Domain registrant acquired domains for a legitimate business.
A company that provides water management solutions has been found to have tried reverse domain name hijacking.
Suez International filed a UDRP cybersquatting dispute against the domain names SuezDigital.com and Suez.digital.
Canadian entrepreneur Zacharias Cymbaluk registered the domains in 2022 and launched a digital consulting business called Suez Digital.
The Complainant reached out to Cymbaluk in 2024, demanding that he cease using the domains. Apparently flustered by the legal demand, he offered to transfer the domains to Suez International for his out-of-pocket costs. He also registered another domain to rebrand the business.
As the parties negotiated what Cymbaluk would have to do as part of a settlement, he received outside advice about the situation. He withdrew the offer and requested more money.
Panelist Alan L. Limbury noted that his initial offer to transfer the domain at cost is not indicative of someone who is cybersquatting. It seems that Limbury believed Suez provided the panel with misleading details about the situation.
He found in Cymbaluk’s favor and ruled that this was a case of reverse domain name hijacking.
ROBIC, LLP represented the Complainant, and Randall More Holdings LTD represented the Respondent.
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