The Complainant, founded in 1845, is a well-known chocolate maker based in Switzerland. As a leader in the market of premium quality chocolate, the Complainant produces chocolates from 12 own production sites in Europe and the United States. These are sold by 38 subsidiaries and branch offices, as well as via a network of over 100 independent distributors around the globe. The Complainant also runs more than 500 own shops. With around 15,000 employees, the Complainant reported sales of CHF 5.47 billion in 2024. <\/p>\n
The Complainant further states that it and its affiliated companies\/subsidiaries hold numerous domain names which encompass the LINDT mark, and these are used to advertise the Complainant’s offerings across a wide range of territories around the world. These registrations include <lindt.com>, <lindt.ch>, <lindt.co.uk>, <lindt.se>, <lindt.com.nl>, <lindt.it>, <lindtusa.com>, <lindt.ca>, <lindt.com.br>, <lindt.jp>, <lindt.cn> and <lindt.com.au>.<\/p>\n
The Complainant also holds and uses <lindt-spruengli.com> for its main corporate website. This site lists the Complainant’s locations around the world. The Complainant is repeatedly featured in lists collating the largest and most popular chocolate brands\/manufacturers in the world. The Complainant has a strong social media presence with, for example, over 7 million followers on Facebook (facebook.com\/Lindt), more than 180 thousand followers on Instagram (www.instagram.com\/lindt\/), and over 140 thousand followers on LinkedIn (https:\/\/ch.linkedin.com\/company\/lindt-&-sprungli).<\/p>", "other_legal_proceedings": "
The Panel is not aware of any other legal proceedings which are pending or decided and which relate to the disputed domain name.<\/p>", "no_response_filed": "
COMPLAINANT:<\/p>\n
Complainant states that the disputed domain name <chocolatelindt.shop>, which the Respondent registered on April 9, 2025, incorporates the LINDT trademark and the word “Chocolate” which references the Complainant’s business. This juxtaposing of the Complainant’s LINDT trademark with the descriptive term ‘chocolate’ and the TLD ‘.shop’, creates a high risk of implied affiliation, cannot constitute fair use, and was clearly registered with actual knowledge of the Complainant.<\/p>\n
The Complainant contends further that it has no business relationship with the Respondent and has not granted it permission to incorporate the Complainant’s mark in the disputed domain name. Further, the Complainant states that the Respondent registered and is using the disputed domain name in bad faith.<\/p>\n
The Complainant contends that the requirements of the Policy have been met and that the disputed domain name should be transferred to it. <\/p>\n
RESPONDENT:<\/p>\n
The Respondent has not appeared formally or informally to controvert the evidence submitted by the Complainant.<\/p>", "rights": "
The Complainant has, to the satisfaction of the Panel, shown the disputed domain name is identical or confusingly similar to a trademark or service mark in which the Complainant has rights (within the meaning of paragraph 4(a)(i) of the Policy).<\/p>", "no_rights_or_legitimate_interests": "
The Complainant has, to the satisfaction of the Panel, shown the Respondent to have no rights or legitimate interests in respect of the disputed domain name (within the meaning of paragraph 4(a)(ii) of the Policy).<\/p>", "bad_faith": "
The Complainant has, to the satisfaction of the Panel, shown the disputed domain name has been registered and is being used in bad faith (within the meaning of paragraph 4(a)(iii) of the Policy).<\/p>", "procedural_factors": "
The Panel is satisfied that all procedural requirements under UDRP were met and there is no other reason why it would be inappropriate to provide a decision.<\/p>", "decision": "Accepted", "panelists": [ "Gerald Levine Ph.D, Esq." ], "date_of_panel_decision": "2025-06-23 00:00:00", "informal_english_translation": "
The Complainant holds many trademarks for the term LINDT, covering numerous jurisdictions around the world, including Germany, the United States, Canada. In Germany, its registration No. is 91037 dated 27\/09\/1906 for Class 30, in Switzerland Registration No. 2P-349150 dated 29\/10\/1986 for Classes 30 and 32, and International Registration No. 936939 dated 27\/07\/2007 for Classes 6, 14, 16, 18, 21, 25, 28, 41.<\/p>", "decision_domains": { "chocolatelindt.shop": "TRANSFERRED" }, "panelist": null, "panellists_text": null }