FIFA wins fifa.co.za domain dispute

The South African Institute of Intellectual Property Law ( SAIPL ) has ruled in favor of the complainant awarding FIFA ( Fédération Internationale de Football Association ) the rights to the domain name FIFA.co.za.

According to the cases and decisions report on the domaindisputes.co.za website FIFA.co.za has been registered to a X Yin since November 29, 2005.

The decision is in favor of the complainant and orders an immediate transfer of the domain from the registrant to the complainant.

The judge ruled that Fifa is the proprietor of numerous registered trademarks consisting of the word ‘Fifa’, both in South Africa and internationally and that the rights extend into various classes, and pre-date November 29, 2005 when the domain was registered.