The complainant accused a Whois privacy service of being linked to malware distribution.
(https://domain-name-dispute-resolution.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/service.jpg)
Markel Corporation was caught trying to reverse hijack the domain name MarkelGroup.com. The company filed a complaint against a domain registrant in Florida, however, the mistake it made was to claim that the domain owner itself was associated with malware based on a malware report conducted on the domain's privacy service.
Two domains using the privacy service had been linked to malware, these domains were cited by Markel Corporation in its complaint. Despite Namecheap, the registrar of the domain, disclosing the domain owner's information, Markel continued to argue a connection to malware. However, there was no evidence provided by Markel to support its claim that the domain registrant was using the site to sell it.
The panelist, Alan Limbury, found in favor of the domain registrant, Noah Markel, and found reverse domain name hijacking based on the malware accusations. Historical Whois records suggest that Noah Markel is the registrant's name. The complainant filed the amended complaint knowing that the respondent wasn't associated with ransomware actors, which confirms its attempt at reverse domain name hijacking.
It would have been beneficial for Markel Corporation to hire a domain name attorney before filing the case, as it was internally represented.