MS Dhoni wins case over msdhoni.com website

The domain name “www.msdhoni.com” was originally registered with Wild West Domains, LL, more than a decade ago, while a certain David Hanley of USA has been the registrant since February, 2014.

After the existence of the domain came to the notice of Dhoni, Scriboard, who represented Dhoni and Rhiti Sports, lodged a complaint with the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center on August 19, 2016 and subsequently, the Respondent offered to sell the domain name to them for USD 1,500.

Scriboard, in the complaint file, contended that “the Disputed Domain Name is identical to the MS DHONI trademark and the Respondent does not have any rights or legitimate interests in the Disputed Domain Name”.

They also stated in the complaint that “the Respondent uses the Disputed Domain Name in bad faith as the website to which the Disputed Domain Name resolved made use of the Complainants’ MS DHONI trademark in order to raise advertising revenue through the use of sponsored or “click through” links”.

After Scriboard filed the complaint, the respondent didn’t give any formal response, following which the panel found out that the respondent had no rights or legitimate interests in the disputed domain name.

The panel also concluded that the registration and use of the domain was in bad faith as the respondent had engaged in a pattern of registering domain names corresponding to the names of famous persons which provides further evidence of bad faith. The panel also took note of the respondent's demand of 1500 USD to be in further bad faith.Finally, the panel ordered the disputed domain name – msdhoni.com – be transferred to the complainants.

Finally, the panel ordered the disputed domain name – msdhoni.com – be transferred to the complainants.

Note: The original summary had noted that Scriboard had won the case after a long legal hasslee. The article has currently been changed to reflect the duration of the case - just about two months from August 19th 2016 to October 27th 2016.