Financial Services Giant AXA Wins Cybersquatting Case Against 2 Porn Sites

PARIS — A WIPO arbitrator last month sided with AXA S.A., the French global investment and insurance conglomerate, which claimed that two porn websites, AXAPorn.com and AXATube.com, were cybersquatting on its brand.

As a result, the arbitrator ordered both sites transferred to AXA.

AXA is a conglomerate of independently run businesses, operated according to the laws and regulations of many different countries. But porn isn't one of them.

AXA said in a cybersquatting claim that the two sites, both containing sexually explicit content, have been operating for quite some time; AXAPorn.com was registered in July 2011 and AXATube.com in June 2008.

The Paris-based company said that it has registered the trademark "AXA" in several countries, including the E.U., and that it well known worldwide with its 96 million customers and 214,000 employees. The company, the second-largest insurer in Europe, had revenue of €86 billion in 2011.

The operator of AXAPorn.com and AXATube.com, according to the claim, is Ruben Weiner of Apeldoom, the Netherlands. Weiner did not answer the complaint as respondent.

AXA said that the respondent used the disputed domain names to offer porn content and derive pay-per-click revenue. The company called the practice “porno-squatting.”

Further, the word “axa” has no dictionary meaning, AXA said, and the disputed domain names were registered in order to take advantage of its reputation.

Tuukka Airaksinen, the WIPO arbitrator, ruled that it was unlikely that the respondent would not have been aware of the AXA's trademark when registering the disputed domain names.

"The panel also considers that using a domain name that is confusingly similar to a well-known trademark for pornographic services, especially when also deriving pay-per-click revenue, advertising links to third-party pornographic websites, is evidence of use and registration of the disputed domain names in bad faith," Airaksinen wrote.

"On one hand it may harm the reputation of the trademark and on the other hand the respondent is using the complainant’s mark to attract Internet users to its websites for commercial gain."

Airaksinen ordered the websites transferred on May 19; however, at post time, both sites continue to offer adult entertainment.


  

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

AEBN Reveals Eva Maxim as Top Trans Star for Q2 of 2025

AEBN has published its top trans stars list for the second quarter of 2025, with Eva Maxim landing atop the leaderboard.

France Reinstates Age Verification Rule for EU Sites

France’s highest court, the Council of State, on Tuesday reinstated age verification rules for EU-based sites under the country’s Security and Regulation of the Digital Space (SREN) law, ruling in favor of the French government and against Hammy Media.

Whisper Fans Joins Pineapple Support as Supporter-Level Sponsor

Whisper Fans has joined the ranks of over 70 adult businesses and organizations committing funds and resources to Pineapple Support.

Utherverse Launches 'Red Light Center' Virtual World

Virtual reality and metaverse technology company Utherverse has launched its new virtual world, RedLightCenter.io.

European Commission Approves AV Guidelines, Unveils Prototype App

The European Commission on Monday released its final, approved guidelines for protecting minors online under the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) and made public a “white label” age verification app intended to help sites and platforms comply with age verification rules under the DSA.

New Membership Site 'Sluts Corner' Launches

R18 Entertainment has launched a new membership site, SlutsCorner.com.

Roxie Rae Relaunches Site Through XSiteAbility

Roxie Rae has relaunched her site through XSiteAbility.

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.

Show More