Pinterest, Inc. 808 Brannan Street, San Francisco, CA 94103 United States of America
(Complainant) Case No: D2014-1067
-v-
Disputed Domain Names: Pin Digital, S.L. C/ Beethoven 11, 1 4 08021 Barcelona
(Respondent)
<pinsex.com> <pingay.com>
________________________________
RESPONSE (Rules, para. 5(b))
I. Introduction
1.1 On 8 July 2014, the Respondent received a Notification of complaint and Commencement of Administrative Proceeding from the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center (the Center) by e-mail informing the Respondent that an administrative proceeding had been commenced by the Complainant in accordance with the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (the Policy), approved by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) on October 24, 1999, the Rules for Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (the Rules), approved by ICANN on October 30, 2009, and the WIPO Supplemental Rules for Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (the Supplemental Rules). The Center set 28 July 2014 as the last day for the submission of a response by the Respondent.
2 II. Respondents Contact Details (Rules, para. 5(b)(ii) and (iii))
2.2 The Respondents authorized representative in this administrative proceeding is:
Name: Rosa Maria Abadie Sol Address: BELLAVISTA LEGAL, S.L. Avenida Diagonal 463 bis 3r 4a 08036 Barcelona Telephone: +34 933635471 Fax: +34 934390204 E-mail: rabadie@bellavistalegal.eu
2.3 The Respondents preferred method of communications directed to the Respondent in this administrative proceeding is:
Electronic-only material Method: e-mail Address: rabadie@bellvistalegal.eu Contact: Rosa Maria Abadie Sol
Material including hardcopy (where applicable) Method: Fax Fax: +34 934390204 Contact: Rosa Maria Abadie Sol
3 III. Response to Statements and Allegations Made in complaint (Policy, paras. 4(a), (b), (c); Rules, para. 5)
3.1 The Respondent hereby responds to the statements and allegations in the complaint and respectfully requests the Administrative Panel to deny the remedies requested by the Complainant.
A. Whether the domain names are identical or confusingly similar to a trademark or service mark in which the Complainant has rights; (Policy, para. 4(a) (i))
3.2 The contested domain names are composed of the words PINSEX and PINGAY.
3.3 The word PIN which is included in both domains is a generic word understood in most languages. It has various meanings among which we can find as a noun a device used for fastening objects or material together, or as a verb attach or fasten with a pin or pins in a specified position.
Claim of the Complainant over the term PIN
3.4 Despite the fact that the word PIN is a generic term, PINTEREST, INC. (hereinafter PINTEREST or the Complainant) claims registered rights over the word.
3.5 The rights claimed over the word PIN are based on extensive common law use, on applications pending registration in Canada Chile China, Hong Kong, India Indonesia, Malaysia, Mexico, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan and Thailand, and registrations in Argentina, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland and the United States.
3.6 Regarding the extensive common law use claimed on paragraphs 6.2 and 6.4 of the complaint, and considering the consensus view adopted by panelists in various decisions (Alpine Entertainment Group, Inc. v. Walter Alvarez, WIPO Case No. D2006-1392, <realspanking.com>) the Complainant must show that the word PIN has become a distinctive identifier associated with the 4 Complainant or its goods/services by providing relevant evidence, and relevant evidence would be length and amount of sales under the trademark, the nature and extent of advertising, consumer surveys and media recognition. The Complainant refers to annex 5 of the complaint which consists merely on prints of its own web page. This document solely does not prove any acquired right by the Complainant.
3.7 In fact, the word PIN is also used by many other web pages in this same sense:
GOOGLE MAPS:
WINDOWS:
5
MICROSOFT OFFICE:
6 FACEBOOK:
Also we refer to ANNEX XII.
3.8 Regarding the PIN registered trademarks and applications, the Complainant only provides a list of references which cannot be contrasted with actual certificates issued by the national offices, the only certificate included was issued by the USPTO (United Stated Patent and Trademark Office) for the registration on June 17 th 2014 of the PIN trademark, and which according to ANNEX I it was applied for on August 2012, after the contested domain names were already operative. 7
3.9 The Complainant also claims registered rights over the words PINTEREST and PIN IT based on extensive common law use and various worldwide trademark applications and registrations.
