Valhallan filed a bad faith cybersquatting dispute and tried reverse domain name hijacking, according to a World Intellectual Property Organization panelist.



The dispute arose over the domain vallhallan.con, which was registered to set up a gripe site about Valhallan, but not to steal business. The panelist found that the Respondent had legitimate interests in using the domain as a gripe site and that the Complainant had not been forthcoming in its filing.

Specifically, the Complainant failed to mention that its US trademark application was refused, and it concealed its attempt to buy the domain from the Respondent before filing the dispute. Such concealment misled the Panel and was an abuse of the process.


It is notable how the Complainant's attempt to hide certain facts hurt their case and led to the finding of reverse domain name hijacking. This emphasizes the importance of transparency and honesty in legal proceedings, especially when there is no discovery or cross-examination. It also highlights the risks of cyber-squatting and the need for clear policies and rules to govern domain name disputes.

It's laughable that Valhallan thought they could get away with such a blatant attempt at reverse domain name hijacking. The fact that they concealed material facts and tried to buy the domain from the Respondent before filing the dispute is a clear indication of their bad faith.

This case is a prime example of a company trying to use the system to silence a critic, and it's a reminder that such tactics will not be tolerated. I applaud the panelist's decision and hope that it serves as a deterrent to other companies that may try to engage in similar behavior.