Categories
Disputes National Arbitration Forum News

Virgin mogul Richard Branson wins disputed dot-XXX domain name

Richard Branson

Business magnate Richard Branson filed a complaint (Case Number: 1423689) over the domain name RichardBranson.xxx with the National Arbitration Forum in January.

Now a single-member panel has ordered the name transferred to Richard Branson, having established all three elements required under the ICANN Policy. 

First, the domain name is identical to the RICHARD BRANSON mark.  Second, the respondent lacked rights and interests in the disputed domain name.  And lastly, the domain name was registered and used in bad faith.

“As an additional independent ground demonstrating bad faith and as discussed above with regard to “rights and interests,” Respondent apparently registered the at-issue domain name even though he does not qualify to register a domain name on the .XXX register,” wrote Paul M. DeCicco, Panelist.

The full details of the ruling have been released and can be read online here.

There are now several UDRP cases involving dot-xxx domain names since the domain went public. 

The list of cases that are active as of today include: baylorgirls.xxx, utsystem.xxx, femjoy.xxx, kayjewelers.xxx, finansbank.xxx, foxstudios.xxx, borcelik.xxx, borusanholding.xxx, denizbank.xxx, valero.xxx and markafoni.xxx.

(Image of Richard Branson via Virgin.com)