3.10 As mentioned in paragraph 3.6 of this response, in order for the Complainant to successfully assert common law or unregistered trademark rights, relevant evidence must be filed, and the documents referenced by the Complainant are not enough to considered and acquired right over the word over the GENERIC term PIN IT.
3.11 Regarding the PINTEREST trademark, the Respondent does not argue the Complainants rights, however as we explain in paragraph 3.51, the services distinguished by the PINTEREST trademark are not similar, nor relate to the services provided by the Respondent, as well as that the word PINTEREST is not similar to the words PINSEX and/or PINGAY.
3.12 Regarding the trademark registrations and applications, the Complainant only attaches a list of references that, in the same sense that as mentioned before, this claims cannot be contrasted due that actual certificates issued by the national offices have not been provided. The only certificate included was issued by the USPTO for the registration on May 22 nd 2012 of the PINTEREST trademark.
3.13 On paragraphs 6.5 to 6.10 of the complaint, the Complainant claims further rights in the PIN mark and reputation in the PIN mark, however all the arguments and references mentioned on those paragraphs, as well as the annexes of the complaint to which the arguments refer (annex 11 to 17) clearly mention the word PINTEREST, not the word PIN, nor the word PIN IT.
3.14 The Complainant is clearly identified in the market with the trademark PINTEREST, however the word PIN and PIN IT are generic terms that appear in the dictionary, and if we analyze closely the Complainants explanation of the use of the words PIN and PIN IT as described in paragraph 6.7 of the complaint, we can see that these words are not used as trademarks, they are used as the dictionary definition described on paragraph 3.3 of this response. 8
3.15 In the comparison of the contested domain names in contrast with the Complainants claimed rights, we must keep in mind that whole name of the domain names are PINSEX and PINGAY, and despite that the word PIN is included within their composition, PIN is a generic term that cannot be monopolized by one company.
3.16 On the other hand, from the comparison of the PINTEREST trademark with the registered domain names PINSEX and PINGAY we can clearly see that there are enough differences in the names and in their conceptual references for any consumer to differentiate one term from the other.
3.17 The Complainant does not hold universal rights over the word PIN, which is a generic term included literally in the dictionary, and as we will detail on the next section, the contested domain names are a clear identical reference to the Respondents trademark applications and company name.
B. Whether the Respondent has rights or legitimate interests in respect of the domain names; (Policy, para. 4(a)(ii))
3.18 The Respondent has legitimate rights and interest in respect to the contested domain names <pinsex.com> and <pingay.com>.
3.19 Considering paragraph 4.c.(i) of the Policy (Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy), and as we will expand further on, the first copy of the domain names complaint was received by the Respondent on June 20 th 2014, by this date the contested domain names were fully active and operative, and have been since the last several years.
3.20 In fact, even the Complainant states in paragraphs 6.17 to 6.20 of the complaint that the contested domain names are effectively active.
3.21 Considering paragraph 4.c. (ii) of the Policy, since both domain names began their activity in early 2012 and early 2013 respectively, the Respondent is 9 becoming popular and known within its own sector (sexual and erotic adult contents industry).
3.22 Currently, <pinsex.com> has had approximately 48,8 Million visits since it became operative, has almost 70,000 registered users from all over the world. In the last three months <pinsex.com> has received over 99,000 daily visits, reaching its highest peak on February 2014 with 550,000 visits in one day. Please see the detailed information of <pinsex.com> on ANNEX II.
3.23 On the Other hand, <pingay.com> has had approximately 3,4 Million visits since it became operative, has almost 3,000 registered users from all over the world and in the last three months <pingay.com> has received over 12,600 daily visits, reaching its highest peak also on February 2014 with 50,6045 visits in one day. Please see the detailed information of <pinsex.com> on ANNEX III.
3.24 The domain name <pinsex.com> was created in 2008, and has been active since June 2012, in the same sense <pingay.com> was created in 2011, and has been active since May 2013, please see ANNEX XVIII. It is important to remark that the contested domain names are and have been completely fully operative for various years, providing a service of sexual and erotic contents to for adult users.
