WhatsApp Secures Trademark Victory Against Unauthorized Domain Use
Dec/04/2024
On November 22, 2024, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) issued a ruling in favor of WhatsApp LLC in a trademark dispute against GB Apps, which operated the domain <downloadgbwhatsapp.net>. The panel found that the domain’s usage to promote unauthorized 'GBWhatsApp' applications violated WhatsApp’s intellectual property rights. WhatsApp, owned by Meta Platforms, demonstrated that the domain name leveraged its globally recognized trademark and misled users by replicating the platform’s branding, including its logo and green-and-white color scheme. The panel ruled that the domain was registered and used in bad faith, emphasizing a pattern of prior violations by the respondent. This decision strengthens WhatsApp’s efforts to protect its brand amid increasing misuse of modified applications exploiting its trademarks. The ruling mandates the domain’s transfer to WhatsApp, reinforcing the company’s global trademark rights.
