{ "case_number": "CAC-UDRP-108806", "time_of_filling": "2026-07-07 09:26:58", "domain_names": [ "photoshopmac.com" ], "case_administrator": " Iveta Špiclová (Czech Arbitration Court) (Case admin)", "complainant": [ "Adobe Inc. " ], "complainant_representative": "Convey srl", "respondent": [ "jack t" ], "respondent_representative": null, "factual_background": "

The Complainant is a global technology company specializing in the development of software and digital media solutions, established in 1982 and offering innovative tools that enable individuals and businesses to create, manage, and deliver digital content. The Complainant offers a comprehensive portfolio of software applications, including, inter alia, Adobe Photoshop for image editing, Adobe Illustrator for vector graphics, Adobe Premiere Pro and Adobe After Effects for video editing and compositing, and Adobe InDesign for digital publishing.<\/p>\n

Among the Complainant's principal products, Adobe Photoshop is a widely known software application for digital image editing and manipulation. First developed in the late 1980s and commercially released in 1990, Photoshop has been progressively adopted across a broad range of sectors, including publishing, advertising, web design, film production, and other creative industries. The software provides a comprehensive set of tools for the processing and modification of raster images, including functionalities such as layered editing, image compositing, and advanced color management.<\/p>\n

The disputed domain name was registered on March 2, 2021 and at the time of this decision, it resolves to a \"403 Forbidden\" page. However, the disputed domain name previously resolved to a website offering unauthorized free downloads of the Complainant's \"Adobe Photoshop\" computer program, as well as other computer programs produced by the Complainant. <\/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.<\/p>\n

Notably, the Complainant contends that the disputed domain name is confusingly similar to its well-known and distinctive PHOTOSHOP trademark. Furthermore, the addition of the term “mac” does not prevent a finding of confusing similarity. On the contrary, the term “mac” clearly refers to “Mac” devices and Apple’s \"macOS\" operating system, leading Internet users to perceive that the website offers a version of Photoshop software specifically compatible with such systems, thereby reinforcing the association with the Complainant’s products.<\/p>\n

With reference to rights or legitimate interests in respect of the disputed domain name, the Complainant contends that the Respondent is neither a licensee nor an authorized distributor of the Complainant and has received no permission (express or implied) to use the Complainant's trademarks or to register a domain name incorporating such trademarks. The Complainant has not granted the Respondent any rights to operate a domain name identical or confusingly similar to its trademarks. The Respondent uses the disputed domain name to promote tools that purport to enable users to download the Complainant's software, namely Adobe Photoshop, in an unauthorized form through the Respondent's website. Such use clearly targets the Complainant’s products and is inherently illegitimate, as it is based on the unauthorized distribution and exploitation of the Complainant’s software. Accordingly, such use cannot constitute a bona fide offering of goods or services, nor any legitimate non-commercial or fair use.<\/span><\/p>\n

With reference to the circumstances evidencing bad faith, the Complainant states that, in light of the Complainant's widespread use of the PHOTOSHOP trademark, it is inconceivable that the Respondent was unaware of the Complainant’s rights when registering the disputed domain name. On the contrary, in light of the content of the website, and as suggested by the inclusion of the term “mac” in the disputed domain name, it can reasonably be inferred that the Respondent has deliberately sought to capitalize on the Complainant's well-known trademark to obtain an undue commercial advantage. The Complainant further contends that the reference to “mac” is likely to be understood by Internet users as indicating a version of the Complainant's software specifically intended for \"Mac\" devices and the \"macOS\" ecosystem, thereby misleading users into believing that the downloadable versions available on the website are genuinely compatible with such systems and authorized by the Complainant. In addition, the website to which disputed domain name used to resolved contains several references to the Complainant's product suite, including “Adobe Photoshop 2023,” “Illustrator 2023”, “Premiere Pro 2023”, “After Effects 2023”, “Audition 2023”, “Lightroom 2023”, “InDesign 2023”, “InCopy 2023”, “Media Encoder 2023”, and “Acrobat Pro 2023”. The presence of these references clearly demonstrates that the Respondent is directly targeting the Complainant's software and reputation. Moreover, the repeated indication of the year “2023” further suggests to Internet users that the website provides access to specific and up-to-date versions of these applications, thereby reinforcing the impression that the downloadable software corresponds to genuine releases of the Complainant, when in fact such downloads are unauthorized and may contain dangerous content for unaware Internet users. This conduct is carried out with the intent of obtaining a commercial advantage by inducing unsuspecting Internet users to access the website and click on unverified and potentially harmful links, under the false impression that they may obtain a free version of the Complainant's \"Adobe Photoshop\" software, thereby exposing them to significant security and reliability risks. The Complainant adds that further evidence of the Respondent's bad faith is provided by the Respondent's broader domain name registration pattern. Namely, publicly available reverse WHOIS records associated with the Respondent's disclosed email address show registrations of numerous additional domain names reproducing or referring to third-party software products, applications and well-known brands. Such a pattern of conduct further supports the conclusion that the registration of the disputed domain name was not coincidental but formed part of a broader practice of registering domain names associated with third-party brands and software products.<\/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 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": [ "Stefan Bojovic" ], "date_of_panel_decision": "2026-08-14 00:00:00", "informal_english_translation": "

The Complainant is the owner of number of registered trademarks for the PHOTOSHOP trademark, including the following:<\/p>\n