3.25 Additionally, the web page <pinsex.com> was nominated for Progressive Web Company of the Year award at the Xbiz awards, one of the most important recognition awards in the adult industry, for more information please see www.xbizawards.xbiz.com and ANNEX VII, and in the year 2013 the web page <pinsex.com> was nominated for Best Emerging Site at the YNOT Awards, please see ANNEX VIII.
3.26 The Respondent is a Spanish company legally set up with the name PIN DIGITAL, S.L. (hereinafter PIN DIGITAL) since June 2012, and its main activity is aimed to providing sexual and erotic contents through internet for adult users. Please see ANNEX IV for the Respondents company details.
3.27 Having the name of the company as a reference (PIN DIGITAL) and as the Respondent is a Spanish company, the legitimate right over the domain names <pinsex.com> and <pingay.com> are recognized by the Spanish trademark Law 10 (Law 17/2001 of December 7), which acknowledges a trade name as an acquired right. Article 9: Other Prior Rights (d) the trade name, name or business name of a legal person
3.28 Further on July 2012 the Respondent applied for the registration of Community trademark (CTM) n 11058195 PINSEX your daily dose of sexpiration (ANNEX V), and on May 2013 the Respondent applied for the registration of CTM n 11856309 PINGAY (ANNEX VI). Both trademark applications have been opposed by the Complainant and are currently in procedure.
3.29 The Respondent began the preparations for the activation of <pinsex.com> in June 2012 and the domain name was fully operative by the end of that same month, please see ANNEX IX which includes the documents that show the preparation for the activation of the domain names, the company and timings.
3.30 According to paragraph 6.16 of the complaint, the Complainant indicates that they launched their activity <pinterest.com> in 2010 and became known in 2012, however, all the documents filed to prove this well known claimed by the Complainant are in relation to the word PINTEREST and mostly within the United States. Lets not forget that the Respondent is a small Spanish company and that the fact that a web page becomes popular in Unites States, does not mean it is well known worldwide.
3.31 The Respondents activity began on June 2012, time in which the web page <pinterest.com> was not known in the European Community. Most of Spanish and European users were not aware of its existence, and the Complainant had not even applied for a trademark registration. ANNEX X includes a list of community trademark applications/registrations filed by the Complainant, please notice that most of PINTEREST and PIN trademark application have been opposed.
3.32 Regarding the allegations on paragraphs 6.17 and 6.18 of the complaint, it is important to keep in mind that the domain names were created in 2008 and 2011 respectively, and despite that they were later transferred and activated in 2012 and 2013, the important issue regarding legitimacy is that they have been active for various years with a very busy traffic. (ANNEX II and ANNEX III). 11
3.33 The complaint indicates in paragraph 6.19 that the contested domains are not commonly known, however, as ANNEX II, III, VII and VIII show, since the domains began their activity they have been very successful in their sector (adult contents industry), reaching a traffic peaks of 550,000 and 50,000 visits in one day. Additionally, please see ANNEX XI which includes details from Alexa on how popular is the domain name <pinsex.com>, and a detail from Similar Web on how popular is <pingay.com>.
3.34 Paragraph 6.20 of the complaint states that the concept of the contested domain names mimics the Complainants business concept, however we consider that this claim is not relevant on whether PIN DIGITAL has a legitimate right over the contested domain names, as well as the fact that the Complainant has not proven to have any registered right over the layout, or how the information is provided in a web page.
3.35 The contested domain names provide sexual and erotic contents for adult users by providing a wide selection at the homepage, with direct links to specific video/photos the user may want to see. This system, layout, form of presentation is commonly used by websites that provide sexual and erotic contents please see the following examples:
YOUJIZZ.COM
12 PORNHUB.COM
YOUPORN.COM
13 And almost in the same sense, <pinsex.com> and <pingay.com>
3.36 We completely disagree with the Complainant's statement in paragraph 6.21 of the complaint, which indicates that the use of the PIN word by the Respondent infringes its registered rights and tarnishes the Complainant's trademark due that the contested domains provide sexual and erotic contents. Firstly, we have clearly stated (paragraph 3.3 of this response) that the word PIN is a generic term that it is used by a great number of companies and web pages, as an additional example please see ANNEX XII.
