After filing UDRP, owner of domain hands it over.
Last month I wrote about a UDRP arbitration request by The University of Texas, which was seeking to get the domain name UniversityofTexas.com. After The University of Texas’ Board of Regents filed the UDRP with National Arbitration Forum, owner Global Access decided to hand it over.
According to the decision, “Respondent has no desire to retain the domain name or to interfere with Complainant’s asserted mark. Respondent therefore desires to transfer the domain name to Complainant, and requests that this be done without further proceedings.”
The University of Texas asserted that the domain owner ignored its earlier requests for transfer, which is why it took the step of filing for arbitration. For its part, Global Access said it obtained the domain name in a portfolio purchase pursuant to a written agreement by which the seller represented and warranted that the domains were not in violation of the intellectual property rights of any third party. Such an agreement doesn’t protect a buyer from liability, but could allow them to collect from the original seller.
Although this was a clear cut case, it will be interesting to see if another Texas university, Baylor, prevails in its quest for Baylor.com.
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