The Hindu : Maruti's domain name freed from cyber squatter

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 14, 2003

Business

Business

Maruti's domain name freed from cyber squatter

NEW DELHI MAY 13. In a major relief to India's largest car maker Maruti Udyog Ltd, WIPO, an apex body of Arbitration and Mediation, has evicted a U.S.-based NRI cyber squatter from using the domain name "maruti.com''

Directing the cyber squatter, Tella Rao, to transfer `maruti.com' to MUL, a three-member WIPO panel held that the impugned domain name was registered and used by the NRI in "bad faith,'' MUL advocate said in a release.

The international panel consisting of David Perkins (U.K.), Sir Ian Barker (New Zealand) and Pavan Duggal (India) held that the disputed domain was deceptively similar to MUL's trademark `Maruti.'

It was in the second attempt at WIPO that MUL succeeded in getting back the domain that was registered by the NRI on March 22, 1999, the release said.

MUL's first complaint was dismissed by the world body on the ground that it was the family website and the domain name was justified as the NRI had submitted that the website was named after his nephew, Tella Maruti Srinivas and supported his claim by posting his fake birth certificate as well as his photographs.

After losing the first round of battle at WIPO, MUL had received an offer through an intermediary of NRI to sell the disputed name for $480,000, the release said. — PTI

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