HK Law Society wins 'hklawsoc.org'

Asian Domain Name Dispute Resolution Centre panellist Edward C Chiasson has ordered the transfer of the domain name 'hklawsoc.org' to the Law Society of Hong Kong. The registrant, Canada-based Domain Strategy Inc, had been using the domain name to misdirect users to a porn site.

For almost a century, the Law Society of Hong Kong has regulated and administered the practice of solicitors and foreign lawyers in Hong Kong under its service marks LAW SOCIETY OF HONG KONG, HONG KONG LAW SOCIETY and HK LAW SOCIETY. It is also the registered owner of the domain name 'hklawsoc.org.hk', which it uses for its official website.

Upon notice of the registration of the disputed domain name, the law society lodged a complaint with the Asian Domain Name Dispute Resolution Centre requesting that the domain name be transferred pursuant to the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy. Domain Strategy did not file a response.

Chiasson, the sole panellist, ruled in the law society's favour. He found that:

• the domain name is identical or confusingly similar to the law society's service marks;
  
  
• Domain Strategy has no rights or legitimate interests in respect of the domain name; and
  
  
• the domain name had been registered and was being used in bad faith.

Kenny Wong, Johnson Stokes & Master, Hong Kong