Tries to reverse hijack domain name — Jewelry maker

Panelist finds “Plan B” attempt following purchase negotiations broke down.

A FORUM UDRP panel has found that jewelry maker Mengjia Li, who goes by the name Eve Li, engaged in reverse domain name hijacking in a dispute over the domain name eveli.com.

The Complainant uses the domain name eveli.co.uk for her jewelry business, and she filed the UDRP following negotiations to purchase the domain didn’t pan out. They apparently broke down following she threatened to file a UDRP.

The domain was originally registered in 2005. DomainTools historical Whois records suggest the current registrant didn’t obtain the domain until 2010 or 2011. While it’s unclear who introduced any confusion regarding the registration date, and the panelist considered 2005 as the registration date, it would not have impacted the decision had it been 2011. The Complainant didn’t get a registered trademark until 2024, and that trademark cited a first use in commerce data of 2021.

The Complainant cited using the name Eve Li in a professional context since 2005; still, the evidence for this was weak and certainly wouldn’t suggest common law rights dating that far back. The evidence primarily consisted of a gemology school application, which included an email address with the name Eve.

Panelist David L. Kreider found that the Complainant’s conduct supported a finding of reverse domain name hijacking, noting that she admitted to threatening a UDRP filing following negotiations to acquire the domain broke down. The panel described the complaint as a “Plan B” attempt to obtain the domain when her purchase offer was not accepted.

The Complainant and the domain registrant were self-represented.