News

• Sanofi Secures Domain Victory in UDRP Case Against Chinese Registrant

  
  
  
  In a decisive ruling under the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP), French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi has successfully challenged the registration of the domain name <china-sanofi.com>, held by a Chinese respondent. The WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center determined that the domain name was confusingly similar to Sanofi’s long-established global trademark, lacked any legitimate use or rights by the registrant, and was registered in bad faith. The panel noted the domain’s passive holding, use of privacy masking, and the absence of any commercial activity as factors reinforcing the claim of bad faith. The panel concluded that the domain’s registration appeared designed to confusingly associate with Sanofi’s brand presence in China. Consequently, the disputed domain has been ordered for cancellation, reaffirming trademark protection under international domain governance.
  
  

  
  

  16/06/2025

• TikTok Plays Economic Card in UK Amid Escalating Security Scrutiny

  
  
  
  As geopolitical tensions increasingly intertwine with tech policy, TikTok is making a calculated appeal to UK policymakers by spotlighting its economic footprint. The Chinese-owned platform now boasts over 30 million users in Britain—its largest European market—and claims that more than 1.5 million UK businesses operate on the app, contributing an estimated £1.6 billion to the national economy. TikTok also reports a workforce of 3,000 employees in the UK, where its European operations are officially incorporated. These figures, trumpeted amid ongoing political unease about data sovereignty and Beijing’s potential influence, are clearly intended to mollify mounting concerns in Westminster. Despite launching an official TikTok channel earlier this year, the UK government has maintained a ban on the app across its devices, mirroring Washington’s hardening stance. While British authorities have so far stopped short of a full prohibition, any definitive US ban could recalibrate the UK’s position. With France, Germany, and Italy also representing major EU user bases—totalling over 70 million accounts collectively—TikTok’s latest charm offensive underscores both its strategic defensiveness and the precariousness of its Western ambitions. The following chart illustrates TikTok penetration across selected European countries as of February 2025. It visually captures the platform’s user base relative to national populations, highlighting the app’s reach and influence in markets such as the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and Italy.
  
  

  
  

  11/06/2025

• Carrefour Faces Domain Name Setback in Trademark Dispute

  
  
  
  In a recent WIPO arbitration ruling, French retail heavyweight Carrefour SA failed to secure the transfer of the domain name carrefoursolutions.com, held by Senegal-based entrepreneur Benjamin Diallo. Although the panel acknowledged that the domain name bore confusing similarity to Carrefour’s registered trademarks — including French, EU, and U.S. filings — the decisive factor lay in the legitimacy of the respondent’s use. Diallo successfully demonstrated the formation of a legally registered company, Carrefour Solutions, operating in Senegal since 2024 and engaged in intellectual services distinct from retail. He argued convincingly that "carrefour" — a generic French word meaning "crossroads" — symbolised a convergence of solutions rather than a misleading commercial link to the French multinational. Despite Carrefour’s assertions of bad faith, the panel ruled that Diallo’s preparations and business registration constituted a legitimate interest, ultimately rejecting Carrefour’s complaint. The case underscores the increasingly complex terrain of domain disputes, especially where trademarked terms overlap with common language and diverse industry applications. The chart below illustrates Carrefour’s trademark portfolio categorized by trademark classes.
  
  

  
  

  10/06/2025