Religious Technology Center v. Freie Zone E. V.
[Indexed as: Religious Technology Center v. Freie Zone]
[Indexed as: SCIENTOLOGIE.ORG]
WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center
Administrative Panel Decision
Case No. D2000-0410
Commenced: 17 May 2000.
Judgement: 23 June 2000
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Sole Panelist: Bernhard F. Meyer-Hauser
Domain name - Domain name dispute resolution policy - U.S. Service mark - U.S. Trademark - Identical - Confusingly similar - Bad faith registration - Bad faith use Obtained rights.
Complainants trademark and service mark SCIENTOLOGIE has been registered
for numerous goods and services from 1984 on in 10 countries. Complainant
is the owner of the trademarks and service marks SCIENTOLOGY, SCIENTOLOGIA,
SCIENTOLOGI and SAJENTOLOGIJA registered in 19 countries.
In the United States, the SCIENTOLOGY trademark has been used since
at least as early as 1951 in connection with religious and ministerial
services. In 1934, a book in the German language was written and published
in Germany by Dr. Anastasius Nordenholz and was used by L. Ron Hubbard
as a basis for the philosophical foundation of the Church of Scientology.
By contract dated January 26, 1995, Respondent obtained from the heirs
of late Dr. Nordenholz exclusive rights to use the book and to sell it
to the public. The book was then republished by Respondent in 1995 in both
German and English. Respondent registered the domain name scientologie.org.
Held, Domain name not transferred.
The Second Level Domain at issue, "scientologie", is identical to
Complainants trademark SCIENTOLOGIE which has obtained registration between
1984 and 1994 in 9 countries around the world. Although Complainant uses
the original English version of its trademark for activities in Germany,
there is a danger that the Domain Name could be understood as German translation
of Complainants English trademark SCIENTOLOGY. Thus, Respondents Domain
Name is identical or confusingly similar to some of Complainants Marks.
The copyrights and other rights in this book have been licensed
to Respondent by Dr. Nordenholzs heirs, and these rights appear to be
even older than Complainants trademarks. Under these circumstances it
cannot be said that Respondent has no right whatsoever and no
legitimate interest in the Domain Name. In addition, Respondent
ran a homepage where Respondent stated its intentions with regard to the
promotion and sale of the Book.
Since the three grounds mentioned above must cumulatively be proven
by Complainant, and Complainant failed already on the second ground, it
needs not to be further examined if the disputed Domain Name was registered
and used by Respondent in bad faith.
Policies referred to
Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy
Rules for Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy
Meyer-Hauser, Panelist: -
1. The Parties
Complainant is Religious Technology Center, a non-profit corporation
organized and existing under the laws of the State of California, U.S.A.,
having its principal place of business at 1710 Ivar Avenue, Los Angeles
90028, U.S.A. Complainant is represented by Thomas M. Small and Ms. J.
Alison Grabell, Small Larkin, LLP, 10940 Wilshire Boulevard, 18th Floor,
Los Angeles, CA 90024, U.S.A.
Respondent is Freie Zone e.V. (Free Zone Association), an association
founded and registered under the laws of Germany, having its principal
place of business at P.O. Box 1215, 83524 Haag i. Obb., Germany. Respondent
is represented by Bernd Luebeck, Curd-Juergens-Str. 4, 81739 Munich, Germany.
2. The Domain Name and Registrar
The domain name at issue is <scientologie.org> ("Domain Name").
The registrar is Network Solutions, Inc. ("NSI").
3. Procedural History
A Complaint was submitted to the World Intellectual Property Organization
Arbitration and Mediation Center (the "WIPO Center") on May 9, 2000. An
Acknowledgment of Receipt was sent on May 12, 2000 by the WIPO Center to
Complainant.
On May 12, 2000 a Request for Registrar Verification was transmitted
to NSI. NSI confirmed by reply e-mail on May 16, 2000 that the Domain Name
is registered with NSI, that Respondent, Freie Zone e.V., was the current
registrant of the name and that NSIs 4.0 Service Agreement was in effect.
The reply also contained contact information for Respondent.
No formal deficiencies having been recorded, the WIPO Center transmitted
a Notification of Complaint and Commencement of Administrative Proceeding
to Respondent on May 17, 2000, setting a deadline of June 5, 2000 to file
a Response to the Complaint.
On May 31, 2000, the WIPO Center received a Response by Respondent
in hardcopy, which the WIPO Center acknowledged to the parties on June
2, 2000.
