Monster Energy Company v Maria Malakhova

WIPO Case No. D2025-2602

ARBITRATION
AND
MEDIATION CENTER

ADMINISTRATIVE PANEL DECISION

Monster Energy Company v. Maria Malakhova

Case No. D2025-2602

1. The Parties

The Complainant is Monster Energy Company, United States of America, represented by Knobbe, Martens,

Olson & Bear, LLP, United States of America.

The Respondent is Maria Malakhova, United Kingdom.

2. The Domain Name and Registrar

The disputed domain name <monsterenergy.today> is registered with GoDaddy.com, LLC (the “Registrar”).

3. Procedural History

The Complaint was filed with the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center (the “Center”) on July 2, 2025. On
July 3, 2025, the Center transmitted by email to the Registrar a request for registrar verification in connection
with the disputed domain name. On July 3, 2025, the Registrar transmitted by email to the Center its
verification response disclosing registrant and contact information for the disputed domain name which
differed from the named Respondent (Domains by Proxy, LLC) and contact information in the Complaint.
The Center sent an email communication to the Complainant on July 4, 2025, providing the registrant and
contact information disclosed by the Registrar, and inviting the Complainant to submit an amendment to the

Complaint. The Complainant filed an amended Complaint on July 8, 2025.

The Center verified that the Complaint together with the amended 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 Respondent of the Complaint, and the proceedings commenced on July 9, 2025. In accordance with the Rules, paragraph 5, the due date for Response was July 29, 2025. The Respondent did not submit any response. Accordingly, the Center notified the Respondent’s default on July 30, 2025.

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The Center appointed Andrea Mondini as the sole panelist in this matter on July 31, 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, Monster Energy Company, is an internationally operating Delaware corporation, headquartered in California, United States of America. Its business activities include the design, creation, development, marketing, and sale of beverages. In addition to beverages, the Complainant uses its MONSTER ENERGY mark in connection with clothing, beverageware, automotive products, sports and fitness equipment, and various other products and services. The Complainant introduced its MONTER ENERGY drink in 2002. As of 2025, the Complainant’s sales have exceeded 7.7 billion cans annually in over 100 countries.

The Complainant owns numerous trademark registrations in several jurisdictions, including:

TRADEMARK	JURISDICTION	REGISTRATION	REGISTRATION	INTERNATIONAL
NUMBER	DATE	CLASS

MONSTER ENERGY United States of 3044315 January 17, 2006 5

America

United States of	3908601	January 18, 2011	25
America

MONSTER ENERGY United Kingdom UK00002499788 February 18, 2011 9, 16, 18, and 25

United Kingdom UK00910892743 October 12, 2012 6, 14, and 20

MONSTER ENERGY European Union 004823563 January 10, 2007 5, and 32

European Union 010892743 October 12, 2012 6, 14, and 20

The Complainant holds several domain names containing the term MONSTER ENERGY, among them

<monsterenergy.com>, which hosts its main website.

Because the Respondent did not file a Response, not much is known about the Respondent.

The disputed domain name was registered on June 9, 2025.

The record shows that the disputed domain name resolves to an inactive page with no visible content.

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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 name.

Notably, the Complainant contends as follows:

The disputed domain name is confusingly similar to the MONSTER ENERGY trademark in which the
Complainant has rights, because this trademark is entirely incorporated in the disputed domain name. The
“today” Top-Level Domain (“TLD”) adds no distinguishing feature to the disputed domain name.

The Respondent has no rights or legitimate interests in respect of the disputed domain name. The by the disputed domain name, and there is no evidence of the Respondent’s use, or demonstrable preparation to use of the disputed domain name in connection with a bona fide offering of goods or services.
trademark MONSTER ENERGY has been extensively used to identify the Complainant and its products.

The disputed domain name was registered in bad faith because it is obvious that the Respondent had knowledge of both the Complainant and its well-known trademark MONSTER ENERGY at the time it registered the disputed domain name.

The Respondent is using the disputed domain name in bad faith, by passively holding it.

B. Respondent

The Respondent did not reply to the Complainant’s contentions.

6. Discussion and Findings

According to paragraph 4(a) of the Policy, in order to succeed, a complainant must establish each of the following elements:

(i) the disputed domain name is identical or confusingly similar to the trademark or service mark in which the
complainant has rights;
(ii) the respondent has no rights or legitimate interests in respect of the disputed domain name; and

(iii) the disputed domain name has been registered and is being used in bad faith.

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 of WIPO Panel Views on Selected UDRP Questions, Third Edition, (“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 Panel finds the entirety of the mark MONSTER ENERGY is identically reproduced within the disputed domain name.

The addition of the generic Top-Level Domain (“gTLD”) “.today” in the disputed domain name is a standard registration requirement and as such may be disregarded under the confusing similarity test under the Policy, paragraph 4(a)(i). WIPO Overview 3.0, section 1.11.1.

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The Panel finds 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 for a complainant to prove that 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 the Complainant has established a prima facie case that the Respondent lacks rights or legitimate interests in the disputed domain name.

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 name such as those enumerated in the Policy or otherwise.

Furthermore, the disputed domain name itself suggests a connection or affiliation between the Complainant and the Respondent which in fact does not exist.

Based on the available record, the Panel finds the second element of the Policy has been established.

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.

Paragraph 4(b) of the Policy sets out a list of non-exhaustive circumstances that may indicate that a domain name was registered and used in bad faith, but other circumstances may be relevant in assessing whether a respondent’s registration and use of a domain name is in bad faith. WIPO Overview 3.0, section 3.2.1.

In the view of the Panel, noting that that the Complainant’s trademark predates the registration of the disputed domain name and considering that the Complainant’s trademark is well-known, it is inconceivable that the Respondent could have registered the disputed domain name without knowledge of the Complainant’s well-known trademark. In the circumstances of this case, this is evidence of registration in bad faith.

The disputed domain name currently resolves to an inactive page with no visible content.

Panels have found that the non-use of a domain name (including a blank or “coming soon” page) would not prevent a finding of bad faith under the doctrine of passive holding. Having reviewed the available record, the Panel finds the non-use of the disputed domain name does not prevent a finding of bad faith in the circumstances of this proceeding. Although 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

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(iv) the implausibility of any good faith use to which the domain name may be put.. WIPO Overview 3.0, section 3.3. Having reviewed the available record, the Panel notes the distinctiveness and reputation of the	concealing its identity or use of false contact details (noted to be in breach of its registration agreement), and to submit a response or to provide any evidence of actual or contemplated good-faith use. Therefore, the Panel finds that in the circumstances of this case the passive holding of the disputed domain name does not prevent a finding of bad faith under the Policy.
Based on the available record, the Panel finds that the Complainant has established the third element of the Policy with regard to the disputed domain name.
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 name <monsterenergy.today> be transferred to the Complainant.
/Andrea Mondini/ Andrea Mondini Sole Panelist Date: August 14, 2025