Recently, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) ruled in favor of the domain name holder, Canadian investor Frank Mardian (MapleDots.ca), in the Rams.com domain name dispute, dismissing the appeal filed by the Los Angeles Rams LLC. His lawyer, John Berryhill, has once again become the “MVP” in the UDRP (Domain Name Resolution Proceedings) field.
The core of the case revolves around the generic domain name Rams.com. The Los Angeles Rams argued that the domain name was identical to their trademarks “RAMS” and “LOS ANGELES RAMS,” accusing Mardian of preemptively registering the domain. It is understood that Mardian acquired the domain name in November 2022 for CAD 50,000. Previously, the domain was held by Adam Dick, who had attempted to collaborate with the team without success.
In January 2025, the dispute escalated. The Turkish “Rams” Group (involved in real estate and other sectors) offered $2 million for the domain name through the digital agency Medyae. Mardian’s team subsequently offered the Rams $3.5 million, which the team considered key evidence of trademark squatting.
However, a three-person panel of WIPO experts pointed out that “Rams” is both a well-known NFL team trademark and a dictionary term and common abbreviation, with a context-dependent meaning and widespread use. The panel confirmed the legality of the Turkish Rams Group’s business, determining that Mardian’s holding and reasonably maximizing the value of the short generic domain name fell within the scope of legitimate domain name investment, rather than trademark squatting, and that there was insufficient evidence to prove that its core purpose in registering and using the domain was to exploit the team’s trademark rights.
Ultimately, the ruling supported the defendant, and the ownership of the Rams.com domain name remained unchanged. Attorney John Berryhill Hill won another victory through professional defense.
News Source:domaingang.com，This article does not represent our position.