On June 9, 2000, after receiving Dr. Bernhard F. Meyer-Hausers completed
and signed Statement of Acceptance and Declaration of Impartiality and
Independence, the WIPO Center transmitted to the parties a Notification
of Appointment of Administrative Panel and Projected Decision Date of June
23, 2000. The Sole Panelist finds that the Panel was properly constituted
and appointed in accordance with the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution
Policy ("Policy") and the Rules for Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution
Policy ("Rules").
Between June 13 and June 22, 2000, the WIPO Center received alternately
four further unsolicited submissions by Complainant and Respondent. The
Panelist received these submissions between June 15 and June 22, 2000.
4. Factual Background
The following facts and statements appear from the Parties submissions
and the documents annexed thereto and have not been contested:
Complainants trademark and service mark SCIENTOLOGIE has been registered
for numerous goods and services from 1984 on in the following 9 countries
outside of the United States: Burundi, Canada, Czech Republic, France,
Haiti, Madagascar, Monaco, Rwanda and Switzerland.
In addition, Complainant is the owner of the trademarks and service
marks SCIENTOLOGY, SCIENTOLOGIA, SCIENTOLOGI and SAJENTOLOGIJA registered
in 19 countries.
In the United States, the SCIENTOLOGY trademark is used since at least
as early as 1951 for books, booklets, newsletters and bulletins in connection
with religious and ministerial services as well as for educational services,
namely conducting courses in philosophy and religion (Complainants trademarks
and service marks mentioned in this decision are hereinafter referred to
jointly as the "Marks").
In 1934, a book in the German language: "Scientologie - Wissenschaft
von der Beschaffenheit und Tauglichkeit des Wissens" [engl. "Scientology
- Science of the Constitution and Usefulness of Knowledge"] (hereinafter
referred to as the "Book"), was written and published in Germany by Dr.
Anastasius Nordenholz. This book appears to be based, at least partially,
on the same or similar philosophical sources as L. Ron Hubbards own philosophy
when developing the Church of Scientology. On the other hand, it was L.
Ron Hubbard who seems to have first used the English word "Scientology"
to describe his philosophy in 1952.
By contract dated January 26, 1995, Respondent obtained from the heirs
of late Dr. Nordenholz exclusive rights to use the Book and to sell it
to the public. The Book was then republished by Respondent in 1995 in both
German and English.
In December 1995, Respondent registered with NSI the Domain Name which
is at the center of this dispute. The Domain Name was suspended and put
on hold by NSI in September 1996 on request of Complainant.
5. Parties Contentions
A. Complainants Complaint (dated May 9, 2000)
Respondent has registered a domain name which is identical or confusingly
similar to the Marks. Respondent has no rights or legitimate interests
in respect of the Domain Name, and the Domain Name was registered and is
being used in bad faith.
In particular, Respondent registered the Domain Name long after the
use and registrations of the Marks, and Respondent had actual knowledge
of Complainants rights when registering the Domain Name.
Respondent is an international association of an "underground" nature
that has, as one of its purposes, interference with the activities of Complainant
and its affiliated organizations. Respondent has acquired the copyrights
of the Book solely for the purpose of creating an apparent justification
for use of the title of the Book as a domain name, against the interests
of Complainant. The Domain Name and the corresponding home page was created
for the purpose of blocking the registration of <scientology.org> and
for using Complainants SCIENTOLOGY mark in relation to Respondents activities.
B. Respondents Response (dated May 31, 2000)
Respondent is not an underground association. It was founded and registered
publicly under the law of the Federal Republic of Germany. It runs webpages
in many different languages to be found at <www.freezone.org> and <www.freezone.de>.
The goal of the association is to support the philosophies of cognition
and the free use of the technology and the philosophy of L. Ron Hubbard,
the founder of Scientology. As the Book by Dr. Nordenholz is in the field
of philosophy of cognition, Respondent inquired into that work. Respondent
purchased the copyright, republished the Book, and registered the Domain
Name in order to promote the philosophy of Dr. Nordenholz. According to
Respondent, the free and unrestricted pursuit of Scientology is currently
impossible both in the Church of Scientology and in society in general.
Respondent explicitly separates itself from the official and unofficial
organizations of the Church of Scientology.
After NSI suspended Respondents Domain Name, Respondent registered
a domain name <scientologie.de> with DE-NIC.
