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WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center

 

ADMINISTRATIVE PANEL DECISION

Pfizer Inc v. Mark Catroppa

Case No. D2002-1100

 

1. The Parties

The Complainant is Pfizer Inc, 235 East 42nd Street, New York, NY 10017-5755, United States of America, of United States of America, represented by Hale and Dorr, LLP of United States of America.

The Respondent is Mark Catroppa, vmo, P.O. Box 188, Sumas, Washington 98295, United States of America, of United States of America.

 

2. The Domain Name and Registrar

The disputed domain name <lipator.com> is registered with Go Daddy Software.

 

3. Procedural History

The Complaint was filed with the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center (the "Center") on December 2, 2002. On December 4, 2002, the Center transmitted by email to Go Daddy Software a request for registrar verification in connection with the domain name at issue. On December 5, 2002, Go Daddy Software transmitted by email to the Center its verification response confirming that the Respondent is listed as the registrant and providing the contact details for the administrative, billing, and technical contact. The Center verified that the Complaint satisfied the formal requirements of the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (the "Policy"), 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(a) and 4(a), the Center formally notified the Respondent of the Complaint, and the proceedings commenced on December 6, 2002. In accordance with the Rules, paragraph 5(a), the due date for Response was December 26, 2002. The Respondent did not submit any response. Accordingly, the Center notified the Respondent’s default on January 3, 2003.

The Center appointed David Sandborg as the sole panelist in this matter on January 20, 2003. The Panel finds 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.

 

4. Factual Background

Complainant Pfizer Inc. ("Pfizer") discovers, develops, manufactures and markets prescription medicines for humans and animals, including the human pharmaceutical atorvastatin calcium ("LIPITOR").

Pfizer’s LIPITOR® brand therapy for cholesterol-lowering was approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (the "FDA") on December 17, 1996, and the mark has been used on or in connection with the LIPITOR® atorvastatin calcium product in the U.S. since January 28, 1997. Pfizer’s wholly owned subsidiary, Pfizer Ireland Pharmaceuticals, is the record owner of United States Trademark Registration No. 2,074,561 for the trademark LIPITOR.

The LIPITOR trademark registration was issued on June 24, 1997, on the Principal Register maintained by the United States Patent and Trademark Office to Warner-Lambert Company which subsequently assigned the mark and registration thereof to Warner-Lambert Export Limited which became Pfizer Ireland Pharmaceuticals by change of name. The LIPITOR trademark is also registered in many other countries..

 

5. Parties’ Contentions

A. Complainant

The Complainant’s contentions are summarized as follows:

Domain name is Identical or Confusingly Similar

The Respondent registered the domain name <lipator.com> without authorization seeking to capitalize on the notoriety of the Complainant’s trademark and tradename.

<lipator.com> (i) is virtually identical to the LIPITOR trademark, the only difference being that the letter "i" in the LIPITOR mark has been replaced by the letter "a", a practice which has become known as "typo-squatting" (ii) consists predominantly of the term "Lipator," the pronunciation of which is virtually indistinguishable from the pronunciation of the Complainant’s LIPITOR mark; (iii) was registered in order to confuse users who may attempt to locate the Complainant’s website by spelling its name phonetically; (iv) is confusingly similar to Pfizer's own website "lipitor.com", and (v) is so clearly similar to the Complainant’s LIPITOR and tradename that it is likely to cause confusion among Pfizer’s customers.

Respondent Has No Rights Or Legitimate Interest In <lipator.com>

Complainant contends that the Respondent has no legitimate use for a website with the domain name <lipator.com>. The Complainant’s adoption and use of the LIPITOR mark precedes the Respondent’s registration, on or about March 30, 2002, of the disputed domain name. The Respondent had knowledge of the Complainant’s LIPITOR mark prior to the registration of the disputed domain name.

The Respondent is not and never has been a representative of the Complainant or licensed to use the LIPITOR mark.

Web-Forwarding Does Not Constitute A Bona Fide Offering Of Services

The Respondent does not offer goods or services through the domain name <lipator.com>. As of November 22, 2002, the Respondent used <lipator.com> solely as a link address to redirect consumers to the on-line pharmacy website <canadapharmacy.com>. The <canadapharmacy.com> website markets and purports to sell LIPITOR® as well as various other drugs such as Claritin®, Allegra®, and Nizoral®, which are manufactured by competing pharmaceutical companies. The Respondent’s use of the term "Lipator" to redirect traffic to <canadapharmacy.com> is likely for a fee.

The Complainant further contends that the Respondent intentionally chose the term "Lipator" because it is confusingly similar to the LIPITOR mark.. Specifically, the Respondent’s use of the <lipator.com> domain name intentionally and misleadingly redirects or diverts Internet users away from the Complainant’s <lipitor.com> website, which offers useful information about the LIPITOR drug, in order to generate commercial gain for the Respondent. Complainant asserts that this is not a legitimate use.

