David Hilliard and Ashly Iacullo prevailed in a proceeding, winning the domain names and on behalf of the American College of Trial Lawyers. The WIPO panelist found that the domain names were confusingly similar to the College’s federally registered marks AMERICAN COLLEGE OF TRIAL LAWYERS and that the respondent failed to show any legitimate rights in the names.
After the ICANN Complaint was filed with WIPO in November, the respondent filed a declaratory judgment action in the state court of Alabama and also registered the domain name . The College successfully removed the action from state court to the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama and counterclaimed under the Anti-Cybersquatting Act, adding the recently registered domain name and seeking statutory damages. This is just one of many trademark disputes between the American College of Trial Lawyers and the respondent and his related-organization. Cases are pending before the United States District Court for the Middle District of Alabama and the United States Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.
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