WIPO Rules in Favor of LionsDen.com Owner

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Adult retailer the Lion’s Den has lost its domain dispute with the owners of LionsDen.com over claims that the domain infringed on the retailer’s rights.

Mile Inc., which owns the Lion’s Den retail brand of adult products and operates 40 retail stores in 18 states as well as the commercial site LionsDenAdult.com, filed the complaint last November with the World Intellectual Property Organization claiming that the domain name is confusingly similar to its mark, for which it claimed common law protection since 1971.

Mile also said that the LionsDen.com owner registered and used the domain name in bad faith in an attempt to mislead Internet users and exploit its mark for commercial gain.

The owner of LionsDen.com, a site which features various content about lions, said he registered the domain name in 1995 for personal use and argued that that he didn’t register the domain name in an attempt to infringe on the complainant’s brand.

The complainant suggested to WIPO that the current owner of the domain name may not have actually been the original registrant in 1995. But the panel said the complainant didn’t provide any evidence of this claim.

WIPO agreed with the LionsDen.com owner saying, “The panel concludes that the complainant has not met its burden of establishing the probability that the respondent registered the domain name in a bad faith effort to exploit the complainant’s mark.”

Another reason the panel determined that the domain name wasn’t registered in bad faith was because “Respondent is not a professional domainer.”

Another obstacle facing the adult retailer was the fact that the domain name is generic and was registered some 15 years before it filed the complaint.

Related:  

Copyright © 2025 Adnet Media. All Rights Reserved. XBIZ is a trademark of Adnet Media.
Reproduction in whole or in part in any form or medium without express written permission is prohibited.

More News

Doc Johnson, Polynesian Pleasures Ink Distro Deal

Pleasure brand Polynesian Pleasures has signed a deal with Doc Johnson for global distribution.

Sydney Screams, Creature Feature Toys & Tailends Studios Launch Limited Partnership

Sydney Screams, Creature Feature Toys, and Tailends Studios have launched a one-month campaign to produce customizable dildos, with some proceeds benefiting SWAID Collective.

Federal Appeals Court Vacates FTC 'Click to Cancel' Rule Pending Review

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit on Tuesday vacated the Federal Trade Commission’s “click-to-cancel” rule aimed at making it easier for consumers to cancel online subscriptions, pending further review.

Sexpo Australia Founder Launches SexEx

Sexpo Australia founder David Ross has launched his new adult lifestyle expo, SexEx.

Orion Unveils New Styles From 'Svenjoyment Bondage' Line

Orion Wholesale has released two new styles from its Svenjoyment Bondage line.

NYC Adult Stores Lose Challenge to Zoning Law, May Face Relocation

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 2nd Circuit on Tuesday upheld a lower court’s decision to allow enforcement of a 2001 zoning law aimed at forcing adult retail stores out of most parts of New York City.

FSC Drops Florida AV Lawsuit in Wake of SCOTUS Decision

A U.S. district court judge granted on Tuesday a motion by Free Speech Coalition to dismiss the trade association’s lawsuit over Florida’s age verification law, a case that had been on hold pending the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on the constitutionality of state AV laws.

B-Vibe Spotlighted in Glamour Magazine

B-Vibe has been named Best for Anal Toys in a Glamour Magazine article on pleasure brands.

Ukrainian President Responds to Porn Legalization Petition

President Volodymyr Zelensky responded Tuesday to an OnlyFans model’s petition to decriminalize pornography in Ukraine, stating that he would wait for the legislative process to play out “in accordance with established procedure.”

Williams Trading, ANME Founders Partner for Livestream Event

Williams Trading has partnered with CalExotics, Doc Johnson, and Nasstoys to host a virtual trade show July 14-15 during ANME.

Show More