Complainant never legally objected against this. Respondent uses the
"de" domain as a substitute to <scientology.org>, continues, however,
to pay the annual fees to NSI in order to keep the domain name <scientologie.org>
alive. Respondent is still interested in using the disputed Domain Name
and considers the country domain "de" not as a suitable substitute.
The word "Scientologie" as a name for the philosophy is the intellectual
property of Dr. Nordenholz and is protected as a "work title" according
to § 5 Sect 3 of the German Trademark Act. This right was originally
acquired by Dr. Nordenholz by publication of his Book in 1934 and did not
expire. In addition, Respondent holds the copyrights for the Book, which
entitles it to sell and market the Book.
It is Respondents explicit interest not to be confused with the Complainant
or its affiliated organizations. It is obvious to internet users that Respondents
home page does not have any affiliation with the Church of Scientology
or Complainant.
C. Complainants Reply to Respondents Response (dated June 12, 2000)
Respondent admits in its submissions that the copyrights to the Book
have been purchased with the sole purpose of gaining a claim of right to
use Complainants trademark. Accordingly, the Domain Name was registered
for the purpose of attracting internet users to the competitive website
of Respondent.
According to German laws, copyrights do not grant a trademark status
to book titles but only negative rights against unfair competition from
a later confusingly similar book title.
Respondents bad faith in the registration and use of the Domain Name
is established by the fact that the Marks were registered long before Respondents
use of "Scientologie". In addition, the purpose of Respondents website
is to attract people who are interested in the services and material of
Complainant and its licensees by using its well-known trademark.
D. Respondents Reply to Complainants Response (dated June 15, 2000)
A "work title" under German Trademark Law has the same order of legal
protection as a trademark or a company name. Domain names can be derived
from work titles and conflict with them (cf. decision by the Landesgericht
Hamburg, "eltern.de").
Complainant did not and was not able to register the trademark SCIENTOLOGIE
in Germany because of Respondents older rights regarding the word "Scientologie".
Respondents website is not an economical competition for Complainant
and therefore there is no danger of confusion.
E. Complainants Response to Respondents Reply (dated June 21, 2000)
Respondents statements regarding the priority of trademarks, work
titles and copyright in German Law are misleading and wrong. In the case
cited by Respondent, the grounds of the decision were, first, the trademark
rights and, second, the title rights which actually reinforced the trademark
rights. The title rights became important because the title had a very
high brand awareness.
In Germany, SCIENTOLOGY, rather than SCIENTOLOGIE, was registered in
the same form as the registrations in the United States because the "GIE"
form of the word is not regarded as the proper German translation of the
mark SCIENTOLOGY.
Respondent admits in its own materials that the reason for purchasing,
reviving and promoting the obscure Nordenholz book was to associate that
book with L. Ron Hubbard, the predecessor of Complainant as owner of the
SCIENTOLOGY mark and its phonetic equivalents.
F. Respondents Last Comments (dated June 22, 2000)
The priority rights to the name "Scientologie" have arisen with publication
of the Book in the year 1934. Therefore, the point in time when Respondent
acquired the re-publication rights to the Book is irrelevant.
As can be verified on the website <www.scientologie.de> of Respondent
(which is a copy of the dormant website <www.scientologie.org>), this
site is used for the promotion of the Book and does not contain any incorrect
or misleading statements about Complainants "Church of Scientology".
6. Discussion and Findings
Although not bound to do so under the Rules, the Panelist accepts and
considers the Parties further submissions after the Complaint and Response.
Para. 4.a. of the Policy provides that a complainant must prove cumulatively
each of the following three grounds in order to be successful with the
challenge of a registered domain name:
(i) that the domain name registered by respondent is identical or confusingly
similar to a trademark or service mark in which the complainant has rights;
(ii) that the respondent has no legitimate rights or interests in respect
of the domain name; and
(iii) that the domain name has been registered and is being used in
bad faith.
1. Identity or similarity: The Second Level Domain at issue, "scientologie", is identical to Complainants trademark SCIENTOLOGIE which has obtained registration between 1984 and 1994 in 9 countries around the world. Furthermore, the Domain Name is similar to Complainants English trademark SCIENTOLOGY, as it is phonetically similar to the English version and completely identical to the French translation (SCIENTOLOGIE). Complainants basic trademark SCIENTOLOGY was first registered in the United States in 1970 and subsequently obtained registration in Germany in 1990. Although Complainant uses the original English version of its trademark for activities in Germany, there is a danger that the Domain Name could be understood as German translation of Complainants English trademark SCIENTOLOGY. Thus, Respondents Domain Name is identical or confusingly similar to some of Complainants Marks.
