Starbucks Corporation v hoang van ha, Tran Quoc Trung, and; Nong Duc Manh

WIPO Case No. D2023-5056

ARBITRATION

AND

MEDIATION CENTER

ADMINISTRATIVE PANEL DECISION

Starbucks Corporation v. hoang van ha, Tran Quoc Trung, and
Nong Duc Manh

Case No. D2023-5056

1. The Parties

The Complainant is Starbucks Corporation, United States of America (“United States”), represented by Focal

PLLC, United States.

The Respondents are hoang van ha, Tran Quoc Trung, and Nong Duc Manh, all f rom Viet Nam.

2. The Domain Names and Registrar

The disputed domain names <starbucksphilippines.asia>, <starbucks-philippines.com>, and
<starbucksphil.shop> are registered with GMO Internet, Inc. d/b/a Discount-Domain.com and Onamae.com

(the “Registrar”).

3. Procedural History

The Complaint was f iled with the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center (the “Center”) on December 5, 2023. On December 5, 2023, the Center transmitted by email to the Registrar a request for registrar verif ication in connection with the disputed domain names. On December 6, 2023, and December 7, 2023, the Registrar transmitted by email to the Center its verification response, disclosing registrant and contact information for the disputed domain names which dif fered f rom the named Respondent (GMO-Z.com RUNSYSTEM, GMO INTERNET GROUP, INC. d/b/a ONAMAE.COM, and GMO INTERNET GROUP, INC.) and contact information in the Complaint.

The Center sent an email communication to the Complainant on December 7, 2023 with the registrant and contact information of nominally multiple underlying registrants revealed by the Registrar, requesting the Complainant to either file separate complaint(s) for the disputed domain names associated with dif ferent underlying registrants or alternatively, demonstrate that the underlying registrants are in fact the same entity. The Complainant f iled an amended Complaint on December 13, 2023.

The Center verif ied that the Complaint together with the amended Complaint satisf ied 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”).

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In accordance with the Rules, paragraphs 2 and 4, the Center formally notif ied the Respondents of the Complaint, and the proceedings commenced on December 22, 2023. In accordance with the Rules, paragraph 5, the due date for Response was January 11, 2024. The Respondents did not submit any response. Accordingly, the Center notif ied the Respondents’ default on January 16, 2024.

The Center appointed Edoardo Fano as the sole panelist in this matter on January 22, 2024. The Panel f inds 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.

The Panel has not received any requests f rom the Complainant or the Respondents regarding further submissions, waivers or extensions of deadlines, and the Panel has not found it necessary to request any further information f rom the Parties.

Having reviewed the communication records in the case file provided by the Center, the Panel f inds that the Center has discharged its responsibility under the Rules, paragraph 2(a), “to employ reasonably available means calculated to achieve actual notice to [the] Respondent”. Therefore, the Panel shall issue its Decision based upon the Complaint, the Policy, the Rules and the Supplemental Rules and without the benef it of a response f rom the Respondents.

The language of the proceeding is English, being the language of the Registration Agreements, as per paragraph 11(a) of the Rules.

4. Factual Background

The Complainant is Starbucks Corporation, a United States company operating as one of the world’s largest coffeehouse chain. The Complainant owns several trademark registrations for STARBUCKS, among which the following ones:

- United States Trademark Registration No. 1,372,630 for STARBUCKS, registered on November 26,
1985;

- United States Trademark Registration No. 1,452,359 for STARBUCKS, registered on August 11, 1987;

- European Union Trade Mark Registration No. 000175539 for STARBUCKS, registered on March 16,
2000.

The Complainant also operates on the Internet, its main website being “

The Complainant provided evidence in support of the above.

According to the WhoIs records, the disputed domain names were registered on the following dates: <starbucksphilippines.asia> on November 7, 2023, <starbucks-philippines.com> on September 15, 2023, and <starbucksphil.shop> on August 14, 2023. When the Complaint was filed, the disputed domain names <starbucks-philippines.com> and <starbucksphil.shop> redirected to websites in which the Complainant’s trademark and logo were reproduced, personal information was solicited and supposedly counterfeited merchandise was offered for sale, while the disputed domain name <starbucksphilippines.asia> directed to an inactive website.

