The disputed domain name <happy-rune.net> was created on 30 January 2025. The Panel has exercised its general powers under paragraph 10 of the Rules to undertake limited factual research into matters of public record by visiting the website to which the disputed domain name resolves. As of the time of preparing this decision, the disputed domain name resolves only to a blank page. However, according to the Complaint, it previously resolved to a website offering a pirated version of the Complainant’s Old School RuneScape game. According to the information on the case file, the Registrar confirmed that the Respondent is the current registrant of the disputed domain name and that the language of the registration agreement is English.<\/p>\n
On 13 August 2025, the instant Complaint was filed. The facts asserted in the Complaint are not contested by the Respondent because no Response was filed.<\/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 <\/strong><\/p>\n The Complainant was incorporated on 28 April 2000 as Jagex Limited and since then has carried on the business of designing, developing, publishing, and operating online video games and other electronic-based entertainment.<\/p>\n The Complainant is well-known internationally for its Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (“MMORPG”) RuneScape and Old School RuneScape , (collectively, the “Games”). Together, the Games average a total of more than 3 million active users per month. Since October 2022 Old School RuneScape has been recognised by the Guinness World Records for being the largest free-to-play MMORPG with over 300 million accounts.<\/p>\n The Complainant owns the domain name <runescape.com>, which has resolved to an active website relating to online video games since at least as early as 17 August 2000.<\/p>\n In addition to <runescape.com>, the Complainant has acquired various further domain names which incorporate the RUNE and RUNESCAPE trade marks and which resolve to active websites.<\/p>\n The Complainant asserts trademark rights in the term \"RUNE\" established by registrations that pre-date the disputed domain name. The Complainant also cites numerous previous UDRP decisions that have recognized its substantial goodwill and reputation in the \"RUNE\" and \"RUNESCAPE\" brands. The Complainant argues that the disputed domain name is confusingly similar to its trademark because it incorporates the \"RUNE\" mark in its entirety as the dominant element. It submits that the additional term \"HAPPY\" is a non-distinctive descriptor that does not distinguish the domain name and would lead Internet users to believe the domain is associated with the Complainant.<\/p>\n The Complainant asserts that the Respondent is using the disputed domain name to direct to a website offering a pirated version of its Games. This use cannot be considered a bona fide offering and constitutes a deliberate and abusive attempt to gain commercially from the goodwill of the Complainant's mark. Further, the Complainant asserts that creation and use of the pirated version of the game, constitutes a violation of the Complainant’s End User License Agreement (“EULA”) and applicable copyright laws The Complainant states that the Respondent has never been legitimately known as \"RUNE.\" It argues that the only reason the Respondent registered the disputed domain name was to take advantage of the Complainant's reputation and goodwill. The Complainant argues that the use of the disputed domain name is not legitimate or non-commercial, as the Respondent is using it to promote a pirated copy of the official Games for financial gain via an online store.<\/p>\n The Complainant asserts the Respondent was unequivocally aware of its \"RUNE\" and \"RUNESCAPE\" brands at the time of registration, given the deliberate impersonation of the Complainant’s in-game assets, mechanics and branding on the website. Such actual knowledge prior to the registration of the disputed domain name evinces bad faith under paragraph 4(a)(iii) of the Policy.<\/p>\n The Complainant argues that the Respondent is free riding on the Complainant’s success by promoting a pirated copy of the Complainant’s Games. This use of a confusingly similar domain name is intended to divert traffic from the Complainant’s websites to the Respondent's site for commercial gain.<\/p>\n The Complainant maintains that the Respondent is disrupting its business by attracting and diverting potential customers to a competing site that offers similar goods and services, which supports a finding of bad faith under paragraph 4(b)(iii) and (v) of the Policy..<\/p>\n The Complainant thus urges that the disputed domain name be transferred to it.<\/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 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": [
"Claire Kowarsky (Presiding Panelist)"
],
"date_of_panel_decision": "2025-09-26 00:00:00",
"informal_english_translation": " The Complaint is submitted in the name of Jagex Limited, the owner of various RUNE-formative and RUNESCAPE trademark registrations, some of which are listed below:<\/p>\n Complainant also owns a number of domain names which incorporate the RUNE and RUNESCAPE trademarks and which resolve to active websites. Examples include <runefest.com>, <runescape.net>, and <runeservice.com>.<\/p>",
"decision_domains": {
"happy-rune.net": "TRANSFERRED"
}
}\n