Domain name- Domain name dispute resolution policy- Trademark- Bad faith use- Bad faith registration- Federally- registered trademark.

Complainant was registrant of one United States trademark, as well as the owner of a number of registrations in countries throughout the world.  Complainant is a leading manufacturer and distributor of computer hardware and software, semiconductor devices, microprocessors and related goods.  Respondent registered the domain name “ADVANCEDMICRODEVICES.COM.” 

Held, Name Transferred to Complainant.

There can be no question that Respondent’s domain name ADVANCEDMICRODEVICES.COM is legally identical to 
Complainant’s mark ADVANCED MICRO DEVICES, which Complainant clearly has rights to through ownership of valid and subsisting trademark registrations, as well as through widespread use of the mark, both in the U.S. and elsewhere. 

Respondent does not conduct any legitimate commercial or non-commercial business activity under the domain name in dispute and is not commonly known by the advancedmicrodevices.com domain name.

The Panel also finds the evidence, taken as a whole, supports a determination of "bad faith" registration and use. It has been held that the passive holding of a domain name can give rise to a finding of "bad faith" registration and use.

Policies referred to

Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy, adopted August 26, 1999
WIPO’s Supplemental Rules for Uniform Dispute Resolution Policy, adopted 

Registration Agreements referred to

Network Solutions Service Agreement Version 5.0, effective 3 June 1999

Cases Referred to

Telstra Corporation Ltd. v. Nuclear Marshmallows, Case No D2000-0003 (February 
18, 2000).

David M. Kelly, Panelist: -

1. The Parties

The Complainant in this administrative proceeding is Advanced Micro Devices, 
Inc., a corporation incorporated under the laws of the State of California, with 
a principal place of business at One AMD Place, M.S. 68, P.O. Box 3453, 
Sunnyvale, CA 94088-3453.  Complainant is a leading manufacturer and distributor of computer hardware, software and related goods and services.

The Respondent is [No Name], an unidentified registrant, located in Downey, CA 90241. 
 

2. Registrar and Disputed Domain Name 

The domain name in dispute is as follows: ADVANCEDMICRODEVICES.COM.  Respondent registered domain name with Network Solutions, Inc. (NSI).

3. Procedural Background

On May 27, 2000, the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Centre received from 
Complainant via e-mail a complaint for decision in accordance with the Uniform 
Policy for Domain Name Dispute Resolution, adopted by the Internet Corporation of Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) on August 26, 1999 ("Policy"), the Rules for Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy, approved by ICANN on October 24, 1999 ("Rules"), and the WIPO Supplemental Rules for Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (Supplemental Rules).

The complaint was filed in compliance with the requirements of the Rules and the 
Supplemental Rules, payment was properly made, the administrative panel was properly constituted, and the panelist submitted the required Statement of Acceptance, and Declaration of Impartiality and Independence.

The instant Administrative Proceeding was commenced on June 5, 2000.
Respondent failed to file a Response, and a "Notification of Respondent 
Default," dated July 13, 2000, was forwarded by WIPO to Respondent.
The decision of the Panel was due to WIPO on or before September 13, 2000.

4. Factual Background

As alleged in the Complaint, Complainant is a leading manufacturer and distributor of computer hardware and software, semiconductor devices, microprocessor chips, and related goods and services under the name and mark ADVANCED MICRO DEVICES. On March 13, 1999, Complainant filed an application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to register the mark ADVANCED MICRO DEVICES, as used on integrated circuits and semiconductor devices. See Complaint, Annex C. Complainant is the owner of a number of registrations in countries throughout the world for the mark ADVANCED MICRO DEVICES. 

As noted above, Respondent registered the domain name advancedmicrodevices.com with NSI on June 3, 1999. On June 10, Complainant’s counsel sent a letter to Respondent’s administrative contact, Mr. Sanaxay Phommachanh, requesting that Respondent cease and desist from any unlawful use of the domain name. See Complaint, Annex E. Respondent’s contact did not respond to the letter.

On November 9, 1999, pursuant to Complainant’s request, NSI placed the domain name in dispute "on hold." See Complaint, Annex H. On December 6, Complainant’s counsel sent another letter to Respondent’s administrative contract in an attempt to settle the matter. See Complaint, Annex I. No response was received.

On January 3, 2000, NSI informed Complainant’s counsel that, pursuant to enactment of the Policy, the domain name would no longer be "on hold" as of 
February 1, 2000.

5. Parties’ Contentions

A. Complainant 
Complainant contends that the domain name in issue is identical to the trademark in which the Complainant has rights, that Respondent has no rights or legitimate interests in the domain name, and that Respondent registered and used the domain in bad faith. In support of its argument relating to "bad faith," Complainant referred to Respondent’s failure to provide complete contact information for the domain name registration, in breach of Respondent’s warranty under paragraph 2(a) of the Policy 1. Complainant also argues that the passive holding of a domain name, which prevents Complainant from reflecting its corporate name and mark in a corresponding domain name, constitutes bad faith use and registration of the domain name.
  
6. Discussion and Findings

The Panel has carefully weighed the evidence presented and determines that 
Complainant has established all of the elements required under paragraph 4.a. of the Policy.  Respondent’s domain name advancedmicrodevices.com is legally identical to Complainant’s mark ADVANCED MICRO DEVICES, which Complainant clearly has rights through ownership of valid and subsisting trademark registrations, as well as through widespread use of the mark, both in the U.S. and elsewhere. 

It is also clear that none of the circumstances set forth in paragraph 4(c) of the Policy is applicable. Respondent does not conduct any legitimate commercial or non-commercial business activity under the domain name in dispute and is not commonly known by the advancedmicrodevices.com domain name.

The Panel also finds the evidence, taken as a whole, supports a determination of "bad faith" registration and use. It has been held that the passive holding of a domain name can give rise to a finding of "bad faith" registration and use. See 
Telstra Corporation Ltd. v. Nuclear Marshmallows, Case No D2000-0003 (February 18, 2000). Respondent’s failure to provide NSI with complete contact information is further evidence of "bad faith."
 

7. Decision

In view of the above, the Panel GRANTS Complainant’s request for transfer to it of the domain name advancedmicrodevices.com  
Jeffrey M. Samuels 
Panelist

Footnotes:
1. Paragraph 2(a) of the Policy states as follows: "By applying to register a domain name, or by asking us to maintain or renew a domain name registration, you hereby represent and warrant to us that (a) the statements that you made in your Registration Agreement are complete and accurate."