Carrefour SA v felix zomoro, fastservice, Ryan D Washington, and Selma T
WIPO Case No. D2025-1772
•30-06-2025
| ARBITRATION AND MEDIATION CENTER |
ADMINISTRATIVE PANEL DECISION
Carrefour SA v. felix zomoro, fastservice, Ryan D Washington, and Selma T
Bustillos, fastservices
Case No. D2025-1772
1. The Parties
The Complainant is Carrefour SA, France, represented by IP Twins, France.
The Respondents are felix zomoro, fastservice, United States of America (“United States”), Ryan D
Washington, United States, and Selma T Bustillos, fastservices, United States.
2. The Domain Names and Registrar
The disputed domain names <carrefourpassalerta.info>, <carrefourpass-alertas.info>,
<carrefourpassclientes.info>, <confirmecarrefourpass.info>, <firmacarrefourpass.info>,
<movilcarrefourpass.info>, <portal-carrefourpass.info>, and <portalcarrefourpass.info> are registered with
PDR Ltd. d/b/a PublicDomainRegistry.com (the “Registrar”).
3. Procedural History
The Complaint was filed with the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center (the “Center”) on May 2, 2025. On May 2, 2025, the Center transmitted by email to the Registrar a request for registrar verification in connection with the disputed domain names. On May 5, 2025, the Registrar transmitted by email to the Center its verification response, confirming that the Respondents are listed as the registrants and providing the contact details.
The Center verified that the Complaint satisfied the formal requirements of the Uniform Domain Name
Dispute Resolution Policy (the “Policy” or “UDRP”), the Rules for Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution
Policy (the “Rules”), and the WIPO Supplemental Rules for Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy
(the “Supplemental Rules”).
In accordance with the Rules, paragraphs 2 and 4, the Center formally notified the Respondents of the Complaint, and the proceedings commenced on May 20, 2025. In accordance with the Rules, paragraph 5, the due date for Response was June 9, 2025. The Respondents did not submit any response. Accordingly, the Center notified the Respondents’ default on June 12, 2025.
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The Center appointed Tobias Zuberbühler as the sole panelist in this matter on June 18, 2025. The Panel finds that it was properly constituted. The Panel has submitted the Statement of Acceptance and Declaration of Impartiality and Independence, as required by the Center to ensure compliance with the Rules, paragraph 7.
4. Factual Background
The Complainant is a retail chain operating more than 12,000 stores in more than 30 countries worldwide.
The Complainant owns various CARREFOUR PASS trademarks, including International Trademark No.
719166, registered on August 18, 1999.
The disputed domain names were registered between March 13 and April 1, 2025. At the time of the filing of the Complaint, none of the disputed domain names was associated with an active website, and they all resolved to error pages.
5. Parties’ Contentions
A. Complainant
The Complainant contends that it has satisfied each of the elements required under the Policy for a transfer of the disputed domain names.
B. Respondents
The Respondents have not submitted any response to the Complainant’s contentions.
6. Discussion and Findings
Consolidation: Multiple Respondents
The Complaint was filed in relation to nominally different domain name registrants. The Complainant alleges that the domain name registrants are the same entity or mere alter egos of each other, or under common control. The Complainant requests the consolidation of the disputes against the multiple disputed domain name registrants pursuant to paragraph 10(e) of the Rules.
The disputed domain name registrants did not comment on the Complainant’s request.
Paragraph 3(c) of the Rules states that a complaint may relate to more than one domain name, provided that the domain names are registered by the same domain name holder.
In addressing the Complainant’s request, the Panel will consider whether (i) the disputed domain names or
corresponding websites are subject to common control; and (ii) the consolidation would be fair and equitable
to all Parties. See WIPO Overview of WIPO Panel Views on Selected UDRP Questions, Third Edition
(“WIPO Overview 3.0”), section 4.11.2.
As regards common control, the Panel notes that the disputed domain names were registered with the same Registrar in a short time frame between March 13 and April 1, 2025; the registrants of all the disputed domain names provided a postal address in the United States in the registration details for the disputed domain names; similarly, the Respondents felix zomoro and Selma T Bustillos provided a similar registrant organization name (“fastservice” and “fastservices”) in the registration details; the disputed domain names share the same naming pattern incorporating the entirety of the Complainant’s CARREFOUR PASS mark
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with additional terms and have the same generic Top-Level Domain “.info”; and the disputed domain names
all resolved to error pages.
