Facebook Messenger : Dot .com lost in UDRP

Facebook Messenger.

Facebook Messenger.

In summary: registering domain names that include famous trademarks is a no-no.

The registrant of FacebookMessenger.com managed to outsmart Facebook, securing that domain on June 7, 2014.

The proliferation and popularity of the Facebook Messenger has skyrocketed since; in fact, Facebook also owns the ultra generic Messenger.com.

However, to incorporate a trademark – Facebook – within a generic, that’s just asking for trouble.

The Respondent in this UDRP that was filed at the WIPO was Shawn Wang of China.

The sole panelist found the following:

“The Respondent has failed to show that it has acquired any trade mark rights in respect of “facebookmessenger” or that the disputed domain name has been used in connection with a bona fide offering of goods or services. To the contrary, the disputed domain name has been used in respect of the Website, which has not been authorised by the Complainant, and provides sponsored links to third party commercial websites in order to generate pay-per-click revenue for the Respondent.”

Naturally, the decision ended with an order to transfer the domain to the Complainant, Facebook, Inc. Perhaps, this is the only way to get domains out of Ename!

For the full text of this UDRP decision about FacebookMessenger.com, click here.

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Comments

One Response to “Facebook Messenger : Dot .com lost in UDRP”
  1. Mr Wang needs more tutorials on domaining.

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