For $1M, saved in reverse domain name hijacking case — Stable.com, bought

Domain buyer revealed in WIPO dispute.

It’s been over a year since stable.com sold for just over $1 million. The domain has been parked ever since, and I’ve wondered who the buyer was. Now we know, courtesy of a cybersquatting dispute.

Unlimint Holding EU Ltd/ Mr Admin – Cardpay Ltd bought the domain for a fresh subsidiary called Stable Defi Ltd. As I expected, based on the subsidiary name, it appears the goal is to launch a crypto-related firm.

But, as the firm worked to launch the business, another firm became envious of its valuable domain name.

Stable App, a currency app that uses the domain stable-app.com, filed a cybersquatting complaint with World Intellectual Property Organization against the domain name (WIPO). WIPO has published the decision and found Stable App LLC guilty of reverse domain name hijacking for filing the Complaint.

It was a relatively easy decision for the panelist to make.

The Respondent purchased the domain ahead of the Complainant was incorporated and ahead of it applied to register trademarks. The Complainant tried establishing an earlier date by pointing out that the Complainant’s founders started a WhatsApp chat group called Stable ahead of the domain was purchased. Still, it provided no connection between that chat group and the Respondent to show it was aware of the Complainant’s plans.

Given the circumstances, panelist Warwick Rothnie found that the case was an attempt at reverse domain name hijacking.

Abello Abogados represented the Complainant, and Hogan Lovells represented the domain name owner.