DECISION

America Online, Inc. v. Edward Tapia

Claim Number: FA0409000328159

PARTIES

Complainant is America Online, Inc. (“Complainant”), represented by James R. Davis, of Arent Fox PLLC, 1050 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20036.  Respondent is Edward Tapia (“Respondent”), 42263 50th West PMB #814, Quartz Hill, CA 93536.

REGISTRAR AND DISPUTED DOMAIN NAME 

The domain name at issue is <aol.tv>, registered with The .tv Corporation.

PANEL

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

Barry Schreiber as Panelist.

PROCEDURAL HISTORY

Complainant submitted a Complaint to the National Arbitration Forum (the “Forum”) electronically on September 15, 2004; the Forum received a hard copy of the Complaint on September 17, 2004.

On September 15, 2004, The .tv Corporation confirmed by e-mail to the Forum that the domain name <aol.tv> is registered with The .tv Corporation and that the Respondent is the current registrant of the name.  The .tv Corporation has verified that Respondent is bound by the The .tv Corporation 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 September 17, 2004, a Notification of Complaint and Commencement of Administrative Proceeding (the “Commencement Notification”), setting a deadline of October 7, 2004 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@aol.tv by e-mail.

A timely Response was received and determined to be complete on October 27, 2004.

Respondent initially sent electronically additional material for the panelist to consider.  For whatever reason, this material would not open.  At the Panelist request, Respondent sent the material, via hard copy, directly to the NAF, who then sent it to the Panelist and to the Complainant.  The Panelist received the material in the time requested and therefore this material has been considered by the Panelist in arriving at the Panelist’s decision in this matter. 

On November 9, 2004, pursuant to Complainant’s request to have the dispute decided by a single-member Panel, the Forum appointed Barry Schreiber as Panelist.

RELIEF SOUGHT

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

PARTIES’ CONTENTIONS

A. Complainant

This Complaint is based on the following factual and legal grounds:

1.            Complainant America Online, Inc. ("AOL") is the owner of numerous trademark registrations worldwide for the mark AOL and other marks that incorporate AOL, including U.S. trademark registration Nos. 1,977,731 and 1,984,337 for AOL and 2,472,041 for AOLTV, which were registered on June 4, 1996, July 2, 1996, and July 24, 2001, respectively.  Evidence of trademark registrations is included under Annex B.  AOL registered and uses its AOL mark in connection with, among other things, “computer services, namely leasing access time to computer databases, computer bulletin boards, computer networks, and computerized research and reference materials, in the fields of business, finance, news, weather, sports, computing and computer software, games, music, theater, movies, travel, education, lifestyles, hobbies and topics of general interest; computerized dating services; computer consultation services; computerized shopping via telephone and computer terminals in the fields of computer goods and services and general consumer goods” and “telecommunications services, namely electronic transmission of data, images, and documents via computer terminals; electronic mail services; and facsimile transmission.”

2.         AOL uses the registered mark AOL.COM in connection with providing services on the Internet.  See Annex D.  AOL owns federal trademark registration Nos. 2,325,291 and 2,325,292 for the mark AOL.COM.  See Annex D.  The mark AOL is used extensively at this Web site, which is a significant method of promoting AOL's services.  As a result, consumers associate the mark AOL, when used in a domain name, with AOL's services.

3.         Long prior to Respondent’s registration of the domain name <aol.tv> and at least as early as 1989 for the mark AOL, and 1992 for the mark AOL.COM, AOL adopted and began using its marks in connection with computer online services and other Internet-related services.  The distinctive AOL mark is used and promoted around the world in connection with providing a broad range of information and services over the Internet and at the proprietary AOL online system, including the provision on online news services.  AOL has used its famous and distinctive marks continuously and extensively in interstate and international commerce in connection with the advertising and sale of its Internet and computer-related services.

4.         AOL has invested substantial sums of money in developing and marketing its services and marks.  As a result, the AOL brand is one of the most readily recognized and famous marks used on the Internet.

5.         With tens of millions of subscribers, AOL operates the most widely-used interactive online service in the world and each year millions of AOL customers worldwide obtain services offered under the AOL and AOL.COM marks; millions more are exposed to said marks through advertising and promotion.

6.         The AOL marks have been and continue to be widely publicized through substantial advertising throughout the United States and the world.  Many millions of dollars have been spent in connection with such advertising, which has been disseminated through network and cable television programs, radio broadcasts, and in print media including newspapers and periodicals.

7.         Sales of services under the AOL marks have amounted to many billions of dollars.  As a result, the general public has come to associate the AOL name and marks with services of a high and uniform quality.

