Spanish firm attempts to reverse domain hijack Koibox.com

Firm filed UDRP even though domain owner registered domain well ahead of it existed.

the words "reverse domain name hijacking" in pale yellow type on a black bacground, next to a graphic of a pirate face

A Spanish firm that provides software to beauty salons attempted to reverse domain name hijacking Koibox.com, a World Intellectual Property Organization panelist has ruled.

Software Koibox S.L. filed the UDRP following first inquiring regarding buying the domain. As stated by the decision, it initially tried to buy the domain in 2015, shortly following it was founded. At the time, the registrant wanted $2,000, but the firm only offered $500. It inquired again in 2019, and the domain registrant requested $50,000.

None of this matters since the owner registered the domain in 1999, some 14 years ahead of the Complainant existed. Therefore, it’s impossible that it was registered in bad faith to target Software Koibox.

In finding reverse domain name hijacking, panelist Warwick Rothnie wrote:

Bearing in mind that the Respondent registered the disputed domain name in 1999 some fourteen years ahead of the Complainant even existed or adopted its trademark, the Complainant ought to have known the Complaint must fail. Instead, the Complainant filed the Complaint, the substantive text of which consists of five paragraphs without satisfactorily addressing the fundamental requirement of registration in bad faith under the Policy.

Software Koibox appears to use the domains Koibox.net and Koibox.es.

Ankur Raheja of Cylaw Solutions represented the domain owner.

Also on the wire