Here’s an interesting UDRP filing, the Government of Monaco, officially; Gouvernement de la Principauté de Monaco SAM Marques de l’Etat de Monaco has just filed a UDRP against the domain name MonteCarloVodka.com.
Monte Carlo is the capital of Monaco
Monte Carlo Vodka is made in Cognac France and the Owners of the brand state that the inspiration for the Monte Carlo name came from the famous city of Monte Carlo in Monaco.
Monaco seems to be not impressed or amused and has filed a UDRP with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the domain name MonteCarloVodka.com was registered in 2010.
The Vodka was introduced in the US in 2012.
Monaco independence goes back slightly longer to 1927.
Its rare to see a governmental body file a UDRP so its will be an interesting one to follow, which we of course will be doing. We may have to go out and find a bottle of the Vodka this weekend as to give you full coverage of the case
jp says
How about the MonteCarlo hotel in Vegas.
homeroag says
The Wikipedia page(s) you link to from your post both have montecarlovodka.com as the official website….. did you notice that? I wonder who wrote those Wikipedia Pages… Any guess?
Michael Berkens says
We added some additional links
thanks
Peter Müller says
Looks like they might have own rights or legitimate interests in the domain name under para 4(c)(i) of the Policy. Very interesting case.
Domo Sapiens says
Their logo is very similar to their Coat of Arms, not sure if that comes into play…
John Berryhill says
“I wonder who wrote those Wikipedia Pages… Any guess?”
A Wikipedia user whose only contributions to Wikipedia were to that page, and who seems no longer to be a user.
homeroag says
A Wikipedia user whose only contributions to Wikipedia were to that page, and who seems no longer to be a user.
What a surprise!!! Lol!!