3.37 Lets not forget that the word PIN is a dictionary word and it is used by the domain name in connection with a purpose directly related to its meaning. We refer to the decision Porto Chico Stores, Inc. v. Otavio Zambon, WIPO Case No.D2000-1270, <lovelygirls.com>.
3.38 Regarding the claim that the activity of the Respondent could tarnish the Complainants trademark, we refer to ANNEX XIII which shows, from what websites do the users of the contested trademarks come from, and where do they go to after visiting <pinsex.com> and <pingay.com>. Please notice that not even one user comes from the Complainant's web page.
3.39 Considering the services provided by the Complainant in contrast with the services provided by the Respondent, it is clear that they are addressed to very different users, and as the Complainant does not allow any sexual or erotic content in its web page, both companies will surely never coincide in the market. It is impossible to consider that a user with the intention to access PINTEREST, will be confused and in the contrary access <pinsex.com > or <pingay.com>, in the same sense that the Respondent is sure that the internet users with the 14 intention to access a adult content website will not confusingly access PINTEREST.COM.
3.40 The Complainant cannot expect to have a UNIVELSAL right over a generic term, an even worse use this claim to shut down the activity of a legitimate company, with legitimated rights, that has been active for various years.
3.41 Finally, considering paragraph 4.c. (iii) of the Policy it is important to remark that the Respondent is making a legitimate fair use of the domain names, as the details in ANNEX XIII show PIN DIGITAL has no gain from the Complainants activity. The use of the contested domain names is not misleading in any way, in the contrary; their names make it very clear for the consumer to be aware of the type of web page they are entering.
C. Whether the domain names have been registered and are being used in bad faith. (Policy, para. 4(a)(iii))
3.42 In regard to this section, and as mentioned in previous sections we insist that the commercial activity carried out by PIN DIGITAL has no relation with the services and internet activity of PINTEREST, INC. They are both clearly addressed to different users.
3.43 The legally established name of the Respondents company is PIN DIGITAL and the domain names chosen by the Respondent are a clear referenced to the registered company name <pinsex.com> for general sexual and erotic contents and <pingay.com> for general gay contents. It is impossible to consider that there is bad faith in the registration and/or use of contested domain names; they are both the results of a commercial activity developed the last years by a legally constituted Spanish company.
3.44 The Complainant indicates in paragraph 6.22 that the contested domain name <pinsex.com> began its activity between September 2012 and April 2013, when actually the relevant information regarding this domain name is that it was created in June 2008, and as mentioned on paragraph 3.29 of this response, the 15 preparations for the launching the web page began in early 2012 resulting the page to be fully active by the end of June 2012.
3.45 Regarding the referenced made by the Complainant in paragraph 6.22, to paragraph 3.7 of the WIPO overview, we must keep in mind that Panels have tended to the view that formal changes in registration data are not necessarily deemed to constitute a new registration where evidence clearly establishes an unbroken chain of underlying ownership by a single entity or within a genuine conglomerate, and it is clear that any change in WhoIs registrant data is not being made to conceal an underlying owner's identity for the purpose of frustrating assessment of liability in relation to registration or use of the domain name. As the complaint indicates in paragraph 6.18, the former owner of the contested domain name is directly related with the Respondent, BEREPUBLIC NETWORKS, S.L. is part of PIN DIGITAL. BEREPUBLIC NETWORKS, S.L. handled the entire project's preparation and launching, this is why they were the initial holders of the contested domain names. ANNNEX XVII includes various documents that prove the relation between BEREPUBLIC NETWORKS, S.L. and PIN DIGITAL.
3.46 The Complainant indicates in paragraph 6.23 that its rights were extremely well known, however fails to consider that the Respondent is not an American company located at San Francisco where in 2012 the Complainant may have been extremely well known. The Respondent is a small Spanish company that began its activity in 2012, when PINTEREST was barely known in the European Community, in fact, as we can see from ANNEX XIV there are even articles that specify that PINTEREST has not been granted its rights in the European Community and that the company PREMIUM INTEREST LTD holds prior rights to the name. Consequently, apart from the fact that the services provided by the Complainant and the Respondent have NOTHING in common, the Complainants activity was not extremely known in the European Community when the contested domain names began their activity.
