Not confusingly similar to Mapfre, panel rules — MapFree.com is

Majority of panel denies all three prongs of UDRP complaint while another confirms all three.

A World Intellectual Property Organization panel has ruled against Spanish firm Mapfre in a UDRP case the firm brought against MapFree.com.

The domain name belongs to Vertical Axis (Kevin Ham’s firm). Vertical Axis argued that it registered the domain name for its generic meaning. It pointed out that is has registered many other domains that start with Map.

The majority of the panel found in Vertical Axis’ favor on all three parts of the UDRP. This is despite a limited number of links showing up on the parked domain that relate to Mapfre’s industry of insurance. The majority ruled that those links were incidental to the overall case.

One panelist dissented and stated the domain ought to be transferred.

It’s kind of hard to believe that two panelists would find against the complainant on all three prongs of the UDRP while another would find in favor of the complainant on all three.

Vertical Axis was represented by ESQwire.com.

MapFree.com