IOC wins battle over domain name

WIPO grants ownership rights of indianoil.org to IOC

PTI | January 31, 2011



State-run Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) has won its legal battle over ownership rights to the Internet domain name , which was misappropriated by a US-based businessman.

IOC was granted the exclusive right to the domain name by the World Intellectual Property Organisation's (WIPO) Arbitration and Mediation Panel. The WIPO disallowed the claim of Nitin Jindal -- the owner of web search engine GoDaddy.com -- that he was entitled to own the website, as it was deceptively similar to IOC's 'INDIAN OIL' trademark.

The ex-parte order was given by WIPO administrative panel sole member Christopher J Pibus, who said IOC has the exclusive right to use the domain name as it is a well-known company and directed Jindal to transfer ownership of the website.

"For all the foregoing reasons, in accordance with...

Policy and... the Rules, the panel orders that the domain name, , be transferred to the complainant (IOC)," the panel said.

The panel's order came on a complaint filed by IOC seeking a directive barring Jindal from using the domain name, indianoil.org, which was deceptively similar to its trademark.

The panel said the disputed domain name is identical to IOC's registered trademark, 'INDIAN OIL', except the addition of the web domain suffix, '.org', which alone could not distinguish it from a registered trademark.

It said Jindal was aware of IOC's trademark when he launched the website in 2005, which misled netizens to websites other than that of IOC and gave information on the business rivals of the Indian oil marketing company.

It also added there was no proof that Nitin Jindal was commonly known by the name, 'INDIAN OIL', or that he had got IOC's permission to use the domain name.

Delivering the ex-parte order, the panel said in the absence of any response from Nitin Jindal, it was ready to accept IOC's contention that 'INDIAN OIL' was its trademark, as the business is well-known and has developed a significant reputation.

The public sector fuel firm, which was ranked 105th in the Fortune Globe 500 List in 2009, got the trademark, 'INDIAN OIL', registered in?1986, while Jindal only got the domain name registered in his name in 2005.

 

Comments

 

Other News

How the mind can help the body heal itself

Why do some people recover from illness against all odds? Can our beliefs, emotions and consciousness influence the body’s ability to heal? Drawing on over three decades of experience in medicine, research and medical innovation, internationally trained ophthalmologist and author Dr Dinesh Verma ex

1,364 anti-cancer formulations to cost less from today

The National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority (NPPA), under the Department of Pharmaceuticals, Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, has capped trade margins on the Maximum Retail Price (MRP) of 137 anti-cancer drugs. This was based on the recommendations of an Expert Committee constitute

Who checks the books?

I read about the news about the Coimbatore library over coffee this morning. On the face of it, the headline was about a political ‘war’ between the DMK and TVK. But what stayed with me was something much more important than the blame game behind what had transpired. A writer walking through

Development paradox: Falling poverty miracle and an inequality problem

India’s reduction in poverty over the past decade is a development achievement of considerable significance. The World Bank’s April 2026 ‘India Development Update’ estimates that the share of Indians living below the international extreme-poverty line of $3.00 per person per day i

In Arunachal, a river we call mother

In Arunachal Pradesh, the Siang is not just a river. For many of us, especially the Adi people, it is part of our family. Our grandparents fished in it. Children learned to swim in it. Our farms drink from it. When someone says a huge dam will be built on it, we do not hear the word "project".

A new retelling of the Mahabharata delves into key moments

In a time when every decision carries consequences and questions of ambition, power, loyalty, identity and moral choice continue to shape our lives, Dr. Arun Krishnan’s new book, ‘Mahakshana’ (Penguin India) offers a strikingly relevant retelling of the Mahabharata.  

Upcoming Conferences



-->

Archives

Current Issue

Opinion

Facebook Twitter Google Plus Linkedin Subscribe Newsletter

Twitter