Thread: Mahindra wins MahindraForum.com

Mahindra, one of India's top companies, won the domain MahindraForum.com in a recent WIPO UDRP decision. Mahindra is very well-known, and it owns many MAHINDRA-related trademarks.

The disputed domain was connected to an adult site. When Mahindra contacted the respondent about this domain, he immediately removed the material, which he blamed on spammers. The respondent then requested $500 USD to cover his expenses for registering and setting up the website. Mahindra took the matter to WIPO arbitration...

The respondent filed a response to Mahindra's complaint, and stated that he relinquished all rights and control of the domain name and that the domain should be transferred to Mahindra.

You can read the full decision here.

I think, in certain circumstances, it's reasonable to request payment for the expense of registering and setting-up a website. However, when you are requesting payment with regards to a blatant trademark domain, I don't think it's a very smart move! Just transfer the trademark domain. Better yet, don't even register such domains in the first place...

Setting up an adult website on a trademark domain is like painting a bulls eye on yourself. A company may ignore a parked page, but it is hard to ignore an adult website.