Smartphone maker gains 101 domain names in single dispute.
When it comes to getting bang for your buck in domain name arbitration, Research in Motion may have just set the bar. In a single UDRP case filed at World Intellectual Property Organization, the BlackBerry maker won 101 domains (and was denied 10 others).
BlackBerry filed the complaint against Georges Elias, who registered all 111 domains at GoDaddy. Elias’ imaginative registration spree included domains such as alwaysbetonblackberry.com, blackberryonice.com, and onceyougoblackberryyouwillnevergobackberry.com (no joke).
The panel decided that Research in Motion should get 101 of the domains, but denied 10 domains that focus on ‘berry’ rather than ‘blackberry’, such as mommyberry.com and berrydelsol.com.
Elias alleged that Research in Motion used Tucows’ (AMEX: TCX) Yummy Names division to approach the respondent about purchasing one of the domain names, insideblackberry.com, but never told Tucows that it was secretly enlisting it to gather evidence for its case. Elias alleged that Tucows said Research in Motion “procured Yummy Names’ services under false pretenses”, however the arbitrator decided there was no need to consider this.
Dan Sanchez says
Not only did he waste $800 on stupid domains, but he got sued. He should be named the dumbest domainer in history.
Here are some of his other brilliant domains…
verdeberry.com
nextelberry.com
madeinblackberry.com
hechoenblackberry.com
copberry.com
Lucky Sucka says
I’m not sure I believe this is the whole picture. There is more here. WIPO is notorious for bizarre decisioning.
D says
And Godaddy charges like $30 per domain per lost UDRP
Greg says
If I remember right GoDaddy charges $75 per domain in a case like this. That is a lot of money for using GoDaddy.
DS says
Apparently blackberry, berry, and black(negro) are no longer just words. They are the property of RIM. Kudos to them for being god. Also kudos to godaddy for making boatloads of money. And kudos to domainers for being helpless in all aspects of the web they should be running.
Perry King says
a domainer must NEVER ever register trademark names! In this case, I am not surprised blackberry easily won the URDP.
mario says
what if you have a URL with the word blackberry as one of two total words, is there a way of writing a disclaimer saying the domain is Not related to that company?
would that “release your domain”?
Andrew Allemann says
The last paragraph of this article was amended slightly to clarify that Elias made this allegation, but the arbitration panel did not consider it.
David says
Regardless of the trademark rights I am really surprised they can file a bulk case for more than 100 names and pay just one fee. What a bargain that is!
It seems to me each case should stand on its own with its own cost for filing, especially if the trademark issue is not the same which appears to be so with 10 of the domains judging by the ruling.
stumble says
ha ha some one busted 😀
so what abt godaddy fees do they really got 3K from that domainer/s ?