"Typosquatting" Indicates Lack of A Legitimate Interest

Complainant alleges upon information and belief, that the Respondent has purposefully selected the term "Lipator," which contains a common "typo" to the Complainant’s LIPITOR mark, to divert consumers, who are attempting to locate the Complainant’s site, to the website of <canadapharmacy.com>. The term "Lipator" has an almost identical pronunciation as the Complainant’s LIPITOR mark. Upon information and belief, Complainant contends that the Respondent intends to profit from the ensuing confusion. As a result of the Respondent’s actions, the Complainant has been and will continue to be deprived of visits by Internet users. These tactics, which take advantage of mistakes consumers may make when attempting to locate the official, Pfizer-sponsored website, do not constitute a legitimate use of the disputed domain name.

Additionally, it is alleged, the Respondent’s likely intent is to use the "typo" to the LIPITOR mark to confuse customers as to Pfizer’s sponsorship of the <canadapharmacy.com> website when consumers, believing it to be at a Pfizer-sponsored website, are instead funneled to a website where not only Pfizer’s products, but those of various competitors, are marketed and purportedly sold. Such unauthorized use of the LIPITOR mark to enable the purported sale of the Complainant’s products on a site linked to the disputed domain name, which also sells and markets products of competitors, does not constitute a legitimate use of the domain name.

Upon information and belief, Complainant contends that the Respondent has intentionally registered the domain name for the purpose of making illegitimate or unfair use of the Complainant’s LIPITOR mark. There is no evidence that the Respondent is making a legitimate non-commercial or fair use of the disputed domain name without intent for commercial gain. The Respondent is instead misleading and diverting Pfizer’s customers to the <canadapharmacy.com> website, thereby creating the impression that <lipator.com> and/or <canadapharmacy.com> are in some way associated with, or sponsored by, Pfizer. Further, upon information and belief, the term "Lipator" is not used by the Respondent to identify either its business or the business of the on-line pharmacy website <canadapharmacy.com>, to which

<lipator.com> Was Registered And Is Being Used In Bad Faith

Bad Faith Registration

The Respondent, in common with the public, is well aware of the goodwill and reputation represented and symbolized by the LIPITOR trademark. It is therefore inconceivable that the Respondent was not aware that the LIPITOR mark, as used by the Complainant, is recognized and relied upon by medical professionals and the public throughout the world as the sole means to identify and distinguish the Complainant and the Complainant’s goods and services from the goods and services of others. Pfizer currently has registered and utilizes the Internet site "lipitor.com". The Respondent, recognizing the value of the Internet to the Complainant in augmenting its ability to communicate with customers and potential customers, registered the domain name <lipator.com> with the bad faith intent to profit from such registration, and blatantly used the term: "Lipator" which looks and sounds virtually identical to the Complainant’s LIPITOR trademark, to do so.

The Complainant further contends that this bad faith registration is exemplified by the following:

(i) the Complainant’s mark is a mark that has a strong reputation around the world;

(ii) although the Respondent was aware of the LIPITOR mark, the Respondent deliberately registered a domain name with only a minor spelling variant, known as typosquatting, to the well-known LIPITOR mark in order to confuse consumers and to profit from such confusion.

(iii) the Respondent was clearly aware of the LIPITOR trademark prior to the registration of <lipator.com>, as is evidenced by the worldwide fame of the LIPITOR mark.

(iv) the Respondent’s deliberate use of a common typo; the substitution of the letter "a" for the "i" in the LIPITOR mark, while maintaining an almost identical pronunciation, indicates that the Respondent knew or should have known of Pfizer’s registration and use of the mark prior to registering the domain name.

(v) because the Respondent has no rights or legitimate interest in the use of <lipator.com>, the issue of bad faith registration need not even be considered.

Bad Faith Use

Complainant alleges that the Respondent’s bad faith use of the domain name is determined, not by whether the Respondent is making a positive action in bad faith, but instead by whether all of the other circumstances of the case indicate bad faith by the Respondent, citing Telstra Corp. v. Nuclear Marshmallows (D2000-0003).

B. Respondent

The Respondent submitted no Response to the Complainant’s Complaint..

 

6. Discussion and Findings

Paragraph 15(a) of the Rules instructs the Panel as to the principles the Panel is to use in determining the dispute: "A Panel shall decide a complaint on the basis of the statements and documents submitted in accordance with the Policy, these Rules and any rules and principles of law that it deems applicable."

Where a Respondent has failed to submit a Response to the Complaint, Paragraph 5(e) provides that the Panel shall decide the dispute based upon the complaint, in the absence of exceptional circumstances. The Panel finds no exceptional circumstances in this case.

Paragraph 4 (a) of the Policy requires that the following three elements be alleged and proven in order for a Complainant to prevail:

a. Respondent’s domain name is identical or confusingly similar to a trademark or service mark in which the Complainant has rights; and
b. Respondent has no rights or legitimate interests in respect of the domain name that is the subject of the complaint; and
c. Respondent’s domain name has been registered and is being used in bad faith

The Panel finds that the Complainant has satisfied these requirements and is entitled to prevail in this proceeding for the following reasons:

A. Identical or Confusingly Similar

Complainant has established in this proceeding its rights in the LIPITOR mark through registrations in the US and numerous other countries.

