Case Number: 1973473
Complainant: Simple Plan, Inc.
Represented by: Ronald S. Bienstock / Scarinci Hollenbeck
A Canada-based music group is singing the blues after being found guilty of Reverse Domain Name Hijacking for trying to steal the domain simpleplan.com, which is currently owned by a travel company based in Norway. The domain, itself, had been registered by the complainant, Simple Plan, Inc., the corporate name for the eponymous Canadian rock band. However, the registrar through which the domain was originally purchased, in 1999, was acquired by Tucows. It was during this transition period, the complainant argued, that it lost its domain.
The current owner acquired the domain at a GoDaddy auction, and was later contacted by GoDaddy on behalf of complainant, who sought to reacquire the domain from the auction winner and present owner. A three-member panel of the National Arbitration Forum ultimately ruled that, while the loss of the domain by the complainant was unfortunate, the complainant’s UDRP filing was an inappropriate attempt at relief, and ruled Simple Plan, Inc. grossly misrepresented the facts of the case. No statement was made as to the use of the UDRP as a “Plan B” acquisition tool.
The panel handed up its ruling on January 4, 2022.
Source: https://www.adrforum.com/DomainDecisions/1973743.htm