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.

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Notably, the Complainant states that the disputed domain names are confusingly similar to its trademark
STARBUCKS.

Further to section 6.1 below, the Complainant argues that the disputed domain names are under common control and thus addresses the Respondents in the singular. The Complainant asserts that the Respondent has no rights or legitimate interests in respect of the disputed domain names since it has not been authorized by the Complainant to register the disputed domain names or to use its trademark within the disputed domain names, it is not commonly known by the disputed domain names and it is not making either a bona f ide offering of goods or services or a legitimate noncommercial or fair use of the disputed domain names. Two of the disputed domain names were used by the Respondent to conduct a possible fraudulent phishing activity, impersonating the Complainant, soliciting personal information and of fering for sale counterfeit merchandise.

The Complainant submits that the Respondent has registered the disputed domain names in bad faith, since the Complainant’s trademark STARBUCKS is well-known. Therefore, the Respondent targeted the Complainant’s trademark at the time of registration of the disputed domain names and the Complainant contends that the use of the disputed domain names to attract, for commercial gain, Internet users to the Respondent’s websites, creating a likelihood of confusion with the Complainant’s trademark as to the source, sponsorship, affiliation, or endorsement of the Respondent’s websites, qualifies as bad faith registration and use.

B. Respondents

The Respondents have made no reply to the Complainant’s contentions and are in default. In reference to paragraphs 5(f) and 14 of the Rules, no exceptional circumstances explaining the default have been put forward or are apparent f rom the record.

A respondent is not obliged to participate in a proceeding under the Policy, but if it fails to do so, reasonable facts asserted by a complainant may be taken as true, and appropriate inferences, in accordance with paragraph 14(b) of the Rules, may be drawn. WIPO Overview of WIPO Panel Views on Selected UDRP Questions, Third Edition (“WIPO Overview 3.0”) section 4.3.

6. Discussion and Findings
6.1 Procedural issue - Consolidation of Multiple Respondents

The amended Complaint was f iled in relation to nominally dif ferent 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 Complaint 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. WIPO Overview 3.0, section 4.11.2.

As regards common control, the Panel notes that all the disputed domain names follow a very similar naming
pattern, they have been registered in the same short period of time, namely between August 14 and
November 7, 2023, and they all share the same Registrar and server.

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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.

6.2 Substantive Issues

Paragraph 4(a) of the Policy lists three elements, which the Complainant must satisfy in order to succeed:

(i)        the disputed domain names are identical or confusingly similar to a trademark or service mark in which the Complainant has rights; and

(ii)       the Respondent has no rights or legitimate interests in respect of the disputed domain names; and

(iii)      the disputed domain names have been registered and are being used in bad faith.

A. Identical or Confusingly Similar

It is well accepted that the f irst 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 names. WIPO Overview 3.0, section 1.7.

Based on the available record, the Panel finds 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 f inds the entirety of the mark STARBUCKS 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.

While the addition of other terms, here “philippines”, “phil”, and a hyphen, may bear on assessment of the second and third elements, the Panel finds the addition of such terms and element 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.

It is also well accepted that a generic Top-Level Domain (“gTLD”), in this case “.asia”, “.com”, and “shop” is typically ignored when assessing the similarity between a trademark and a domain name. WIPO Overview 3.0, section 1.11.1.

The Panel f inds the f irst 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.

While the overall burden of proof in UDRP proceedings is on the complainant, UDRP panels have recognized that proving a respondent lacks rights or legitimate interests in a domain name may result in the of ten impossible task of “proving a negative”, requiring information that is of ten 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 shif ts to the respondent to come forward with relevant evidence demonstrating rights or legitimate interests in the domain names. If the respondent fails to come forward with such relevant evidence, the complainant is deemed to have satisf ied the second element. WIPO Overview 3.0, section 2.1.

Having reviewed the present record, the Panel finds 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

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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.

Should the Complainant’s products sold on the websites to which the disputed domain names <starbucks- philippines.com> and <starbucksphil.shop> were directing Internet users be genuine products, legitimately acquired by the Respondent, the question that would arise is whether the Respondent would therefore have any rights or legitimate interests in using the above disputed domain names that are confusingly similar to the Complainant’s trademark in circumstances that are likely to give rise to confusion.

