No surprise in mahogany.com decision.
Hallmark Licensing, LLC and Hallmark Cards, Incorporated have lost a cybersquatting complaint they brought against the domain name mahogany.com.
The decision shouldn’t surprise anyone, even Hallmark and its lawyers at Foley & Lardner LLP.
The domain owner said it bought the domain name for its dictionary meaning. Indeed, it previously resolved to a web page with a picture of mahogany wood and the dictionary definition. It later linked to a pay-per-click page with links to wood products.
A three-person National Arbitration Forum panel found that the domain owner had rights or legitimate interests in the domain name. It didn’t consider the issue of bad faith.
Although the Respondent didn’t ask for a finding of reverse domain name hijacking, one panelist said he thought this case was abusive.
The domain name owner acquired the domain for $40,000 in 2017.
Hallmark has a Mahogany brand that targets African American consumers.
Zak Muscovitch represented the domain name owner.
That was a bit of a “Folly” by Foley & Lardarse lawyers.
Justice served but what a waste of resource.
The Panel should have declared RDNH, per Panelist Levine’s opinion.
UDRP Policy doesn’t require the Respondent to ask for such a ruling, the facts should lead the astute panelists to the RDNH.
Hallmark wants the domain name, so they should pay the asking price.
Are these IP attorneys really this incompetent or are their clients really this cheap?
Congrats to the domain owner and Zak!
Yes it should have been a RDNH ruling.
Congrats Zak