Atorvastatin calcium is marketed in the United States exclusively under Pfizer’s registered trademark LIPITOR and is available in the United States solely and exclusively from Pfizer. Through extensive advertising and marketing, the LIPITOR trademark has become well-known throughout the world, and especially in the United States, as designating Pfizer’s atorvastatin calcium for treatment of cardiovascular disorder and cholesterol reduction.

Respondent has replaced the letter "i" in the Lipitor mark with the letter "a", a practice which has become known as "typo-squatting", see Playboy Enterprises International, Inc. v. SAND WebNames-For Sale (D2001-0094) (a typical case of "typo-squatting" is "where the infringing name is one letter less than or different from the Complainant’s mark,")

Numerous panels have held that slight misspellings are not sufficient to distinguish a challenged domain name from an established mark, see Google v. Namerental.com (D2001-0060) (Finding that the domain name <ggoogle.com> was confusingly similar to the Complainant’s "GOOGLE" mark), see also American Airlines, Inc. v. Zuccarini (FA0009000095695) (finding that the domain name <amaricanairlines.com> was confusingly similar to the Complainant’s "AMERICAN AIRLINES" mark). As stated in a WIPO decision, "mere additions of minor misspellings to a Complainant’s mark do not create a new or different mark with which a Respondent has rights; it results in a domain name that is confusingly similar." America Online Inc. v. Zuccarini (D2000-1495).

The Panel finds that <lipator.com> is confusingly similar to Complainant’s LIPITOR mark.

B. Rights or Legitimate Interest

Complainant has alleged facts and circumstances to establish that Respondent has no rights or legitimate interest in respect of the domain name at issue. Such facts and circumstances, without contrary evidence being offered by the Respondent, are sufficient to permit a finding in Complainant’s favor on this issue. Alcoholics Anonymous World Services, Inc. v. Raymond, WIPO Case No. D2000-0007.

Additionally, the panel notes that the Complainant’s adoption and use of the LIPITOR mark preceded the Respondent’s registration of the disputed domain name by several years.. In light of all the facts and circumstances, including the extensive publicity and marketing of the mark, it can be reasonably inferred that the Respondent had knowledge of the Complainant’s famous LIPITOR mark prior to the registration of the disputed domain name.

The Respondent does not offer goods or services through the domain name <lipator.com>. Rather, Respondent has used <lipator.com> solely as a link address to redirect consumers to the on-line pharmacy website <canadapharmacy.com>. The <canadapharmacy.com> website markets and purports to sell LIPITOR® as well as various other drugs such as Claritin®, Allegra®, and Nizoral®, which are manufactured by competing pharmaceutical companies. The Panel draws the reasonable inference that the Respondent’s use of the term "Lipator" to redirect traffic to <canadapharmacy.com> is likely for a fee. It has been held that use of a Complainant’s trademark and reputation to redirect traffic to the website of another for a fee does not constitute a bona fide offering of goods or services. Royal Bank of Canada v. Personal (D2001-0761)

The Respondent is not and never has been a representative of the Complainant or licensed to use the LIPITOR mark.

By not submitting a Response, Respondent has failed to show any facts or circumstances which could have established any rights or legitimate interests in the Domain Name under Par. 4(c) of the Policy.

For all of the above reasons the Panel finds that Respondent has no rights or legitimate interest in the Domain Name at issue.

C. Registered and Used in Bad Faith

Under Section 2 of the Policy, it is clear that when one registers a domain name, one represents and warrants that, to the best of his knowledge, the registration of the domain name will not infringe on the rights of any third party. Given the facts and circumstances of this case taken together with the absence of any response by Respondent, the Panel concludes that the Respondent registered the domain name at issue while being aware of the previously registered LIPITOR mark of the Complainant.

The Panel further concludes that by using a common typo ---the substitution of the letter "a" for the letter "i"--- the Respondent intended to take advantage of any confusion created by such misspelling in order to divert potential customers to the website of the Canadian pharmacy, <canadapharmacy.com>, and to create the impression that the Canadian pharmacy and <lipator.com> were associated with, or sponsored by, Pfizer. The Complainant has alleged, and Respondent has failed to deny, or to supply any contrary evidence, that the domain name at issue has been so used.

Moreover, it is undisputed that Respondent is not and has not ever been a representative

of the Complainant or licensed to use the LIPITOR mark.

Finally, the Panel finds that all of the circumstances of the case, taken together, indicate bad faith by the Respondent, see Telstra Corp. v. Nuclear Marshmallows (D2000-0003).

Accordingly, the Panel finds that the Respondent has registered and used the domain name in bad faith.

 

7. Decision

For all the foregoing reasons, in accordance with Paragraphs 4(i) of the Policy and 15 of the Rules, the Panel orders that the domain name "<lipator.com>"be transferred to the Complainant.

 

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David Sandborg
Sole Panelist

Date: March 17, 2003