WTC Sues Ironman For Kids for Trademark Infringement

The Tampa-based Word Triathlon Corporation, owner and licensor of the IRONMAN, M DOT, and various Ironman-related trademarks, has sued a San Antonio, Texas company for trademark infringement for using the domain name “ironmanforkids.com.”

Beyond the famous IRONMAN trademark, WTC owns the trademark for IRONKIDS and many other IRON-formative marks. My own daughter has done a couple of these IronKids fun-runs before my races. WTC alleged trademark infringement and tarnishment of its reputation. Ironman For Kids apparently seeks donations to help children. WTC likely isn’t complaining of the fact of the charity, but rather that charities outside of its selection were identified as beneficiaries; the World Triathlon Corporation often selects designated charities for certain races, so that one or a few specific charities receive a benefit from one community by design.

WTC had sent a cease-and-desist letter before filing suit, but the recipient refused to budge and instead offered to sell the domain to WTC. Such actions can often prove to be incredibly damaging, as may be considered evidence of a bad faith registration, done merely to extract a premium from a trademark owner.

Often, a UDRP proceeding is a common mechanism for taking down or transferring a domain name. I ran a search through WIPO and FORUM – the two arbitration bodies for UDRP disputes – and found no history of any cases. Thus, it appears that WTC did not seek to have the domain name taken down and transferred, but instead opted to file suit directly.