3.47 In paragraphs 6.24 of the complaint, the Complainant insists that the domain names are similar to the word PIN, however, as already established in previous paragraphs PIN is a generic word used by the Respondent as a 16 reference to its own company name and a reference to the Dictionary term PIN.
3.48 Regarding the arguments of the Complainant in paragraph 6.25 of the complaint, as previously mentioned the Complainant has not provided any document that proves any prior right over a web page format, a form of displaying the information that is and will continue to be commonly used by a very large number of websites. Please see as ANNEX XV a large number of websites that use similar information displays.
3.49 Considering paragraph 4.b.(i) of the Policy, it is clear that the contested domain names have not been registered or acquired for the purpose of selling, renting, or otherwise transferring the domain name registrations to the Complainant. The Respondent has been active for various years now and has never had the intention to interfere, nor transfer its activity or domain names to PINTEREST.
3.50 Regarding paragraph 4.b.(ii) of the Policy, the contested domain names are clearly registered and active to provide the services of PIN DIGITAL, these domain names do not prevent at all the Complainant from reflecting the mark in a corresponding domain name and, in connection therewith, the Respondent has not engaged in a pattern of such conduct. The Respondent does not wish to interfere with the Complainants activity, in fact, as we will mention on the next section, it could be even considered the other way around.
3.51 Regarding paragraph 4.b. (iii) of the Policy, it is clear that the Complainant and the Respondent are NOT competitors; both provide very different activities addressed to very different internet users. In fact, the adult contents of the Respondents web sites are completely prohibited in the Complainants web pages.
17 <PINTEREST.COM>:
<PINSEX.COM>:
18 <PINGAY.COM>:
3.52 From the previous comparison it is clear that the Complainants and the Respondents activity are very different and that they are not competitors in any way.
3.53 Finally, regarding paragraph 4.b.(iv) of the Policy the Respondents services and activity has no relation with the Complainants activity, the contested domain names are NOT an intentional attempt to attract for commercial gain, internet users to the Respondents web site, in fact as ANNEX XIII shows none of the users that access the contested domain names are redirected from the Complainant, nor go to the Complainants web page after visiting <pinsex.com> and/or <pingay.com>. The services provided by each company are so dissimilar, that it is impossible to consider that any consumer could make a mistake based on likelihood of confusion with the Complainants trademark.
D. Reverse domain name Hijacking or abuse of process; (Rules, para. 15(e))
3.54 In addition to the previous defense arguments, the Respondent hereby request the Panel to make a finding regarding reverse domain name hijacking and abuse of process based on paragraph 15(e)) of the Rules. 19 3.55 As mentioned in the previous sections of this response, the Respondents activity has been in preparation since early 2012 and was officially active on June 2012 and May 2013 respectively; also, the Respondent applied for the registration of Community Trademarks n 11058195 and n 11856309 in the years 2012 and 2013 which as explained have been opposed by the complainant. Please see ANNEX V and ANNEX VI.
3.56 As the articles provided in ANNEX XVI mention, the Complainant has initiated a campaign against any company or internet web page that uses the generic term PIN, claiming a UNIVERSAL right over a dictionary word that cannot be monopolized by a sole company.
3.57 Considering the public strategy followed by the Complainant that appears in the news, the oppositions filed at the Office for Harmonization in the Internal Market (OHIM) and the complaint against the domain names <pinsex.com> and <pingay.com> filed at the WIPO, the Respondent is specially affected by the campaign followed by the Complainant, which has continued despite that they know that the Respondents activity is legal, legitimate and has been active for various years.
3.58 The oppositions against the Respondents trademark applications, were filed in in the years 2012 and 2013, time at which the Complainant was very aware of the legitimate activity of the Respondent; further on the complaint at the WIPO was not filed until June 2014, which responds to a harassing campaign of the Complainant against PIN DIGITAL.
