Tuukka Airaksinen serves as panellist for WIPO domain name dispute

Krogerus Partner Tuukka Airaksinen recently served as the sole panellist for a domain name dispute heard before the World Intellectual Property Organization’s (WIPO) Arbitration and Meditation Center.

The dispute dealt with the issue of whether or not the domain name merck-ina.net was too close to the trade mark held by the global pharmaceutical company MERCK. An entity called above.com had registered the domain name. Links in the merck-ina.net website led to products of MERCK’s competitors.

The panel found that the disputed domain name was confusingly similar to MERCK’s registered trade mark, the registrant had no legitimate interest to it, and it was used and registered in bad faith. It ordered the respondent to transfer the name to MERCK.

Tuukka specialises in intellectual property issues. His typical assignments include representing clients in trade mark and domain name disputes, prosecuting oppositions and cancellations of trade mark registrations, advising clients on trade mark strategies and managing trade mark portfolios.

Tuukka is currently the only person in Finland to serve as a domain name dispute panellist for WIPO’s Arbitration and Meditation Center.