8.            Because of these substantial advertising expenditures and sales, the distinctive AOL marks have become very well known and famous among members of the purchasing public.

9.         Many years after AOL's adoption and first use of its AOL marks, Respondent registered the infringing <aol.tv> domain name with bad faith intent to profit from the confusion that would be generated from this domain.

10. The infringing domain is nearly identical and confusingly similar to the AOL and AOL.COM marks.  But for the “.tv” top level domain, which is irrelevant for purposes of considering a likelihood of confusion, Respondent’s domain name is identical to the AOL mark.  Am. Online, Inc. v. Hieke, FA 154097 (Nat. Arb. Forum May 20, 2003).  Consumer confusion is particularly likely because Respondent is using the very famous and distinctive mark AOL in connection with a Web site that provides online news services and provides links to general interest information like sports, entertainment and health.  AOL provides the identical services under its famous AOL brand.  Given the similarities between the marks, domain names, and services provided, consumers are likely to recognize the famous AOL mark in the subject domain and believe falsely that AOL endorses or is affiliated with Respondent or his services.

11.            Respondent registered and uses the <aol.tv> domain with bad faith intent to capitalize on the famous AOL and AOL.COM marks, and profit from the international and domestic goodwill AOL has built up in its famous marks.  Respondent also is attempting to mislead consumers by registering and using a domain name that plays off the very famous AOL name and mark.

12.            Respondent has no rights or legitimate interests in respect to the infringing domain.  Respondent (Edward Tapia) is not named AOL and is not licensed or authorized to use the AOL mark.  The following is evidence of Respondent’s bad faith registration and use of the infringing domain:

(a) Respondent’s bad faith registration is evidenced by the fact that the domain was registered on January 31, 2004, many years after the AOL Marks were registered, and long after the AOL Marks had become famous and well-known to consumers around the world.  See Annex E for Whois Records.  Respondent presumably is a US resident and, therefore, is deemed to have at least constructive knowledge of AOL’s nationwide trademark rights based upon the numerous federal trademark registrations owned by AOL for its AOL mark and issued prior to January 31, 2004.  Given the fame of the AOL mark, it is inconceivable that Respondent did not have actual knowledge of the AOL service, otherwise, Respondent would have had no reason to register a domain name utilizing the highly-distinctive AOL mark.  Accordingly, Respondent registered the domain name in bad faith with knowledge that his actions violated AOL’s intellectual property rights.

(b) Respondent’s bad faith use of <aol.tv> is demonstrated by the fact that Respondent is using the domain to promote commercial Web sites that provide various online services.  See Annex G.  As noted, AOL  provides identical services at its <aol.com> site and through its proprietary AOL service. Respondent’s blatant attempt to attract Internet users to Respondent’s site for commercial purposes violates Paragraph 4(b)(iv) of the UDRP.  Confusion is particularly likely given that Respondent is providing online services that are identical to those provided by AOL and set forth in the federal trademark registrations for the AOL mark.

(c) In an attempt to resolve this matter amicably, counsel for AOL sent the registrant a letter seeking a transfer of the domain.  See Annex F.  Respondent failed to reply and, instead, began routing the infringing <aol.tv> domain to the Google news Web site.  See Annex G.  As a result, AOL had no option but to initiate this proceeding to resolve this matter.

(d) Respondent’s bad faith use of the domain is further shown by the fact that Respondent’s use of the AOL mark in the <aol.tv> domain name is completely unjustified.  Respondent’s commercial Web site makes no reference whatsoever to AOL or its services.  See Annex G.  Respondent clearly is using the AOL brand solely in a bad faith attempt to confuse consumers and attract traffic to Respondent’s Web site based upon Internet users that erroneously visit the site believing that it is affiliated with or endorsed by AOL.  Am. Online, Inc. v. Cucamonga Elec. Corp., FA 103364 (Nat. Arb. Forum Feb. 26, 2002) (“[I]n this age it is not a coincidence when a firm uses the acronym AOL in any new setting.  In the absence of a credible explanation, I will infer that its purpose is to mislead Internet users into thinking that whatever activities are carried on the site, AOL Inc. has some connection with them.”); Am. Online, Inc. v. Viper, D2000-1198 (WIPO Dec. 4, 2000) (“[I]t is well past the day when Internet users would not make the assumption that use of AOL as part of a domain name links that site in the mind of the user to Complainant.”).  As with these and many of prior cases, Respondent’s actions demonstrate a knowing and willful infringement of the famous AOL brand.

