As per paragraph 4(a) of the Policy, for this Complaint to succeed concerning the disputed domain name, the Complainant must prove the following:
(i) The disputed domain name is identical or confusingly similar to a trademark or service mark in which the Complainant has rights; and
(ii) The Respondent has no rights or legitimate interests in respect of the disputed domain name; and
(iii) The disputed domain name has been registered and is being used in bad faith.
A. Identical or Confusingly Similar
The Panel is satisfied that the Complainant has shown it owns rights in the "AMEDEI" trademark, with the earliest registration dating back to 2006.
The Panel must now analyze if there is a confusing similarity between the disputed domain name and the trademark. As contained in the record and evidence at hand, the disputed domain name reproduces the trademark in its totality, namely, "AMEDEI" with the addition of the word "TOSCANA". The term "TOSCANA", in its English translation, is contained in figurative trademark registrations by the Complainant, namely EU trademark registration no. 11101367, for “AMEDEI TUSCANY”. Additionally, the Complainant submitted the EU figurative trademark application no. 18485267 for "AMEDEI TOSCANA" three days before the disputed domain name registration. It is worth noting that Toscana is also the region in Italy where the Complainant has its Headquarters. This additional information is merely provided for context since the analysis under the first element is “typically involves a side-by-side comparison of the domain name and the textual components of the relevant trademark to assess whether the mark is recognizable within the disputed domain name” (para. 1.7 WIPO 3.0 Overview). In this case, the disputed domain name does include the entirety of the trademark, namely "AMEDEI". At the same time, the addition of the geographical term "TOSCANA" is not substantive enough to dispel the confusing similarity between the disputed domain name and the Complainant's trademarks since the trademark is recognizable within the disputed domain name (para. 1.8 WIPO 3.0 Overview).
The other aspects alluded to in the preceding paragraph will be analyzed further in the subsequent sections. Still, for what it concerns to the first element, the Panel determines that the Complainant has satisfied the first element set under paragraph 4(a)(i) of the Policy.
B. Rights or Legitimate Interests
Based on the record, the uncontested facts indicate that a) the Respondent is not commonly known as the disputed domain name; b) the Respondent is not authorized to carry out any activity for the Complainant; b) the Respondent has no license or authorization to use the trademark and c) the Respondent is not affiliated with the Complainant.
In addition to this, the Respondent's use of the trademark plus the geographic term "TOSCANA", seems to indicate that the Respondent not only was aware of the Complainant but deliberately targeted the Complainant. This is evidenced by the disputed domain name registration just a few days after the Complainant's trademark application for “AMEDEI TOSCANA”, on June 4, 2021.
With this evidence at hand, and without a Response, it seems unlikely the Respondent is making a legitimate non-commercial or fair use of the disputed domain name without intent for commercial gain to divert consumers misleadingly or to tarnish the trademark or service mark at issue, as contained under para. 2.1 of WIPO 3.0 Overview. This conclusion is reinforced by the fact that the Respondent appears to trade in domain names and has, in fact, appeared as Respondent in other proceedings, which would indicate that the Respondent is familiar with the UDRP. Should the Respondent have a defense under UDRP paragraph 4(c), the Respondent would likely have provided one.
The Panel finds that the Respondent has no rights or legitimate interests in the disputed domain name based on the above. Therefore, the Complainant has fulfilled the second requirement set under paragraph 4(a) of the Policy.
C. Registered and Used in Bad Faith
As per the record and evidence at hand, the Panel finds that the Respondent was likely aware of the Complainant and targeted the Complainant's trademark when registering the disputed domain name. This conclusion is reinforced because the disputed domain name was registered a couple of days after the Complainant’s trademark application for “AMEDEI TOSCANA”.
Additionally, the evidence on record and the balance of probability, the circumstances indicate that the Respondent registered the disputed domain name primarily for the purpose of selling, renting, or otherwise transferring the domain name, either to Complainant or to a competitor of that complainant, for valuable consideration in excess of the Respondent’s documented out-of-pocket costs directly related to the disputed domain name. This conclusion seems in line with para. 3.1 of WIPO 3.0 Overview.
Without having any other explanation from the Respondent, in conjunction with the other facts and evidence, in this case, it strengthens the allegations and the points raised by the Complainant on the bad faith registration and use of the disputed domain name. It is of added importance that the Respondent trades in domain names and should be familiar with the registration of domain names and the potential consequences of not responding, especially if the Respondent considers it has a good defense. This is not enough to be considered a pattern in the Respondent's conduct; nevertheless, this circumstance complements the evidence at hand on the balance of probability with a finding of bad faith.
In light of the case's circumstances, based on the available records, the Panel finds that the Complainant has proven that the disputed domain name was registered and is used in bad faith according to paragraph 4(a)(iii) of the Policy.
D. Decision
For the preceding reasons and concurrence with the provisions specified under Paragraph 4(i) of the Policy and Paragraph 15 of the Rules, the Panel orders the transfer of the disputed domain name to the Complainant
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