TM7.com domain name dispute case, trademark holder sentenced to "reverse domain name hijacking"

Recently, home appliance brand Vorwerk (maker of Thermomix kitchen gadgets) filed a UDRP complaint against the "TM7.com" domain name registered in 1999, claiming that its trademark "TM7" rights were infringed. However, the WIPO arbitration panel ultimately rejected the complaint and determined that Vorwerk constituted "reverse domain name hijacking", maintaining the domain name at the original holder.

Key facts

1. Registration time is earlier than trademark

TM7.com domain name was registered as early as 1999, while Vorwerk's TM7 trademark was applied for and registered later. Obviously, the registration of this domain name cannot be a "malicious registration" of the trademark.

2. Judgment of RDNH

The arbitration panel pointed out that after Vorwerk failed to reach out to the domain name holder through negotiation, it took the UDRP route. Its complaint lacked legal basis and was suspected of forced purchase and occupation, which directly led to the determination of "reverse domain name hijacking" (RDNH).

"Reverse domain name hijacking" means that the trademark holder abuses the UDRP system and attempts to obtain the domain name improperly through procedural means. RDNH is not only a bad behavior, but also provides a countermeasure tool for domain name holders. WIPO's rulings are usually accompanied by public statements to remind other complainants to use this mechanism with caution.

The TM7.com case is not only a legal defeat for Vorwerk, but also provides a vivid teaching material for the intersection of domain names and trademarks. For domain name holders, this is a successful case worth extracting; for trademark holders, it is a wake-up call: to obtain domain names legally through negotiation or litigation, rather than relying on trademark rights to suppress.