The World Intellectual Property Organization, which operates the dominant domain name – trademark dispute resolution service, has ripped off someone else's trademark with a domain name registration. The discovery was made by US patent and trademark lawyer John Berryhill, known for defending domain name registrants against UDRP claims.
Here is the trademark registration:
Word Mark PATENTSCAPE
Goods and Services IC 042. US 100 101. G & S: Legal services.
FIRST USE: 20050315. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20050315
Registration Number 3085226
Registration Date April 25, 2006
Owner (REGISTRANT) Needle & Rosenberg, P.C. Professional Corporation
And here is the domain name WIPO registered, three years after first use in commerce and two years after the other party's trademark registration:
Domain Name: PATENTSCAPE.INFO
Created On: 15-Apr-2008 13:22:10 UTC
Registrant Name: International Computing Centre (WIPO)
Registrant Organization: UNICC Call Centre
Registrant Street1: Palais des Nations
Registrant City: Geneva 10
Registrant Postal Code:1211
Registrant Country:CH
That's right, folks, WIPO ripped off someone else's trademark. No problem, they can always start a UDRP proceeding…
I guess people weren't expecting that but this shows us that even those who say are “legit” may fall to the dark side.
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