The Complainant is a Swiss chocolatier and confectionery manufacturer, founded in 1845 and globally known for its premium chocolate brands, including Lindt. The Complainant’s products are distributed in over 120 countries through 38 subsidiaries, more than 500 retail stores, 21 online shops, and a network of over 100 distributors. Employing approximately 15,000 people, the Complainant reported sales of CHF 5.47 billion and an operating profit of CHF 884 million in 2024. Specifically, with regard to the United States, where the Respondent claims to be based, in 2024, Lindt & Sprüngli USA, one of the Complainant’s subsidiaries, recorded sales of USD 843 million in the country. The Complainant also placed its first Super Bowl advertisement, one of the country’s most prominent sporting events, which reached a record 124 million viewers. Furthermore, the Complainant and its LINDT mark enjoy significant global recognition, with continuous presence in rankings of the world’s most popular chocolates. For example, the LINDT mark ranked tenth in the list of the Top 100 Food Brands for 2025 published by Brand Finance.<\/p>\n
The Respondent registered the disputed domain name <lindt-spruengliusa.com> on 15 December 2025. The disputed domain name resolves to an inactive parking page. There is no evidence before the Panel that the disputed domain name has ever been used for an active website since it was registered. MX records have been associated with the disputed domain name.<\/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": "
The Complainant contends that all three elements of the UDRP have been fulfilled and it therefore requests the transfer of the disputed domain name to the Complainant. 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 trade mark 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": "
On 9 January 2026, following notification of these proceedings by the CAC, the Respondent sent an email to the CAC, stating: “Hello I don’t know what is this and do not imagine what I do. You can do anything with this because I don’t have any touch with the domains or IT Industry”. However, the Respondent did not communicate further with the case administrator, did not respond to a non-standard communication from the Complainant, and did not submit a response. In fact, the Panel construes the Respondent’s email as the Respondent saying that he is disinterested in and not connected with these proceedings. In the circumstances, 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": [ "Gregor Kleinknecht LLM MCIArb" ], "date_of_panel_decision": "2026-02-07 00:00:00", "informal_english_translation": "
The Complainant owns a large portfolio of trade marks consisting of the name LINDT in numerous jurisdictions around the world, including: the International trade mark LINDT, registration number 1128456, first registered on 25 May 2012 in international classes 6, 14, 16, 18, 21, 25, 28, 30, 35, 41 and 43; the international trade mark LINDT (device mark), registration number 839883, first registered on 22 July 2004 in international classes 35 and 43; the European trade mark LINDT (word mark), registration number 000134007, first registered on 7 September 1998 in international class 30; the International trade mark LINDT (device mark), registration number 576529, first registered on 10 September 1991 in international class 30; the United States national trade mark LINDT (device mark), registration number 556669, first registered on 25 March 1952 in international class 30; the United States national trade mark LINDT (word mark), registration number 87306, first registered on 9 July 1912 in international class 30; and the German national trade mark LINDT (word mark), registration number 91037, first registered on 27 September 1906 in international class 30. The Complainant’s trade mark registrations all predate the registration of the disputed domain name.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, the Complainant owns multiple domain names consisting of or incorporating the name LINDT, including: <lindt.com>, registered on 16 December 1997, and <lindtusa.com>, registered on 11 October 2001, which are connected to the Complainant's official websites through which it informs Internet users and customers about its business and Lindt-branded products. <\/p>\n
The Panel further notes that previous panels have found the Complainant's trade mark LINDT to be well-known worldwide (see, for example, CAC Case No. 106521, Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprüngli AG v. ARJONES NEGOCIOS LTDA <lindtbr.shop>; CAC Case No. 106611, Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprüngli AG v. Fox Intermediacoes Ltda <lindtpascoa.com>, <lindtpascoa.online>, and <lindtpascoa.store>; CAC Case No. 106724, Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprüngli AG v. Manoj Kumar <lintusa.com>; and CAC Case No. 107863, Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprüngli AG v. Zhichao N\/A <lindttusa.com>, <lindtusaa.com>, <lindtussa.com>, and <lindtuusa.com>). The Panel accepts that the Complainant's trade mark LINDT is well-known around the world, including in the United States.<\/p>", "decision_domains": { "lindt-spruengliusa.com": "TRANSFERRED" }, "panelist": null, "panellists_text": null }