Someone owns the domain name it wants for expanding into Sweden.
Rapidly expanding burger chain Five Guys has hit a snag in Sweden: the domain name fiveguys.se.
As the company continues its international expansion, it has its eyes on the domain name. Unfortunately, a company called Engboms Network Solution AB registered that domain name in 2011.
Five Guys filed a cybersquatting dispute (pdf) against the domain under the .se dispute resolution policy.
But Engboms Network Solution AB says it didn’t register the domain name to target the burger chain. Instead, it was registered in relation to a business regarding five guys working with IT.
Before those in the peanut gallery laugh at that explanation, it’s not as implausible as you might think. After all, Five Guys didn’t open its first location outside of North America until 2013. And at least one other Swedish company, Five guys Transport AB, uses the name Five Guys.
Engboms Network Solution AB hasn’t used the domain name yet, and the World Intellectual Property Organization panelist found there was no evidence that the domain owner knew about the burger chain’s trademark.
The panelist denied Five Guys’ complaint but said it could be refiled if the domain owner subsequently uses the domain in bad faith.
Nic says
“…it could be refiled if the domain owner subsequently uses the domain in bad faith.”
Interesting. Never seen that before from a panalist. And this is a “reg *or* use” in bad faith ccTLD.
Bob Frankston says
Yet another reminder that the domain system is fundamentally broken.