Previous Panels have determined that the addition of other industry-related words to a famous mark fails to defeat a claim of confusing similarity under Policy ¶ 4(a)(i). Because of Respondent’s use of Complainant’s mark in the subject domain name, a proportion of Internet users will assuredly believe some affiliation or endorsement exists between Complaniant and Respondent’s infringing use of the domain name. See G.D. Searle & Co. v. Fred Pelham, FA 117911 (Nat. Arb. Forum Sept. 19, 2002) (finding that the addition of other drug names does not create a distinct mark capable of overcoming a claim of confusing similarity, “it merely creates a domain name with severe potential to confuse Internet users as to the source, sponsorship and affiliation of the domain”); see also Slep-Tone Entm't Corp. v. Sounds Choice Disc Jockeys, Inc., FA 93636 (Nat. Arb. Forum Mar. 13, 2000) (stating that “likelihood of confusion is further increased by the fact that the Respondent and [Complainant] operate within the same industry”).

Accordingly, the Panel finds that Policy ¶ 4(a)(i) has been satisfied.

 

Rights or Legitimate Interests

Despite Complainant’s Submission and allegations that Respondent does not have any rights or legitimate interests in the <viagra-xenical-propecia-celebrex.com> domain name, Respondent has not submitted a Response. Because Respondent failed to contest Complainant’s averments it is proper for the Panel to accept all reasonable assertions of Complainant as true. See Vertical Solutions Mgmt., Inc. v. Webnet-Marketing, Inc., FA 95095 (Nat. Arb. Forum July 31, 2000) (failure to respond allows all reasonable inferences of fact in the allegations of Complainant to be deemed true).

Furthermore, Respondent’s failure to produce any set of circumstances or facts that would establish rights or legitimate interests in the domain name implies that there are none. The Panel is allowed to interpret Respondent’s failure to submit a Response as an indication that Respondent lacks the requisite rights and legitimate interests in the domain name under Policy ¶ 4(a)(ii). See Parfums Christian Dior v. QTR Corp., D2000-0023 (WIPO Mar. 9, 2000) (finding that by not submitting a Response, Respondent has failed to invoke any circumstance which could demonstrate any rights or legitimate interests in the domain name).

Complainant has asserted uncontested circumstances that establish Respondent’s infringing use of the domain name. As stated, Respondent’s domain name currently resolves to a website that sells Complainant’s CELEBREX drugs. Disregarding the quality control issues that Respondent’s unauthorized sale of Complainant’s drugs raise; Respondent is opportunistically trading on the goodwill associated with Complainant’s CELEBREX mark. Respondent’s diversion is accomplished by ensnaring unsuspecting Internet users to its website by way of its confusingly similar domain name. Such use does not constitute a bona fide offering of goods or services under Policy ¶ 4(c)(i). Furthermore, because Respondent presumably profits from the sale of the pharmaceuticals offered on its website, Respondent’s use of Complainant’s mark in its domain name is not a legitimate noncommercial or fair use under Policy ¶ 4(c)(iii). See G.D. Searle & Co. v. Mahoney, FA 112559 (Nat. Arb. Forum June 12, 2002) (finding Respondent’s use of the disputed domain name to solicit pharmaceutical orders without a license or authorization from Complainant does not constitute a bona fide offering of goods or services under Policy ¶ 4(c)(i)); see also Vapor Blast Mfg. Co. v. R & S Tech., Inc., FA 96577 (Nat. Arb. Forum Feb. 27, 2001) (finding that Respondent’s commercial use of the domain name to confuse and divert Internet traffic is not a legitimate use of the domain name).

There is no evidence before the Panel that would suggest a legitimate connection exists between Respondent and the complex second-level domain reflected in the <viagra-xenical-propecia-celebrex.com> domain name. Therefore, Respondent is not commonly known by the domain name pursuant to Policy ¶ 4(c)(ii). Furthermore, Respondent is not licensed or authorized by Complainant to use the coined CELEBREX mark or any variation thereof. See Gallup Inc. v. Amish Country Store, FA 96209 (Nat. Arb. Forum Jan. 23, 2001) (finding that Respondent does not have rights in a domain name when Respondent is not known by the mark); see also Broadcom Corp. v. Intellifone Corp., FA 96356 (Nat. Arb. Forum Feb. 5, 2001) (finding no rights or legitimate interests because Respondent is not commonly known by the disputed domain name or using the domain name in connection with a legitimate or fair use).

Accordingly, the Panel finds that Policy ¶ 4(a)(ii) has been satisfied.

Registration and Use in Bad Faith

Respondent’s bad faith registration is evidenced by its intentional registration of famous marks in a domain name. Complainant has secured a trademark registration with the European Community, thereby incorporating Respondent’s Great Britain domicile. As stated by the European Union’s Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market, “A CTM [Community trademark] application and a CTM are valid in the European Community as a whole. The application and the ensuing registration extend automatically to all 15 Member States of the European Community indivisibly.” Additionally, circumstances indicate Respondent intentionally chose famous marks that represent notable pharmaceutical companies, such as Complainant, Pfizer, Roche, and Merck. Respondent’s registration of a domain name, despite preexisting knowledge of others’ rights, represents bad faith registration under Policy ¶ 4(a)(iii). See Pfizer, Inc. v. Papol Suger, D2002-0187 (WIPO Apr. 24, 2002) (finding that because the link between Complainant’s mark and the content advertised on Respondent’s website was obvious, Respondent “must have known about the Complainant’s mark when it registered the subject domain name”); see also Entrepreneur Media, Inc. v. Smith, [2002] USCA9 115; 279 F.3d 1135, 1148 (9th Cir. Feb. 11, 2002) (finding that "[w]here an alleged infringer chooses a mark he knows to be similar to another, one can infer an intent to confuse").

Respondent’s infringing domain name resolves to a commercial website that sells Complainant’s pharmaceutical products. Respondent’s infringing use of the subject domain name represents an opportunistic attempt to commercially benefit from the fame and reputation of Complainant’s CELEBREX mark. Thus, Respondent’s diversionary use of the mark is a classic example of bad faith use under Policy ¶ 4(b)(iv). See Drs. Foster & Smith, Inc. v. Lalli, FA 95284 (Nat. Arb. Forum Aug. 21, 2000) (finding bad faith where Respondent directed Internet users seeking Complainant’s site to its own website for commercial gain); see also Singapore Airlines Ltd v. P & P Servicios de Communicacion S.L., D2000-0643 (WIPO Aug. 29, 2000) (“The domain name ‘singaporeairlines.com’ is so obviously connected with a well-known airline that its very registration and use by someone with no connection to the airline suggests opportunistic bad faith.  Indeed, it is hard to imagine a more blatant exercise in ‘cybersquatting’”).

The Panel finds that Policy ¶ 4(a)(iii) has been satisfied.

DECISION

Having satisfied all the elements required under ICANN Policy, the Panel concludes that relief shall be hereby GRANTED.

Accordingly, it is Ordered that the <viagra-xenical-propecia-celebrex.com> domain name be TRANSFERRED from Respondent to Complainant.

Tyrus R. Atkinson, Jr., Panelist

Dated: October 11, 2002.

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