Established in 1845, the Complainant is a Swiss producer of chocolate and confectionery products, within the premium chocolate industry. Its portfolio comprises approximately 2,500 products, marketed under several brands such as LINDT, GHIRARDELLI, RUSSELL STOVER, WHITMAN’S, CAFFAREL or HOFBAUER, and its products are distributed across more than 120 countries.<\/p>\n
In 1998, the Complainant acquired the Ghirardelli Chocolate Company (“Ghirardelli”). Ghirardelli, founded in 1852 and based in San Francisco, California, ranks among the oldest chocolate manufacturers in the United States. Its products are distributed through a combination of company-operated stores, third-party retailers, and wholesale distribution channels. For the fiscal year 2024 Ghirardelli generated sales of USD 888 million. The Complainant owns the domain name <ghirardelli.com>, which was registered on 24 June 1998 and resolves to a website containing comprehensive information about the Complainant and its GHIRARDELLI products.<\/span><\/p>\n The disputed domain names were both registered within days of each other in April 2026. Although, at the date of filing neither disputed domain name resolved to an active site, the disputed domain name <ghirardelliusshop.com> previously resolved to a website that closely imitated the look and feel of the Complainant’s official GHIRARDELLI website, prominently displayed the GHIRARDELLI mark at the top of the webpage, featured images of GHIRARDELLI<\/span>‑branded products, and offered such products for sale at substantial discounts.<\/span><\/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.<\/span><\/p>",
"no_response_filed": " The Complainant contends that the requirements of the Policy have been met and that the disputed domain names should be transferred to it.<\/span><\/p>\n No administratively compliant Response has been filed.<\/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).<\/span><\/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).<\/span><\/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).<\/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": "Accepted",
"panelists": [
"Mr Alistair Payne"
],
"date_of_panel_decision": "2026-06-16 00:00:00",
"informal_english_translation": " The Complainant owns numerous trade mark registrations for its GHIRADELLI mark including, in particular, United States trade mark number 205776 registered on November 17, 1925 and European Union trade mark number 003716453 registered on July 27, 2005.<\/p>",
"decision_domains": {
"ghirardelliusmall.com": "TRANSFERRED",
"ghirardelliusshop.com": "TRANSFERRED"
},
"panelist": null,
"panellists_text": null
}