3.59 The Complainant knew at the time the complaint was filed, that the Respondent is the legitimate owner of the contested domain names and that their use cannot, under any fair interpretation of the reasonably available facts, constitute bad faith, as well as that the Respondent uses the contested domain name as part of a bona fide business. In this sense, we refer to the decision issued in Case No. D 2000-1202 Deutsche Welle v. Diamond Ware Limited which says: The Policy is only designed to deal with a very narrow category of case, namely cybersquatting. It was never intended to be a substitute for trade mark infringement litigation. Manifestly, in their view, this was never a case of cybersquatting. The Policy is clear. To succeed in the complaint, the 20 Complainant has to prove, at the very least, that the Domain Name was registered in bad faith. When the Complainant conducted its Whois search and found that the Domain Name registration dated back nearly 6 years, it was alerted to the fact that registration of the Domain Name was most unlikely to have been undertaken "primarily" for any bad faith purpose directed at the Complainant. The Complainant has not produced one shred of evidence to suggest why the Respondent, a company in the United States, should have been aware of the existence of the Complainant, a German broadcasting service, back in 1994 when it registered the Domain Name. When the Complainant visited the Respondents website (its letter of July 13, 2000 makes it clear that it was aware of the website) any doubts it may have had were removed. The Domain Name connects to an active website through which the Respondent conducts a bona fide business and in relation to which the acronym "DW" is apt.
3.60 In light of the above, we request the Panel to declare that the complaint was brought in bad faith and constitutes an abuse of the administrative proceeding
IV. Administrative Panel (Rules, paras. 5(b)(iv) and (b)(v) and para. 6; Supplemental Rules, para. 7)
4.1 The Respondent elects to have the dispute decided by a single-member Administrative Panel.
V. Other Legal Proceedings (Rules, para. 5(b)(vi))
5.1 As far as the Respondent is aware, no legal proceedings have been issued or terminated in connection with the contested Domain names.
6.1 A copy of this Response has been sent or transmitted to the Complainant on 28 July 2014 by email.
21 6.2 This Response is submitted to the Center in electronic form, including any annexes, in the appropriate format.
VII. Payment (Rules, para. 5(c); Supplemental Rules, Annex D)
7.1 As the Respondent has decided in section IV to have the dispute decided by a single-member Administrative Panel no payment is required.
VIII. Certification (Rules, para. 5(b)(viii), Supplemental Rules, para. 14)
8.1 The Respondent agrees that, except in respect of deliberate wrongdoing, an Administrative Panel, the World Intellectual Property Organization and the Center shall not be liable for any act or omission in connection with the administrative proceeding.
8.2 The Respondent certifies that the information contained in this Response is to the best of the Respondents knowledge complete and accurate, that this Response is not being presented for any improper purpose, such as to harass, and that the assertions in this Response are warranted under the Rules and under applicable law, as it now exists or as it may be extended by a good-faith and reasonable argument.
Respectfully submitted,
___________________ Rosa Maria Abadie
Date: 28 July 2014
22
X. List of Annexes
ANNEX I: USPTO PIN trademark registration details. ANNEX II: Google Analytics <pinsex.com> details. ANNEX III: Google Analytics <pingay.com> details. ANNEX IV: PIN DIGITAL, S.L. Company general information. ANNEX V: CTM n 11058195 PINSEX your daily dose of sexpiration ANNEX VI: CTM n 11856309 PINGAY ANNEX VII: Progressive Web Company of the Year - Xbiz awards ANNEX VIIII: Best Emerging Site - YNOT Awards ANNEX IX: Preparation for the activation of the domain names. ANNEX X: List of the Community trademark applied by the Complainant. ANNEX XI: Alexa and SimilarWeb detail on how popular are the domains ANNEX XII: Examples of web pages that include the word PIN. ANNEX XIII: Detail of where users come from and where they go after. ANNEX XIV: Articles regarding PINTEREST trademark in the European Union. ANNEX XV: Examples of web pages with the layout as PINTEREST. ANNEX XVI: Articles on PINTEREST. ANNEX XVII: Documents that link BEREPUBLIC and PINDIGITAL. ANNEX XVIII: <pinsex.com> and <pingay.com> registration details.
Wayne Patterson, Cynthia E. Winston-Proctor - Behavioral Cybersecurity - Applications of Personality Psychology and Computer Science (2019, Taylor & Francis - CRC) - Libgen - Li