The Complainant is an online gaming and casino operator that has used the name ‘Melbet’ for its platform since 2012. Melbet has over 400,000 daily users worldwide. Recognized as one of the largest and most popular sports betting platforms worldwide, it has multiple partnerships, advertising campaigns and sponsorships with many well-known brands, sports clubs and professional leagues. The Complainant’s mobile app has been nominated as ‘Best Mobile App’, ‘Best Affiliate Program’, and ‘Rising Star’ among the sport betting and casino categories by SBC Awards.<\/p>\n
The Complainant also owns and operates the domain name <melbet.com>.<\/p>\n
The disputed domain names were registered as follows:<\/p>\n
- <apk-melbeten.com> on 23 December 2024<\/p>\n
- <apk-melbet.com> on 6 August 2025<\/p>\n
- <mal-egypt.com> on 31 January 2025<\/p>\n
- <melapk.com> on 31 January 2025<\/p>\n
All of the disputed domain names are used in connection with websites that are deliberately designed to suggest an affiliation with the Complainant and the Trademarks. These websites use logos that are similar to the Complainant’s figurative MELBET trademark (with the \"MEL\" in white and the \"BET\" in yellow), as well as replicating the colour scheme of the Complainant’s official websites.<\/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 names.<\/p>", "no_response_filed": "
Complainant:<\/strong><\/p>\n The Complainant argues that the disputed domain names are confusingly similar to the Trademarks. The Complainant adds that each of the disputed domain names either fully incorporates or is highly similar to the Complainant´s registered trademarks. Regarding <apk-melbeten.com> and <apk-melbet.com>, the Complainant states that both domain names reproduce the Trademarks in their entirety, and that the additional terms ‘apk‘ (a generic reference to Android application files) and ‘en‘ (commonly referring to the English language or an international audience), do not make them distinctive nor do they avoid confusing similarity. Regarding <melapk.com>, the Complainant states that this domain name combines ‘mel’ (the first part of the Trademarks) with ‘apk’, and that ‘mel’ remains a recognizable and distinctive component of the MELBET mark, particularly when used in the same gambling and betting context as the Complainant’s business. Finally, with regard to <mal-egypt.com>, the Complainant argues that this is an example of a typographical variant, whereby ‘mal’ is a slight visually and phonetically similar misspelling of ‘mel’. Regarding all of the disputed domain names, the Complainant asserts that the test for confusing similarity is not strictly limited to the textual side-by-side comparison, but that the ‘website content trading off the complainant’s reputation, or a pattern of multiple respondent domain names targeting the complainant’s mark within the same proceeding, may support a finding of confusing similarity.’ It points to the fact that all of the disputed domain names are linked to websites that prominently feature the Trademarks in the same stylized yellow-and-black design as the Complainant’s official site. Regardless of whether the domain itself is a slight variant or abbreviation, they adopt the distinctive colour scheme, website layout, branding, and promotional materials that are characteristic of the official MELBET platform. They also explicitly offer betting, casino, or app download services under the MELBET name, trading directly on the Complainant’s reputation and targeting the same consumer base.<\/p>\n The Complainant further argues, that the Respondent has no rights or legitimate interests in respect of the disputed domain names. In this regard, the Complainant contends that they have not licensed or authorized the Respondent to register or use the disputed domain names, that the Respondent is not affiliated with them in any way, and that there is no evidence that the Respondent is known by the disputed domain names or owns any corresponding registered trademarks. Furthermore, the Respondent is not using, or preparing to use, any of the disputed domain names in connection with a bona fide offering of goods and services, nor is the Respondent making any legitimate non-commercial or fair use of the disputed domain names without intent for commercial gain misleadingly to divert consumers or to tarnish the trademark or service mark at issue. The Complainant also points out that the content of the websites creates a misleading impression that they are official websites of the Complainant in Bangladesh or Egypt, or are otherwise endorsed by the Complainant, which is not the case.<\/p>\n Finally, the Complainant contends that the disputed domain name was registered and is being used in bad faith. With regard to bad faith registration, the Complainant argues that they are a prominent online gaming and betting operator with a strong digital presence, and that the disputed domain names deliberately target them. Regarding bad faith use, the Complainant states that the Respondent’s websites closely mimic the Complainant’s official website, including the distinctive white, yellow and black colour scheme, and that this imitation is clearly intended to mislead Internet users into believing that the websites are affiliated with the Complainant. The Complainant states that such use creates a likelihood of confusion, prompting users to engage with the websites under false assumptions and demonstrates that the Respondent registered and is using the disputed domain names with the intent to attract users for commercial gain by creating confusion regarding the source, sponsorship, or affiliation of the websites, as set out in paragraph 4(a)(iii) of the Policy.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Respondent:<\/strong><\/p>\n No administratively compliant Response has been filed.<\/p>",
"rights": " The Complainant has, to the satisfaction of the Panel, shown the following disputed domain names are 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>\n - <apk-melbeten.com><\/p>\n - <apk-melbet.com><\/p>\n However, the Panel disagrees with the finding of confusing similarity by the Complainant regarding the following domain names:<\/p>\n - <mal-egypt.com><\/p>\n - <melapk.com><\/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 names that are found to be confusingly similar to the Complainant´s trademark (within the meaning of paragraph 4(a)(ii) of the Policy).<\/span><\/p>",
"bad_faith": " The Complainant has, to the satisfaction of the Panel, shown that the disputed domain names, which are found to be confusingly similar to the Complainant´s trademark, have been registered and are being used in bad faith (within the meaning of paragraph 4(a)(iii) of the Policy).<\/span><\/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": "Partially Accepted\/Partially Rejected",
"panelists": [
"Peter Müller"
],
"date_of_panel_decision": "2025-07-31 00:00:00",
"informal_english_translation": " The Complainant is the registered owner of several trademarks, including:<\/p>\n - European Union trademark registration no. 019060714 for the word ‘MELBET’, filed on 29 July 2024 and registered on 9 November 2024 for goods and services in classes 9, 16, 21, 25, 28 and 30.<\/p>\n - International trademark registration no. 1833913 for the word ‘MELBET’, registered on 4 December 2024 for goods and services in classes 9, 16, 21, 25, 28 and 30.<\/p>\n These trademarks (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Trademarks’) predate the registration of the disputed domain names.<\/p>\n The Complainant also claims rights in unregistered trademarks for ‘MELBET’ in relation to online betting and casino services in class 41.<\/p>",
"decision_domains": {
"apk-melbet.com": "TRANSFERRED",
"apk-melbeten.com": "TRANSFERRED",
"mal-egypt.com": "REJECTED",
"melapk.com": "REJECTED"
},
"panelist": null,
"panellists_text": null
}