Coinbase loses cybersquatting challenge

Chinese registrant argued it was in the physical coin base. But maybe not.

Cryptocurrency trading platform Coinbase lost a cybersquatting dispute against the domain name coinbase.info. The firm filed a complaint with National Arbitration Forum against the Chinese owner of the domain name.

The Respondent in the case stated it has been operating as “Coinbase Studio” with a Chinese character since 2012. It also stated it’s in a different business — coin trading and appraisal — than the popular cryptocurrency platform.

But Coinbase disputed the domain owner’s intentions. It stated that the domain owner does business in the cryptocurrency space and that its alleged business is a scam. The Respondent seemed to admit to not just being a physical coin firm when it retorted that it’s in the cryptography and blockchain business, not cryptocurrencies. Hmm.

Panelist Paul DeCicco decided that since the Respondent has a trademark for Coinbase, the complaint failed to show it lacks rights or legitimate interests.

It seems that this case would better be handled in the courts where discovery and cross-examination are possible.