Review: Google’s Use of the Uniform Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP)

We’ve been posting a lot about Google registered domain names of late, both new ones and domains recently transferred to Google. Yesterday, we also posted that the company is becoming a bit more strict with the use of its name. Links to a News.com article about use of the name Google and some recently compiled lists of Google domain names (new or transferred domains) are linked here.

Today, the ResourceShelf team had a moment and conducted a historical search of the WIPO (World Intellectual Property Organization’s) Uniform Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP) database ((learn more about the UDRP)) and the National Arbitration Forum Domain Name Dispute Proceedings and Decisions database to see if we could find any cases where Google had filed complaints against others who had registered domains that sounded or appeared like Google. We did NOT investigate any other databases like PACER to look for any other domain related/trademark lawsuits like Google v. Froogles.

Via National Arbitation Forum
Use this database and enter “Google” into the Complainant box. You’ll find 26 decisions listed. In all but one case the domains were transferred to Google. The only claim denied (not transferred to Google) has been Froogles.com. The most recent decision listed, with all three domains being transferred to Google, took place on June 9, 2006, with googlecheckout.com, googlematching.com, googleoutdoors.com all being transferred to Google.

Search with Google in the “Respondent” field and you’ll find two more domains: googledeluxe.com and googleemail.com both being transferred to Google.

Via WIPO

  • Date: 2002
    Case: D2002-0300
    Numerous domain names. However, this case was terminated. No narrative about the case is linked. I spot checked five names on the list:
    + arabgoogle.com (registered to Google)
    + googavista.com (not registered)
    + googlearabic.com (registerered to Google)
    For example, this domain was first registered to NameZero.com. It was transferred to Google on July 24, 2002.
    + googlelinux.com (currently registered to a company in the Bahamas)
    + googleplus.com (registered to Google Inc., transferred from NameZero in 2004)
    + googletime (now registered to a person in California)
    + googleseek (first registered to NameZero, transferred to Google in 2005)
  • Date: 2001
    Case: D2001-0125 o Go
    Domains:googlebuy.com
    googlegear.com
    googlegear.net
    googlegear.org
    Decision: Transferred to Google
    Narrative

One Response to “Review: Google’s Use of the Uniform Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP)”

  1. ResourceShelf » Over 30 Domain Names Transferred to Google Inc. Says:

    [...] We’ve even tracked down a blog post from April where the owner of these domains says he would like to sell them. Did Google pay? Our guess? No. We also checked two UDRP databases and found no mention of these domains. [...]