(e) Based upon (1) the fame of the AOL mark; (2) AOL’s trademark registrations; (3) correspondence sent by AOL; (4) Respondent’s personal use of the AOL service for e-mail and other services; and (5) the unnecessary and gratuitous use of the AOL mark, Respondent cannot in good faith claim that he had no knowledge of AOL’s rights in its famous AOL and AOL.COM marks.  Furthermore, Respondent cannot claim in good faith that he made a legitimate noncommercial or fair use of the subject domain, or that he is commonly known as AOL.

B. Respondent

Respondent, in its Response, has submitted a collage of images and text. As the images will not properly translate in the published decision, the Panel attempts to capture Respondent’s argument in these findings.

1. Respondent states the following in its Response:

Respondent believes

1.) He registered domain name because it was available.

2.) He purchased domain name at 10 times the regular price of regular “.tv” domains. Complainant says their host inadvertently sold domain name, was the price inadvertently raised also?

3.) He purchased domain as an investment for family’s future.

4.) Many Possibilities.

Respondent believes in no possible way, can by him positioning his domain name to where it is at right now would tarnish the trademark or service mark at issue

1.) Actually Respondent believes the contrary, if anything greatly added value.

2.) Respondent believes consumers will be able to distinguish the difference, and not be confused.

3.) [Respondent attached the AdSense affiliate program agreement from Google].

2. Respondent includes various images including a stylized image of “aol.tv.”  Respondent uses the stylized image of “aol.tv” throughout its Complaint.  In one instance, below the image of “aol.tv,” Respondent states the following:

This is one of my domains

Can you please show this to Larry Page and Sergey Brin.

I also like helping people.

3. Respondent includes components of other websites, including a MSN webpage banner and entire pages of Google’s AdSense affiliate program online submission form. 

4. Respondent submits evidence of an inquiry to Yahoo! AdWords, an online marketing service.  Respondent also submits a form email response from Yahoo! AdWords.

 

C. Additional Submissions

Respondent’s additional submission consists of copies of domain names that the Respondent claimed to own, including the <aol.tv> domain name, the subject of the herein dispute, correspondence between the Respondent and Yahoo and Microsoft, an Internet article entitled “America On Line confirms the end of AOLTV.” a CNET news article dated 2/18/03 and a second Internet article entitled, “The Impact of Reverse Domain Name Hijacking”, by Jay Hollander.

FINDINGS

The Panelist finds that Complainant has clearly and unequivocally proved each of the required three elements of Policy ¶ 4(a), subsections (1), (2) and (3), to wit: (1) Respondent’s domain name, <aol.tv> is identical or confusingly similar to the Complainant’s trademark; (2) Respondent has no legitimate interests with respect to the domain name; and (3) Respondent registered the domain name in bad faith and hence the relief sought by Complainant should be granted.

DISCUSSION

Paragraph 15(a) of the Rules for Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (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.”

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 the Respondent is identical or confusingly similar to a trademark or service mark in which the Complainant has rights;

(2) the 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, America Online, Inc., may bring a claim under the UDRP because it has appropriate rights in the AOL mark.  See Men’s Wearhouse, Inc. v. Wick, FA 117861 (Nat. Arb. Forum Sept. 16, 2002) (“Under U.S. trademark law, registered marks hold a presumption that they are inherently distinctive and have acquired secondary meaning.”); see also Janus Int’l Holding Co. v. Rademacher, D2002-0201 (WIPO Mar. 5, 2002) (finding that Panel decisions have held that registration of a mark is prima facie evidence of validity, which creates a rebuttable presumption that the mark is inherently distinctive.  Respondent has the burden of refuting this assumption.).

Respondent’s <aol.tv> domain name is identical to Complainant’s AOL mark.  The only difference is the addition of the “.tv” country code top-level domain, which does not significantly distinguish the domain name from the mark.  See World Wrestling Fed'n Entm't, Inc. v. Rapuano, DTV2001-0010 (WIPO May 23, 2001) (“The addition of the country code top level domain (ccTLD) designation <.tv> does not serve to distinguish [the disputed domain] names from Complainant’s marks since ‘.tv’ is a common Internet address identifier that is not specifically associated with Respondent.”); see also Clairol Inc. v. Fux, DTV2001-0006 (WIPO May 7, 2001) (finding that the domain name <clairol.tv> is identical to Complainant’s CLAIROL marks).

