Panel rules that buff.com likely registered as a dictionary keyword domain name.
A three person World Intellectual Property Organization panel has ruled against Original Buff, S.A. in a case brought against the domain name Buff.com.
The complainant sells head wear, and Buff.com has shown sponsored links related to headwear in the past.
Buff argued “it is practically impossible to maintain that the Respondent’s choice of buff.com is a pure coincidence and not intentional.”
The panel didn’t buy that, and neither do I. The registrant targets dictionary word domain names, and odds are the registration of this domain had nothing to do with targeting the complainant.
However, the panel did say that the respondent couldn’t blame its parking provider for the links on the site — they are still the respondent’s responsibility.
The current registrant of the domain name picked it up in 2007. The panel questioned why it took so long to bring this case.
In the end, the panel ruled that the complainant didn’t show that the domain owner had no rights or legitimate interests in the domain name.
The respondent was represented by ESQwire.com.
I have MrBuff.com. I registered it after seeing some ad for a “Mr Movie Buff”. Continuing the theme I found mybuff.com also available and regged that too. During my research I did become aware of Original Buff but I primarily buy names that I might develop and certainly not as a means to frustrate any existing business. That said, I understand that others often do.
I’ve since let go of mybuff.com. Let me say though my own buff is in quite fine order! I just felt on reflection it wasn’t something I wanted to develop ;->