Back to the Future is among the most iconic movies of all time. Its unique characters, plot and the car attracted everyone’s imagination. Did you know that car belonged to a company named DeLorean?
DeLorean Motor Company is the owner of the popular car featured in the company. The original company was founded in 1975, and the motor company has been using the DELOREAN mark since 1995. It had registered also trademark over the same in November 2009.
However, the domain name DeLoreanParts.com was registered by another party in December 1999. The domain name was used to display PPC links that were directed to competitors as well as non-competitors of the DeLorean Motor Company. The company thus filed a UDRP complaint.
The respondent argued that both the parties had collaborated earlier. In 1989, the respondent partnered with DeLorean’s first car dealership in America. The partnership for electronic control systems of the car and the disputed domain name was registered for that. The respondent claims that it had been using and displaying the domain name for a long time, with CEO of the complainant having the knowledge as well.
The panel found that although the claims by the respondent might be true about the partnership between the two parties. However, it still doesn’t give the respondent any right to registered a trademark of another party without prior permission.
The panel transferred the domain name.
You can read the case in full detail here.
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