Walgreen Co. v David Czinczenheim

WIPO Case No. D2023-3769

ARBITRATION

AND

MEDIATION CENTER

ADMINISTRATIVE PANEL DECISION

Walgreen Co. v. David Czinczenheim

Case No. D2023-3769

1. The Parties

The Complainant is Walgreen Co., United States of America (“United States” or “US”), represented by

Winterfeldt IP Group PLLC, United States.

The Respondent is David Czinczenheim, France.

2. The Domain Name and Registrar

The disputed domain name <walgreendrug.com> (the “Domain Name”) is registered with Eagle Eye

Domains, LLC (the “Registrar”).

3. Procedural History

The Complaint was filed with the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center (the “Center”) on registrar verification in connection with the Domain Name. On September 12, 2023, the Registrar transmitted by email to the Center its verification response confirming that the Respondent is listed as the registrant 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 Respondent of the Complaint, and the proceedings commenced on September 14, 2023. In accordance with the Rules, paragraph 5, the due date for Response was October 4, 2023. The Respondent did not submit any response. Accordingly, the Center notified the Respondent’s default on October 5, 2023.

The Center appointed Mathias Lilleengen as the sole panelist in this matter on October 9, 2023. The Panel finds that it was properly constituted. The Panel has submitted the Statement of Acceptance and Declaration of Impartiality and Independence, as required to ensure compliance with the Rules, paragraph 7.

page 2

4. Factual Background

The Complainant operates a large retail pharmacy chain with approximately 9,000 retail stores across the United States, including in 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. The Complainant employs more than 240,000 people, including over 85,000 healthcare service providers such as

pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, nurse practitioners and other health-related professionals. The name registered in 1995.

The Complainant owns numerous trademark registrations for the WALGREENS mark and other WALGREENS-formative marks, such as US trademark number 1057249 (registered on January 25, 1977) and International registration number 1100522 (registered on August 19, 2011). The Complainant has promoted its trademarks globally.

The Domain Name was registered on September 19, 2022. At the time of drafting the Decision, the Domain
Name resolved to parking webpage with pay-per-click links. The Domain Name is offered for sale from the
webpage. The Domain Name has previously resolved to a webpage offering the Domain Name for sale for

EUR 600.

5. Parties’ Contentions

A. Complainant

The Complainant provides evidence of trademark registrations and argues that the only difference between the Complainant’s trademark and the Domain Name is the omission of the “s” in the trademark and the addition of the term “drug” (a reference to pharmaceuticals). The addition of “drug” in the Domain Name only enhances the confusing similarity.

The Complainant argues that the Respondent has no rights or legitimate interests in respect of the Domain Name. The Respondent is not authorized, licensed, or permitted to register or use a domain name incorporating the Complainant’s trademark. The Respondent’s use of the Domain Name is not bona fide commercial or fair or legitimate noncommercial use. The Respondent’s use of the Domain Name does not confer rights or legitimate interests on the Respondent.

The Complainant argues that the Respondent has registered and is using the Domain Name in bad faith. The Respondent has used the Domain Name to offer the Domain Name for sale for an excessive and unreasonable amount. This use of the Domain Name unfairly trades on the goodwill. The Respondent has engaged in a pattern of targeting multiple domain names reflecting the Complainant’s WALGREENS Marks and various third-party trademarks. The Respondent has also intentionally attracted Internet users for commercial gain by directing users to the webpage offering the Domain Name for sale, and later the webpage with pay-per-click links.

B. Respondent

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

6. Discussion and Findings

A. Identical or Confusingly Similar

The test for confusing similarity involves a reasoned but relatively straightforward comparison between the Complainant’s trademark and the Domain Name. See WIPO Overview of WIPO Panel Views on Selected UDRP Questions, Third Edition, (“WIPO Overview 3.0”), section 1.7.

page 3

The Complainant has established that it has rights in the trademark WALGREENS. The Domain Name
differs from the trademark in the omission of the letter “s” and the addition of “drug”. Such differences do not
prevent a finding of confusing similarity. See WIPO Overview 3.0, section 1.8. For the purpose of assessing
the confusing similarity under paragraph 4(a)(i) of the Policy, the Panel may ignore the gTLD; see

WIPO Overview 3.0, section 1.11.1.

Based on the available record, 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. While 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 often impossible 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. If the respondent fails to come forward with
such relevant evidence, the complainant is deemed to have satisfied the second element. See

WIPO Overview 3.0, section 2.1.

Having reviewed the record, the Panel finds the Complainant has established a prima facie case that the
Respondent lacks rights or legitimate interests in the 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 Domain Name. Based on the record, the Respondent is not affiliated or
related to the Complainant. There is no evidence that the Respondent has registered the Domain Name as
a trademark or acquired trademark rights. There is no evidence of the Respondent’s use of, or demonstrable
preparations to use, the Domain Name in connection with a bona fide offering of goods or

services. The Respondent’s use of the Domain Name is rather evidence of bad faith, see below.

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.

It is clear that the Respondent is intentionally creating a likelihood of confusion with the Complainant’s trademark as to the source, sponsorship, affiliation, or endorsement. The Respondent has offered the Domain Name for sale for valuable consideration in excess of your documented out-of-pocket costs directly

related to the Domain Name. The Domain Name has also resolved to a parking page with pay-per-click links. Finally, the Respondent has engaged in a bad faith pattern of preventing trademark owners from reflecting their marks in corresponding domain names.

For the reasons set out above, the Panel concludes that the Domain Name was registered and is being used in bad faith, within the meaning of paragraph 4(a)(iii) of the Policy.

The third element of the Policy has been established.

page 4

7. Decision

For the foregoing reasons, in accordance with paragraphs 4(i) of the Policy and 15 of the Rules, the Panel orders the Domain Name, <walgreendrug.com>, transferred to the Complainant.

/Mathias Lilleengen/
Mathias Lilleengen
Sole Panelist
Date: October 17, 2023