Jacquemus built its name in fashion, not for others to misuse. When unauthorised domains surfaced, attempting to exploit its brand name, Jacquemus took the fight to WIPO. The cases exposed clear bad faith registrations, with respondents either misleading consumers or sitting on domains for profit. The rulings in favour of Jacquemus made one thing clear: in the digital space, brands that don’t enforce their rights risk losing control of their identity.

WIPO Disputes: Fighting Back Against Bad Faith Registrations

Jacquemus took action through the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center to challenge domain registrations that misused its trademark. The disputes uncovered deliberate attempts to exploit the brand’s identity for commercial gain.

In one case, Jacquemus challenged the registration of jacquemus-france.com, a domain that directly copied its branding. The site, which was set up in French, mirrored the official Jacquemus website, misleading consumers into believing they were purchasing from the legitimate brand. This unauthorised use not only infringed on Jacquemus’s trademark but also posed a risk of counterfeit sales and reputational harm. The panel found clear evidence of bad faith and ordered the transfer of the domain.

In another case, Jacquemus took action against jacquemus.ltd, a domain registered without any legitimate use. The registrant, Muhammad Touseef, failed to respond to the complaint, and the panel determined that the domain was likely acquired to exploit Jacquemus’s reputation. Passive holding of a domain, particularly when linked to a well-known brand, often signals an intent to sell it at an inflated price or use it for fraudulent purposes in the future. As a result, the panel ruled in favour of Jacquemus and ordered the transfer.

Why These Cases Matter

Both cases confirm the importance of proactive trademark enforcement online. Cybersquatting is not just an annoyance; it’s a direct threat to brand reputation and consumer trust. Fraudulent domains can divert traffic, mislead customers, and even facilitate counterfeit sales, all of which weaken a brand’s reputation and market position.

Jacquemus’s actions reflect a broader issue. Trademarks are not limited to physical goods and logos. In a digital space where domain names hold significant value, securing intellectual property requires constant vigilance. Cybersquatters thrive on inaction, and brands that fail to monitor and enforce their rights risk losing control over their name online.

Trademark rights are only as strong as their enforcement. Those who fail to act risk losing control. Jacquemus acted and won.

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Sources:

https://www.wipo.int/amc/en/domains/decisions/pdf/2024/d2024-0359.pdf

https://www.wipo.int/amc/en/domains/decisions/pdf/2023/d2023-1921.pdf