New decision in favor of a celebrity

Charo Rasten brought a UDRP action against the registrant of charo.com, claiming that the domain name was identical to Complainant’s mark. Complainant, an internationally known singer, comedienne, dancer, actress and classical guitarist, asserted that she had been known continuously and extensively as Charo for approximately 35 years, had made numerous television and film appearances, and had several gold and platinum albums to her credit. Thus, although Complainant had neither registered the mark nor filed for registration, the Panel found that Complainant had acquired common law rights in the mark by establishing secondary meaning and transferred the disputed domain name to Complainant. Rasten v. URLPro, 384835 - Nat. Arb. Forum Feb. 2, 2005.