As regards fairness and equity, the Panel sees no reason why consolidation of the disputes would be unfair or inequitable to any Party.
Accordingly, the Panel decides to consolidate the disputes regarding the nominally different disputed domain name registrants (referred to below as “the Respondent”) in a single proceeding.
A. Identical or Confusingly Similar
It is well accepted that the first element functions primarily as a standing requirement. The standing (or threshold) test for confusing similarity involves a reasoned but relatively straightforward comparison between the Complainant’s trademark and the disputed domain name. WIPO Overview 3.0, section 1.7.
The Complainant has shown rights in respect of a trademark or service mark for the purposes of the Policy.
WIPO Overview 3.0, section 1.2.1.
The Complainant’s trademark CARREFOUR PASS is reproduced within the disputed domain names.
Accordingly, the disputed domain names are confusingly similar to the mark for the purposes of the Policy.
WIPO Overview 3.0, section 1.7.
Although the addition of other terms (here “alerta”, “-alertas”, “clientes”, “confirme”, “firma”, “movil”, “portal-” and “portal”) may bear on assessment of the second and third elements, the Panel finds the addition of such terms does not prevent a finding of confusing similarity between the disputed domain names and the mark for the purposes of the Policy. WIPO Overview 3.0, section 1.8.
The Panel finds that the first element of the Policy has been established.
B. Rights or Legitimate Interests
Paragraph 4(c) of the Policy provides a list of circumstances in which the Respondent may demonstrate rights or legitimate interests in a disputed domain name.
Although the overall burden of proof in UDRP proceedings is on the complainant, panels have recognized that proving a respondent lacks rights or legitimate interests in a domain name may result in the difficult task of “proving a negative”, requiring information that is often primarily within the knowledge or control of the respondent. As such, where a complainant makes out a prima facie case that the respondent lacks rights or legitimate interests, the burden of production on this element shifts to the respondent to come forward with relevant evidence demonstrating rights or legitimate interests in the domain name (although the burden of proof always remains on the complainant). If the respondent fails to come forward with such relevant evidence, the complainant is deemed to have satisfied the second element. WIPO Overview 3.0, section 2.1.
Having reviewed the available record, the Panel finds that the Complainant has established a prima facie case that the Respondent lacks rights or legitimate interests in the disputed domain names. The Respondent has not rebutted the Complainant’s prima facie showing and has not come forward with any relevant evidence demonstrating rights or legitimate interests in the disputed domain names such as those enumerated in the Policy or otherwise. The Panel finds that the composition of the disputed domain names incorporating the Complainant’s trademark, coupled with inactive websites, does not amount to a bona fide offering of goods or services.
The Panel finds that the second element of the Policy has been established.
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C. Registered and Used in Bad Faith
The Panel notes that, for the purposes of paragraph 4(a)(iii) of the Policy, paragraph 4(b) of the Policy establishes circumstances, in particular but without limitation, that, if found by the Panel to be present, shall be evidence of the registration and use of a domain name in bad faith.
Under the circumstances of this case, it can be inferred that the Respondent was aware of the Complainant’s trademark when registering the disputed domain names.
The non-use of a domain name would not prevent a finding of bad faith under the doctrine of passive holding
(WIPO Overview 3.0, section 3.3).
While panelists will look at the totality of the circumstances in each case, factors that have been considered relevant in applying the passive holding doctrine include: (i) the degree of distinctiveness or reputation of the complainant’s mark, (ii) the failure of the respondent to submit a response or to provide any evidence of actual or contemplated good-faith use, (iii) the respondent’s concealing its identity or use of false contact details (noted to be in breach of its registration agreement), and (iv) the implausibility of any good faith use to which the domain name may be put.
An application of these factors to the present case supports the finding of bad faith.
The Panel finds that the Complainant has also established the third element of the Policy.
7. Decision
For the foregoing reasons, in accordance with paragraphs 4(i) of the Policy and 15 of the Rules, the Panel
orders that the disputed domain names <carrefourpassalerta.info>, <carrefourpass-alertas.info>,
<carrefourpassclientes.info>, <confirmecarrefourpass.info>, <firmacarrefourpass.info>,
<movilcarrefourpass.info>, <portal-carrefourpass.info>, and <portalcarrefourpass.info> be transferred to the
Complainant.
/Tobias Zuberbühler/
Tobias Zuberbühler
Sole Panelist
Date: June 30, 2025
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