NolaElectric.com UDRP Ends in RDNH Ruling Against Complainant

A recent UDRP case involvingNolaElectric.comended in a rare but significant outcome: the panel at WIPO denied the complaint and found the case to constituteReverse Domain Name Hijacking (RDNH).

The complainant,NOLA Electric LLC, was incorporated in 2023 and claimed the domain violated its trademark. However, the domain had been registered since 2007—16 years prior. No evidence of earlier rights or brand recognition was presented.

The panel noted that “Nola” is a well-known abbreviation for New Orleans, Louisiana, while “Electric” is a generic industry term. The domain was found to be descriptive, with no signs of bad-faith registration, misuse, or attempt to sell it.

As a result, the panel not only rejected the complaint but also issued an RDNH finding.

RDNH is a formal determination that the UDRP process has been misused—typically when a complainant tries to acquire a legitimately registered domain through baseless legal action.

This decision affirms the legitimacy of generic and geographic domain investments and warns brands that the UDRP system should not be used as a shortcut to forcibly obtain domains without valid rights.