It results from the Complainant’s undisputed allegations that is a well-known Swiss chocolate manufacturer and the holding company of the Lindt & Sprüngli Group, a global leader in the premium chocolate category. Over the years, the Complainant has expanded its brand portfolio abroad and acquired chocolate businesses including Hofbauer and Küfferle (1994), Caffarel (1997), Ghirardelli (1998), and Russell Stover (2014). The Ghirardelli Chocolate Company (‘Ghirardelli’) became part of the Lindt & Sprüngli Group in 1998. Founded in 1852, Ghirardelli is one of the oldest chocolate companies in the United States and is headquartered in California.<\/p>\n
It owns and uses the domain name < ghirardelli.com > (registered on June 24, 1998) for its official website, advertising and selling its confectionery products.<\/p>\n
The disputed domain name was registered on August 22, 2026. Furthermore, the undisputed evidence provided by the Complainant proves that the disputed domain name resolves to a website displaying without authorization and prominently the Complainant’s mark and logo and purportedly offering products under the Complainant’s trademark. The section “About us” provides amongst others the following: “Our Story<\/em><\/strong>: The Ghirardelli Chocolate Company is an American confectioner, wholly owned by Swiss confectioner Lindt & Sprüngli (..) Our<\/strong> Values (..) Our<\/strong> Products (..)<\/em> Our historic factory<\/em><\/strong> in San Francisco has been transformed into Ghirardelli Square (..)<\/em> Get In Touch: Ghirardelli Chocolate Company” <\/em>including the Complainant’s affiliate registered address in California.<\/em><\/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 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": [
"Dr. Federica Togo"
],
"date_of_panel_decision": "2026-10-30 00:00:00",
"informal_english_translation": " The Complainant is the registered owner of many trademarks for GHIRARDELLI term, covering numerous jurisdictions around the world, e.g. European Union trademark registration no. 003716453 Ghirardelli (word), registered on July 27, 2005 for goods and services in classes 30, 35, 42 and 43.<\/p>",
"decision_domains": {
"ghirardelliofficial.com": "TRANSFERRED"
},
"panelist": null,
"panellists_text": null
}
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": "