The Complainant, Honda Motor Co., Ltd. is a Japanese automobile, motorcycle and power equipment manufacturer founded in 1948 by Soichiro Honda in Hamamatsu.<\/p>\n
The Complainant offers a wide range of vehicles and power products marketed through its official website www.honda.com, a domain it has held since 1998. The company operates internationally, with a strong presence across Asia, North America, and Europe, and remains a prominent actor in the global mobility sector due to its heritage and continued commitment to innovation.<\/p>\n
The Complainant holds many trademark registrations including “HONDA” phrase going back to 1998.<\/p>\n
The disputed domain names <hondacikma.com> and <hondatedarik.com> were registered on 18 February 2025 and 6 March 2025, respectively. The disputed domain names are currently inactive.<\/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": "
The disputed domain names are confusingly similar to the Complainant’s formerly registered distinctive and well-known trademarks, as they bear the Complainant’s “HONDA” trademark as a whole with the addition of the descriptive terms “cikma” and “tedarik”, which mean used spare part and supply and directly related to the Complainant’s business, and would not prevent a finding of confusing similarity if not enhance it. The Complainant refers to previous panel decisions regarding the reputation of HONDA trademarks and the descriptive additional terms not preventing confusing similarity.<\/p>\n
The Complainant refers to earlier decisions and claims that the top-level domain “.com” is merely technical requirement <\/span>and will be disregarded, so the domain names remain confusingly similar despite its inclusion.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Complainant states that given the considerable reputation of the HONDA trademark, there is no believable or realistic reason for registration or use of the disputed domain names, other than to take advantage of the Complainant’s rights.<\/p>\n The Complainant also states that the Respondent is neither affiliated nor authorized by the Complainant in any way and neither license nor authorization has been granted to the Respondent to use the Complainant’s trademarks “HONDA”.<\/p>\n The Respondent has no rights on the disputed domain names as the Respondent is not known as the disputed domain names and as the Respondent does not hold any trademark or domain name with “HONDA”.<\/p>\n The Complainant asserts that the disputed domain names reproduce the Complainant’s entire registered mark followed by descriptive Turkish terms (“cikma” and “tedarik”) that directly reference the Complainant’s sector. Such composition gives rise to a strong risk of implied affiliation, implying official authorization or an aftermarket association with the Complainant’s products.<\/p>\n The Complainant also states that the Respondent ignored cease‑and‑desist and notice‑to‑takedown letters sent before the filing of this Complaint. The Respondent also has concealed its identity and provided incomplete WHOIS data, which panels frequently consider an indicator of bad faith and the absence of legitimate interest.<\/p>\n The Complainant’s trademarks are claimed to have been recognized as famous and distinctive for decades, meaning that the Respondent must have known of them at registration and cannot credibly claim independent interest in the name.<\/p>\n The Complainant argues that the Respondent is not using the disputed domain name in connection with bona fide offering of goods or services or a legitimate non-commercial or fair use, in fact, it is being inactive also shows that there is no legitimate use or interest.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Complainant claims that Complainant’s “HONDA” trademarks significantly predate the disputed domain names. The Complainant states that “HONDA” is a well-known trademark and also refers to previous panel decisions in that regard.<\/p>\n The Complainant also contends that the Respondent has kept the disputed domain names inactive for a significant period (over a year) and has provided no indication, nor any credible evidence, that the domain names will be used for any bona fide purpose, including the sale of genuine HONDA products. The continued passive holding of the disputed domain names effectively prevents the Complainant from reflecting its well‑known HONDA trademarks in the corresponding domain names and from conducting legitimate online business under its brand. The inactivity of the disputed domain names is claimed to risk misleading Internet users, particularly consumers seeking Honda’s genuine website, into believing either that the Complainant has no online presence under the disputed domain names or that the Complainant is unable or unwilling to operate such websites.<\/p>\n Respondent’s failure to respond to cease‑and‑desist communications (notices to take down) and the Respondent’s provision of inaccurate or obscured contact information are also asserted as being in bad faith.<\/p>\n The Complainant asserts that it is inconceivable for the Respondent to be unaware of the existence of the Complainant when he registered the disputed domain names. The fact that the Respondent registered the disputed domain names while knowing about the trademarks of the Complainant constitutes bad faith in registering the disputed domain names. The Complainant claims that by using the disputed domain names, the Respondent has intentionally attempted to attract, for commercial gain, Internet users to their website or other online location, by creating a likelihood of confusion with the Complainant’s mark as to the source, sponsorship, affiliation or endorsement of their website or location or of a product or service on their website or location.<\/p>\n Accordingly, the Complainant alleges that the disputed domain names were registered and are being used in bad faith.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n RESPONDENT:<\/p>\n The Respondent filed a brief Response in Turkish, stating that he is ready to transfer the disputed domain names to the Complainant and in case of no transfer, he will not renew the disputed domain names and will not register the disputed domain names again. There was no other explanation or information contained in the Response with regards to the Complaint.<\/p>",
"rights": " The Complainant has, to the satisfaction of the Panel, shown the 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>",
"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 (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 names have been registered and are 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": [
"Mrs Selma Ünlü"
],
"date_of_panel_decision": "2026-06-08 00:00:00",
"informal_english_translation": " The Complainant has submitted evidence, which the Panel accepts, showing that it is the registered owner of the trademarks bearing “HONDA”, inter alia<\/em>, the following:<\/p>\n\n
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