The Panel accepts the following as non-contested facts based upon the record as filed, and in the absence of any submission by the Respondent.<\/p>\n
Founded in 1845, the Complainant is a Swiss chocolate and confectionery manufacturer and a leading player in the premium chocolate segment. The Complainant has a diverse portfolio of 2,500 products, which are distributed in more than 120 countries worldwide under various brands, including LINDT, GHIRARDELLI, RUSSELL STOVER, WHITMAN’S, CAFFAREL, HOFBAUER, KÜFFERLE and PANGBURN’S. The Complainant produces chocolates today at its 12 factories in Europe and the USA, maintains 41 subsidiaries and branch offices, runs over 600 proprietary retail stores, and works with an extensive network of more than 100 independent distributors globally. Employing more than 15,000 people, the Complainant achieved sales of CHF 5.92 billion and an operating profit of CHF 971 million in 2025. <\/p>\n
The Complainant enjoys a well‑established online presence associated with the GHIRARDELLI mark through several channels. The Complainant owns the domain name <ghirardelli.com>, registered on 24 June 1998, which hosts an official website containing detailed information about the Complainant and its products marketed under the GHIRARDELLI brand. Also, the GHIRARDELLI mark has achieved significant exposure on key social media platforms, including Facebook (where the brand’s official account has attracted more than 1.3 million followers) or Instagram (approximately 180,000 followers).<\/p>\n
The Complainant’s worldwide reputation and the recognition of its GHIRARDELLI-branded products have been recognised by a number of previous UDRP which have decided that the GHIRARDELLI trademark is well known.<\/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 the requirements of the Policy have been met and that the disputed domain name should be transferred to it.
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": [ "Udo Pfleghar B.A. (Melb.)" ], "date_of_panel_decision": "2026-05-22 00:00:00", "informal_english_translation": "
The Complainant holds a broad portfolio of trademark registrations on a global scale in connection with the marketing and distribution of its products, including numerous registrations comprising or featuring the term GHIRARDELLI, including the following: <\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
| \n Trademark<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n Origin<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n Registration Number<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n Registration Date<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n Class(es) Covered<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n GHIRARDELLI<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n Canada<\/p>\n<\/td>\n TMA864883<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 13 Nov 2013<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 6, 11, 14, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 25, 28<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n GHIRARDELLI<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n International (designates China)<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 936941<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 27 July 2007<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 6, 14, 16, 18, 21, 25, 28, 41<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n GHIRARDELLI<\/span><\/p>\n [device]<\/p>\n<\/td>\n Mexico<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 943118<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 18 July 2006<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 30<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n GHIRARDELLI<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n European Union<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 003716453<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 27 July 2005<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 30, 35, 42, 43<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n GHIRARDELLI<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n United States<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 1376695<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 31 Dec 1985<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 42<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n GHIRARDELLI<\/span><\/p>\n<\/td>\n United States<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 205776<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 17 Nov 1925<\/p>\n<\/td>\n 30<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n <\/p>",
"decision_domains": {
"ghirardelliz.com": "TRANSFERRED"
},
"panelist": null,
"panellists_text": null
} |