Use computation in URS dispute — Wolfram doesn’t

A lot of brain power missed the connection.

Wolfram Research, Inc. has lost a Uniform Rapid Suspension (URS) case for mathematica.guru and wolfram.ceo, and the case is noteworthy for a couple reasons.

First, the domain names were owned by two different people. One of the whois records has privacy on it, and firms often file UDRP cases against domains that they think the same person owns. But in this case the domains were at two different registrars, which makes me wonder what Wolfram was thinking.

What’s more interesting is how National Arbitration Forum handles such a case. The forum’s supplemental rules state that the first person to respond to the case is the respondent and the other domain is kicked out. Seems like a perverse incentive for responding. In this case the claim against Mathematica.guru was kicked out.

Second, Wolfram lost this case in part since it didn’t connect the trademarks it was claiming between their registrant (Wolfram Group LLC) and the complainant Wolfram Research, Inc. I’m sure they’re connected, but you have to show the connection to the panelist.