Seattle Trademark Lawyer

In September, Bentley Motors Limited Corp. brought an in rem action in the Western District against the domain names BentleyUSA.com and BentleyOnline.com, which Bentley claimed contained its registered trademark.

Bentley’s cybersquatting complaint alleged that the registrant, David Hill, does not use the domain names in connection with an active, bona fide Web site; Mr. Hill repeatedly offered to sell the domain names to Bentley for more than $30,000, saying it was “logical” for Bentley to own them; and he claimed he had intercepted “hundreds of emails” intended for Bentley, including emails containing “very sensitive information in relation to profits, sales numbers, and build costs.” The complaint sought to have the domain names transferred to Bentley.

Bentley brought suit in the Western District in rem because Mr. Hill resides outside of the United States and because the registrar, eNom, Inc., resides here.

Yesterday, Judge Robert Lasnik signed a stipulated order transferring the domain names to Bentley and dismissing the case with prejudice and without an award of attorney’s fees or costs to either party.

The case cite is Bentley Motors Limited Corp. v. BentleyUSA.com, No. 07-1484 (W.D. Wash.).