According to the current state of UDRP decisions in relation to the issue of resellers as summarized in the
WIPO Overview 3.0, section 2.8.1:

“[...] resellers, distributors, or service providers using a domain name containing the complainant’s trademark to undertake sales or repairs related to the complainant’s goods or services may be making a bona f ide of fering of goods and services and thus have a legitimate interest in such domain name. Outlined in the ‘Oki Data test’, the following cumulative requirements will be applied in the specific conditions of a UDRP case:

(i) the respondent must actually be of fering the goods or services at issue;

(ii) the respondent must use the site to sell only the trademarked goods or services;

(iii) the site must accurately and prominently disclose the registrant’s relationship with the trademark holder;

and

(iv) the respondent must not try to ‘corner the market’ in domain names that ref lect the trademark.”

This summary is based on the UDRP decision in Oki Data Americas, Inc. v. ASD, Inc., WIPO Case No.
D2001-0903.

Even if the products sold by the Respondent were the Complainant’s genuine products, f rom inspection of the Respondent’s websites, the Panel finds that the use of the Complainant’s trademark and logo on the homepages, and the lack of any prominent and accurate disclaimer disclosing the lack of relationship with the Complainant would falsely suggest to Internet users, under the Oki Data principles (see above), that the websites to which the disputed domain names <starbucks-philippines.com> and <starbucksphil.shop> resolved are owned by the Complainant or at least somehow af f iliated to the Complainant.

The Panel therefore concludes that the disputed domain names are not being used in connection with a bona f ide of fering of goods or services.

Moreover, the Panel finds that the composition of all the disputed domain names carries a risk of implied af f iliation as it ef fectively impersonates or suggests sponsorship or endorsement by the Complainant. WIPO Overview 3.0, section 2.5.1.

The Panel f inds 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.

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In the present case, regarding the registration in bad faith of the disputed domain names, the reputation of the Complainant’s trademark STARBUCKS as the brand of one of the world’s largest cof feehouse chain is clearly established, and the Panel finds that the Respondent likely knew of the Complainant and deliberately registered the confusingly similar disputed domain names, especially because the disputed domain names <starbucks-philippines.com> and <starbucksphil.shop> redirected to websites in which the Complainant’s trademark and logo were reproduced, personal information was solicited and supposedly counterfeited merchandise bearing the Complainant’s trademark was of fered for sale.

The Panel further notes that the disputed domain names <starbucks-philippines.com> and a likelihood of confusion with the Complainant’s trademark as to the disputed domain names’ source, sponsorship, af f iliation or endorsement. WIPO Overview 3.0, sections 3.1.4 and 3.4.

<starbucksphil.shop> were also used in bad faith, since the Respondent was trying to impersonate the

As regards the use of the disputed domain name <starbucksphilippines.asia>, directing to an inactive website, 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 record, the Panel f inds the non-use of the disputed domain name does not prevent a f inding of bad faith in the circumstances of this proceeding. While panels 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. WIPO Overview 3.0, section 3.3. Having reviewed the record, the Panel notes the distinctiveness and reputation of the Complainant’s

trademark, the composition of the disputed domain name, and the failure of the Respondent to submit a formal response, and finds that in the circumstances of this case the passive holding of the disputed domain name does not prevent a f inding of bad faith under the Policy.

Furthermore, the Panel considers that the nature of the inherently misleading disputed domain names, which include the Complainant’s trademark in its entirety with the mere addition of the terms “philippines”, “phil”, and of a hyphen, further supports a f inding of bad faith. WIPO Overview 3.0, section 3.2.1.

Having reviewed the record, the Panel finds the Respondent’s registration and use of the disputed domain names constitutes bad faith under the Policy.

The Panel f inds that the Complainant has 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 <starbucksphilippines.asia>, <starbucks-philippines.com>, and <starbucksphil.shop> be transferred to the Complainant.

/Edoardo Fano/
Edoardo Fano
Sole Panelist
Date: February 5, 2024