Playboy Wins Playboy.club Cybersquatting Case

Playboy Wins Playboy.club Cybersquatting Case

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. — As the old saying goes, they laughed him out of court.

An arbitration panel this week ruled for Playboy Enterprises Inc. in a cybersquatting case against a Chinese national who registered the Playboy.club generic top-level domain.

On Wednesday, a WIPO panel was left unconvinced that Wu Hongyan of Beijing registered the “Playboy” domain without bad faith, despite claims he made over the domain he acquired in February.

Wu told the panel he was planning to use the domain for a charity website reaching men who wanted to join a travel club and argued that the word “playboy” is a common dictionary word and that any person should be free to use the word “playboy.” The site, since his registration earlier this year, hasn't been developed and currently does not resolve.

“The panel has no hesitation in concluding the requisite element of bad faith has been made out,” the arbitration panel said in its ruling. “The panel considers it is inconceivable the respondent was not aware of the complainant’s trademark at the time of registration of the disputed domain name.”

The panel noted that Playboy Enterprise’s trademark registration number past 2,000 in all 45 U.S.  classes, including numerous registrations in China. The earliest Playboy trademark, No. 689431, was registered in the U.S. in December 1959.

In its decision, the panel ruled Wu’s domain, Playboy.club, was identical to Playboy’s trademark, that he did not have any rights to the domain and that it was registered in bad faith. The panel ordered Playboy.club transferred.

It’s not the first time a “Playboy” generic TLD has been considered cybersquatting after it was registered.

London real estate tycoon Michael Ross, who registered Playboy.london, lost his case two years ago.

Ross argued before an arbitrator that Playboy.london was based off his persona — a “London-based playboy who had every right to use the domain.”

The arbitrator hearing that case didn’t buy his reasoning and ordered the site transferred to Playboy.

 

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

2025 XBIZ Amsterdam Website Launches With Call for Speakers

XBIZ is pleased to announce that the website for its annual European conference, XBIZ Amsterdam, is now live.

NC Governor Vetoes Bill Targeting Adult, Could Face Override

North Carolina Governor Josh Stein today vetoed a bill imposing new regulations that adult industry observers have warned could push adult websites and platforms to ban most adult creators and content.

25,000 Sign Petition to Legalize Pornography in Ukraine

An OnlyFans model’s petition to decriminalize pornography in Ukraine has amassed the 25,000 signatures required for official consideration by President Volodymyr Zelensky.

WannaCollab Joins Pineapple Support as Supporter-Level Sponsor

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

FSC Unpacks SCOTUS Age Verification Ruling in Webinar

The Free Speech Coalition conducted a public webinar Tuesday to help adult industry stakeholders understand the Supreme Court’s recent decision in FSC v. Paxton, and its potential implications.

UK Lawmaker Calls for Appointment of 'Porn Minister'

Baroness Gabrielle Bertin, the Conservative member of Parliament who recently convened a new anti-pornography task force, is calling for the appointment of a “minister for porn,” according to British news outlet The Guardian.

FSC Toasts Jeffrey Douglas for 30 Years of Service

n the very same evening when the adult industry was hit hard by the Supreme Court ruling supporting Texas’ controversial age verification law, HB 1181, members of the Free Speech Coalition board, staff and supporters gathered to celebrate Jeffrey Douglas’ 30 years as board chair — a fitting reflection of his reputation as an eternal optimist.

TTS Opens UK Testing Location

Talent Testing Service (TTS) has opened a new U.K. location in Ware, Hertfordshire.

FSC: Age-Verification Laws Go Into Effect in South Dakota, Georgia, Wyoming on July 1

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has published a statement regarding new age verification laws set to go into effect tomorrow in South Dakota, Georgia, and Wyoming.

FSC Responds to Supreme Court Decision on Texas AV Law

The Free Speech Coalition (FSC) has released a statement responding to last week's Supreme Court decision on FSC v. Paxton, the Texas age verification law.

Show More