Rights or Legitimate Interests

Complainant alleges that Respondent is using the disputed domain name to direct Internet traffic to promote commercial websites that provide Internet services.  Complainant now alleges that the disputed domain points to its competitor’s site.  The Panel finds that appropriating the AOL mark to promote Internet services or to link to Complainant’s competitor is not a bona fide offering of goods or services pursuant to Policy ¶ 4(c)(i) or a legitimate noncommercial or fair use of the domain name pursuant to Policy ¶ 4(c)(iii).  See Ameritrade Holdings Corp. v. Polanski, FA 102715 (Nat. Arb. Forum Jan. 11, 2002) (finding that Respondent’s use of the disputed domain name to redirect Internet users to a financial services website, which competed with Complainant, was not a bona fide offering of goods or services); see also Avery Dennison Corp. v. Steele, FA 133626 (Nat. Arb. Forum Jan 10, 2003) (finding that Respondent had no rights or legitimate interests in the disputed domain name where it used Complainant’s mark, without authorization, to attract Internet users to its business, which competed with Complainant).

The Panel finds that Respondent has not demonstrated that it is commonly known by the <aol.tv> domain name.  See Medline, Inc. v. Domain Active Pty. Ltd., FA 139718 (Nat. Arb. Forum Feb. 6, 2003) (“Considering the nonsensical nature of the [<wwwmedline.com>] domain name and its similarity to Complainant’s registered and distinctive [MEDLINE] mark, the Panel concludes that Policy ¶ 4(c)(ii) does not apply to Respondent.”); see also 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).

The Panel further finds that Complainant’s prior registration of the domain name implies that Respondent does not have rights or legitimate interests in the <aol.tv> domain name.  See American Anti-Vivisection Soc’y v. “Infa dot Net” Web Serv., FA 95685 (Nat. Arb. Forum Nov. 6, 2000) (finding that Complainant’s prior registration of the same domain name is a factor in considering Respondent’s rights or legitimate interest in the domain name); see also Edmunds.com, Inc. v. Ult. Search Inc., D2001-1319 (WIPO Feb. 1, 2002) (finding that Respondent could not rely on equitable doctrines under the Policy to defend its registration of the disputed domain name after the registration was inadvertently permitted to lapse by Complainant, noting that “Respondent was aware of the Complainant’s well-known business and its mark and intended to exploit the mark”).

Registration and Use in Bad Faith

Respondent is referring Internet traffic that seeks out the <aol.tv> domain name to a competitor’s news site.  The Panel strongly finds that appropriating Complainant’s mark to refer customers seeking Complainant to Complainant’s competitors is evidence of bad faith registration and use pursuant to Policy ¶ 4(b)(iii).  See EBAY, Inc. v. MEOdesigns, D2000-1368 (Dec. 15, 2000) (finding that Respondent registered and used the domain name <eebay.com> in bad faith where Respondent has used the domain name to promote competing auction sites); see also Puckett v. Miller, D2000-0297 (WIPO June 12, 2000) (finding that Respondent has diverted business from Complainant to a competitor’s website in violation of Policy ¶ 4(b)(iii)).

The Panel also finds that because Complainant’s AOL mark is famous and Respondent has evidenced that he was aware of Complainant’s mark upon registering <aol.tv>, Respondent had notice of Complainant’s AOL mark.  The Panel may find that Respondent’s notice of Complainant’s rights in the AOL mark evidences that Respondent registered and used the <aol.tv> domain name in bad faith pursuant to Policy ¶ 4(a)(iii).   See Digi Int’l v. DDI Sys., FA 124506 (Nat. Arb. Forum Oct. 24, 2002) (holding that “there is a legal presumption of bad faith, when Respondent reasonably should have been aware of Complainant’s trademarks, actually or constructively”); see also Exxon Mobil Corp. v. Fisher, D2000-1412 (WIPO Dec. 18. 2000) (finding that Respondent had actual and constructive knowledge of Complainant’s EXXON mark given the worldwide prominence of the mark and thus Respondent registered the domain name in bad faith).

Lastly, the Panelist has found that in reading the record presented, the Respondent has completely failed to set forth any argument, logical, legal or otherwise compelling in support of Respondent’s position.  For the most part, Respondent has merely submitted copies of articles and correspondence indicating that Respondent registered the disputed domain name when the Complainant’s web hosting company “inadvertently released” the domain name <aol.tv>. An inadvertent error by a hosting company can in no way serve to allow another to register said domain name and thereby claim legitimate ownership without being tainted with bad faith and capitalizing on the trading of another’s well established name.

DECISION

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

Accordingly, it is Ordered that the <aol.tv> domain name be TRANSFERRED from Respondent to Complainant.

Barry Schreiber, Panelist
Dated: December 1, 2004

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