When you know it’s time to select a different company name…
A Colorado company just lost a UDRP for Qwizzle.com, and it’s a great example of botched company naming.
The company, Qwizzle, LLC, knew that Qwizzle.com was taken when it came up with its name. It tried to contact the owner of Qwizzle.com but had no luck. It still decided to launch its business as Qwizzle but then filed a UDRP to try to get the domain name.
It lost the UDRP because Qwizzle.com was registered before it came up with the name for its online real estate company.
I started to research where I could find Qwizzle on the web. When I Google “quizzle”, the first two results are from Facebook and Twitter respectively. Then there’s Qwizzle.co, which resolved to a blank page save for the company’s favicon. This domain appears to be owned by Qwizzle.co. Quizzle.us looks like the actual site for the company, although it’s registered to someone in Michigan.
I noticed Qwizzle.net was registered, too. Surprisingly, it’s registered by Quicken Loans. Quicken has a site called Quizzle.com, and apparently there was some confusion as to how to spell it so they picked up the Qwizzle.net name as well.
That should have been a huge red flag for Qwizzle, LLC. If people are confused that Quizzle.com might be spelled Qwizzle.com, then certainly it can be the other way around. And Quicken Loans offers mortgage loans — which is too close for comfort to a real estate site.
If I were this company I would have just gone with another name (and domain).
Qwizzle wants to disrupt the traditional home marketing and real estate business. It’s a laudable goal, but they need to pick a different name.
Red Forest says
It has become the new reality.
Can’t get the .COM you want? Why buy it when you can simply file a UDRP to steal it!
It is my hope (prayer!) that WIPO will soon impose serious sanctions for Plaintiffs who are caught reverse hijacking — especially those who try to steal generic words.
Wish Domain King Rick Schwartz good luck with his SaveMe.Com case which will be dealing with this very point.
DomainersChoice says
WIPO doesn’t have the power / authority to impose fines. The only way would be to ask the complaining party to put down a deposit, which then would be kept if found guilty of reverse domain hijacking. Cannot see that coming anytime soon.
jayjay says
great qwappling qwizatash! didn’t they learn anything from http://youtu.be/7FZ1M_UmQes the Domain Name Dollar Store 😉
Twerg says
There has to be some kind of system to punish or at least discourage parties from just filing and harassing other domain owners with UDRP’s on generic domains.
If a fine is not possible maybe increase the cost of filing one and refund the amount if they win the case.
Thai Poe says
@ Twerg: There has to be some kind of system to punish or at least discourage parties from just filing and harassing other domain owners with UDRP