Most interesting UDRP: Guy whose last name is Michaels loses Michaels.ca to retailer

[Arpit131]

A Canadian appeals court has confirmed that crafts store chain Michaels should be awarded the domain name Michaels.ca.

The loser: a guy whose last name is Michaels.

David Michaels registered the domain name in 2001. In 2009 he started using the domain name to sell stuff online, and that’s where the trouble began.
It seems that the retailer was miffed at what it saw as the defendant trying to capitalize on confused internet users.
For his part, Mr. Michaels explains that the confusion began when Michaels Arts & Crafts rebranded as just Michaels and adopted a logo very similar to his signature.
Mr. Michaels says that the retailer contacted him in 2012 and demanded he transfer the domain name. The company said it would pay $10,000 and not go forward with any claims if he transferred the domain.


Source

Read the UDRP on the link.

What do you have to say about this case?

 

[forge]

Greed kills...

...your chances of keeping a "marked" domain.

 

[johname]

The 'stuff' he sold was new craft items lol.

Very confusingly similar.

Same across menu

Same horizontal banding of light, dark, light, dark

The logo style totally confusing

They have Micheals stores in Canada.

He at the last moments (months) took the crafty items off the website categories.

If he indeed is the original owner, it had Patent and Trademark site development before going craft store.

 

[deez007]

Man what a plonker, he could have walked away with a cool $10 000 in 2012.

 

[jamesau]

That rebranding was definitely a bad idea. His lawyer probably should have stopped that one.