[HELP] Domain dispute issue with Lego

[fanatic4k]

Hi guys,

So basically, I'm in a shitty situation where Lego is firing some domain dispute against me since I registered 4 domains with their name Lego in them for creating affiliate sites.

On December 20th, I got an email from WIPO that says something about "complainant" and "domains". Tbh, I didn't pay much attention to that email since I didn't know what they're talking about.

However, today, when someone at DHL told me that they got a "package" for me and it is from WIPO, I checked back the email and it was like "holy shit".

I instantly removed the content on sites and removed them from my hosting account as well as pointing the DNS back to Namesilo which was the domain registrar.

The information inside Namesilo that I used to register the domains is not my correct information except the email.

Now they say I have to pay them $2,000 for this case before January 12th, 2014.

Anyone here has experiences in dealing with this situation? Please help.

Thanks

Edited thanks to Tensegrity advice.

 

[tahworld]

Just say you're into rap and you meant "let's go"

 

[Tensegrity]

You cannot be sued if you cannot be found as you need to be formally served. As long as there is no way of tracing the domains back to your current address, then the DHL package is probably not a lawsuit and most likely a late christmas gift or something. The only way I can think of them finding your real address is if you used the same email for another domain or service that is publicly listed somehow. Otherwise, there would be no way that Lego would legally get your private info like that.

I am interested in what these domains were and how Lego decided they were infringement? Although you are stating that you definitely had malintent, which is a bad thing to openly admit (even on a web forum like this -- can your BHW be traced back to you?? Be paranoid when it comes to legal..)

 

[ficfroc]

did you pay with your real credit card, or a random VCC ? If you paid with your credit card it's the same as if you have given your real informations.

 

[lazyLT]

Looks like a smart scam.

 

[manking]

Looks like a smart scam.

I agree with this, it may be a scam, many people have fallen for these types of scams. First make sure if the threat is real. Look through every info, check the telephones numbers, etc, if something fails short report police. check the senders ip and see where this directs you to

 

[pankajg]

Hi fanatik,

I worked with a domain registrar for many years in the past.

That $2000 is the WIPO arbitration fee. You dont have to pay it, if you dont plan to contest the charge from Lego.

Just dont do anything and the arbitrator would give the verdict that Lego should get the domain and the domain registrar would transfer the domain to Lego.

If you want to contest it, then only you have to pay the $2000 for the arbitration.

Regards,
P

PS: this is not a scam. WIPO dont do scams. They are the arbitrators for most of TLD disputes.

 

[Gogol]

Depends on where you live. Are you in the States or in the EU?

 

[EddieC123]

PS: this is not a scam. WIPO dont do scams.

They may well not - but how do you know it actually is WIPO without doing some digging?

 

[fanatic4k]

Thanks guys for your helpful replies This is why I love this community!

Today, the service man at DHL emailed me about the package that doesn't have valid information. I asked them who sent the package, and here is what they have for me:



So I think this is not a scam. I also googled the phone number and it seems like it's from WIPO as well.

You cannot be sued if you cannot be found as you need to be formally served. As long as there is no way of tracing the domains back to your current address, then the DHL package is probably not a lawsuit and most likely a late christmas gift or something. The only way I can think of them finding your real address is if you used the same email for another domain or service that is publicly listed somehow. Otherwise, there would be no way that Lego would legally get your private info like that.

I am interested in what these domains were and how Lego decided they were infringement? Although you are stating that you definitely had malintent, which is a bad thing to openly admit (even on a web forum like this -- can your BHW be traced back to you?? Be paranoid when it comes to legal..)

Thanks Tensegrity for your response. The domains that I have are something like legoABC.com, legoXYZ.com where ABC and XYZ are lego products.

I've checked back the information I have with other registrars and paypal and the address there were not the correct one. Not sure if I missed out elsewhere. I googled my email address and there were no other places related to these "domain" things, just some random web 2.0 I had long time ago.

did you pay with your real credit card, or a random VCC ? If you paid with your credit card it's the same as if you have given your real informations.

I paid for the domains using paypal. And the address I have on paypal is not the correct one.

Hi fanatik,

I worked with a domain registrar for many years in the past.

That $2000 is the WIPO arbitration fee. You dont have to pay it, if you dont plan to contest the charge from Lego.

Just dont do anything and the arbitrator would give the verdict that Lego should get the domain and the domain registrar would transfer the domain to Lego.

If you want to contest it, then only you have to pay the $2000 for the arbitration.

Thanks pankajg for your clarification!

I was not sure if I should replied back to the emails that they "CC-ed" me inside or not. Looks like I should not.

So, basically, now I just need to wait for the deadline to pass and WIPO will issue Namesilo to transfer the domains to Lego and this case could end right?

Depends on where you live. Are you in the States or in the EU?

No, I'm from the "far East"

 

[tony_d]

Honestly, just avoid service, and let go of the domains... it will self-extinguish.

 

[fanatic4k]

Honestly, just avoid service, and let go of the domains... it will self-extinguish.

Yeah, I will definitely let the domains go if Lego want them. They've served me fine during the Xmas season and now Lego can take them if they want

 

[Gogol]

In that case you might get away with not paying the sum, but cease and desist! You don't want fight with someone having deep pocket right?

No, I'm from the "far East"

 

[fanatic4k]

In that case you might get away with not paying the sum, but cease and desist! You don't want fight with someone having deep pocket right?

Yeah, I think that's the way I should go since fighting against a company like Lego is not a smart choice. And it's not worth it in my opinion.

If what pankajg said is right then paying $2,000 for the arbitration fee just to dispute $30 worth of domain is stupid.

 

[OnlineA]

If you don't sell a product that competes with LEGO on the websites, you will win the WIPO.

 

[Gogol]

If you were in EU or US, you had to pay the money whether it is stupid or not! Some of our members from those places might have had such experience already.

Yeah, I think that's the way I should go since fighting against a company like Lego is not a smart choice. And it's not worth it in my opinion.

If what pankajg said is right then paying $2,000 for the arbitration fee just to dispute $30 worth of domain is stupid.

 

[CosmicSoundz]

rule #1.

Dont EVER accept packages from unknown sources in situations like this. At least in America it can be a trick to serve you court papers. If you dont accept these papers you cant be served into court.

Same thing happens in person. Someone hired will follow you and randomly say your name or ask if you are who you are and then hand you the papers. DONT EVER TAKE THEM.

 

[pankajg]

If you were in EU or US, you had to pay the money whether it is stupid or not! Some of our members from those places might have had such experience already.

If its for WIPO arbitration, you dont have to pay anything, irrespective of the country you live in, unless you want to go into arbitration. As i said before, i worked for one of the worlds biggest Domain Registrar for over 12 yrs. Seen this a lot of time, since, as a domain registrar a copy of the complaint also comes to us and a copy of the verdict, so that we can move the domain to another account. In 99.9% of the case, WIPO arbitrators would award the domain to the trademark owner.

 

[Cryptocurrency]

rule #1.

Dont EVER accept packages from unknown sources in situations like this. At least in America it can be a trick to serve you court papers. If you dont accept these papers you cant be served into court.

Same thing happens in person. Someone hired will follow you and randomly say your name or ask if you are who you are and then hand you the papers. DONT EVER TAKE THEM.

http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Process+serving+laws

"A defendant cannot avoid the service of process by refusing to accept delivery of the papers. Many cases have upheld service where the process server dropped the papers at the defendant's feet, hit the defendant in the chest with them, or even laid them on the defendant's car when he refused to get out or open the door."

I am not a lawyer, and this is not legal advice. I believe this link I found proves you wrong.