2. Legitimate rights or interests: According to para. 4.c. of the Policy,
the following shall demonstrate rights of a respondent to and legitimate
interests in a domain name:
(i) before any notice was given to respondent of the dispute, respondent
used, or demonstrably made preparations to use, the domain name or a name
corresponding to the domain name in connection with a bona fide offering
of goods or services; or
(ii) respondent (as an individual, business, or other organization)
has been commonly known by the domain name, even though it has not acquired
any trademark or service mark rights; or
(iii) respondent is making a legitimate noncommercial or fair use of
the domain name, without intent for commercial gain to misleadingly divert
consumers or to tarnish the trademark or service mark at issue.
The record shows that Respondent had obtained the exclusive rights
("die ausschließlichen Nutzungsrechte") to use the Book entitled
"Scientologie - Wissenschaft von der Beschaffenheit und Tauglichkeit des
Wissens" in January 1995 (see Exhibit 4 to Respondents Response of May
31, 2000). It registered the Domain Name in December 1995 with NSI and
then immediately started to run a homepage where Respondent stated its
intentions with regard to the promotion and sale of the Book as follows:
"Because of the name similarity and parallels in content to the philosophy
of L. Ron Hubbards "Scientology", the Free Zone Association (Freie Zone
e.V.) decided to preserve this book by republishing it in its original
context." After interventions by Complainant with Respondent and NSI, the
Domain was put on hold by NSI in September 1996. The fact remains that
Respondent used or tried to use the Domain Name for the sale of the Book
before it received notice of a dispute by the representatives of Complainant.
An inquiry by the Panelist on June 22, 2000 into the page <www.scientologie.de>,
described by Respondent to be a substitute site for "scientology.org",
and the linked homepage of Respondents association, <www.freezone.de>,
revealed that Respondent "formed itself [...] in the days when the RTC
(Religious Technology Center [= Respondent]) took over the Church of Scientology
[CofS]. This was from 1982 on, when thousands of CofS members left the
church or were expelled by the RTC."
Looking at Respondents history as stated on its website, it appears
to be a renegade group of the Church of Scientology: Free Zone was founded
around 1982 by "Captain" Bill Robertson, apparently the "right arm" of
L. Ron Hubbard at the time. According to the Articles of Association
of Respondent, the "purpose of the association is to inform the public
about the philosophies of cognition, especially the philosophy of L. Ron
Hubbard, as well as about organizations working in this field. The association
emphatically differentiates itself from the official and unofficial organizations
of the Church of Scientology. The members of the association do not agree
with their practice as well as their interpretation of the philosophy of
L. Ron Hubbard."
In summary, it is apparent that Respondent separated from the Church
of Scientology, whose founder and leader, L. Ron Hubbard, assigned all
rights to the trademark SCIENTOLOGY to Complainant. On the other hand,
Respondent is holding genuine rights in the German Book entitled "Scientologie
- Wissenschaft von der Beschaffenheit und Tauglichkeit des Wissens" which
seems to be sharing philosophical roots with the philosophy of L. Ron Hubbard.
The copyrights and other rights in this book have been licensed to Respondent
by Dr. Nordenholzs heirs, and these rights appear to be even older than
Complainants trademarks. Under these circumstances it cannot be said that
Respondent has no right whatsoever and no legitimate interest in the Domain
Name. In the contrary, to use the Domain Name as an international platform
to disseminate information about Respondents book and its underlying philosophy
appears to be a legitimate interest in itself of Respondent. Accordingly,
Complainant has failed to sustain its burden of proof in this respect.
3. Bad faith: Because the three grounds mentioned above must cumulatively be proven by Complainant, and Complainant failed already on the second ground, it needs not to be further examined if the disputed Domain Name was registered and used by Respondent in bad faith. However, for the sake of completeness, the Panelist would like to mention that there are little indications of circumstances according to para. 4.b. of the Policy given Respondents non contested rights in the Book and given Respondents interest in the Books dissemination.
7. Decision
Considering the above, Complainants request for relief under para.
4.i. of the Policy is denied.
Bernhard F. Meyer-Hauser
Sole Panelist
Dated: June 23, 2000
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