Judge tosses latest attempt to get Bespoke.com domain name.
You have to feel bad for Garth Piesse.
The New Zealand resident bought Bespoke.com in a competitive expired domain auction on DropCatch.com in 2014 for $18,805. It was a pretty good deal. But now his legal costs have surely dwarfed his purchase price.
First, Bespoke Services Group S.A. of Switzerland filed a UDRP against the domain name. It lost.
Then, a New Orleans company called Bespoke, LLC filed a lawsuit under the Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act.
It was going to be hard to convince a U.S. court of jurisdiction over the New Zealand resident, but the Lousiana company tried its hardest with some far-fetched claims. Piesse, represented by attorney David Weslow, filed a motion to dismiss the Louisiana case in July 2017. A judge dismissed (pdf) the lawsuit this week due to lack of jurisdiction.
In some ways, Piesse has a ready defense the next time a company tries to file a cybersquatting claim against the domain: if three companies think that Bespoke.com infinges their trademark, it will be hard to convince anyone that Piesse was targeting them with his domain registration.
Every time people like Garth Piesse and others fight these cases, it helps all of us in the industry. Thank you Garth and all the others who stand up against these bullies!
Thank you for winning and hope there is a way to get them pay .
The real issue now is that after being assaulted twice, the domain’s resale potential is questionable. The owner should develop or otherwise monetize the domain, as opposed to offering it for sale.