Maker of Beechcraft airplanes tries to hijack domain names

Textron Innovations, the company that owns the Beechcraft brand of airplanes, has been found guilty of reverse domain name hijacking.

The company filed a cybersquatting dispute against the domains HioBeech.com and BayAreaBeech.com. These domains are owned by a company that provides services related to Beechcraft planes: inspections, relocations, and training.

UDRP panelist Sebastian M W Hughes noted that the domain owner doesn’t compete with the airplane maker in any way, instead offering services for owners of the planes.

He said the usage of the domains meats the Oki Data test for using domains related to a trademark:

1.       He uses the site to provide services related only to Complainant’s trademarked goods and no other aircraft;

2.       The Website accurately discloses that Respondent has no relationship with Complainant; and

3.       He is not trying to corner the market in domain names relating to the Trademark.

After denying the cybersquatting complaint, Hughes went a step further, finding Texton was trying to reverse domain name hijack the domain names:

Complainant is legally represented and accordingly ought to be held to a higher standard.

Respondent has used the disputed domain names in respect of the Website for several years without complaint.

Complainant did not furnish any evidence of consumer confusion.

In light of the facts of this case, including in particular the prominent disclaimer on the Website, Complainant ought to have appreciated that it would be unable to establish both the second and third limbs under paragraph 4(a) of the Policy in this proceeding.

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