Attempt to Sell Lambo.com Domain for $75 Million Ends in Failure
Investments can be truly tricky. Sometimes they bring fortunes, and sometimes they end up in news headlines for reasons other than desired. An Arizona resident learned firsthand how risky this can be while trying to make a colossal profit. Back in 2018, he purchased the domain name Lambo.com for $10,000, hoping to later resell it with a huge markup.
His asking price constantly increased and eventually reached an incredible $75 million. However, he has now not only lost the opportunity to make a profit but also the website itself, which was transferred to Lamborghini’s ownership free of charge.
Who is Behind the Domain and His Strategy
This person turned out to be Richard Blair, a domain name investor whose portfolio includes over 100 web addresses. As court documents reveal, he did not develop the Lambo.com site in any way, but simply created a parking page on it that advertised the domain for sale.
The judge ruled that the owner of the Lambo.com domain acted in bad faith according to the law. Blair offered the domain for sale for enormous sums without developing the site. The court transferred the Lambo.com domain to Lamborghini free of charge following the decision.
In just three years, the asking price increased from $1.1 million to $12 million, and by September 2023, Blair was demanding $75 million. This represents an increase of 749,900 percent compared to the original purchase price.
Legal Battle and Lamborghini’s Arguments
In 2022, Lamborghini challenged Blair’s actions through the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). The automaker argued that the domain “lambo.com” was too similar to its LAMBORGHINI trademark and that Blair was attempting to profit from the brand’s good reputation.
WIPO agreed with these arguments, recognizing Blair’s behavior as “acts of bad faith,” and ordered the domain to be transferred to the company. Blair filed a lawsuit in U.S. federal court to overturn this decision but was defeated, with the court being categorical.
Court Decision and Its Justification
U.S. District Judge Roslyn O. Silver issued a 24-page decision that leaves no room for interpretation. Blair admitted that he had no rights to the “Lambo” trademark and that the domain was indeed similar to the well-known Lamborghini mark.
The court also found that Blair began calling himself “Lambo” only after purchasing the domain. The judge noted that this could not be considered legitimate use or a personal identifier under the Anti-Cybersquatting Consumer Protection Act (ACPA).
The outcome of the case was influenced by a combination of facts. Blair never made any bona fide commercial or non-commercial use of the site. As some publications note, he even redirected the domain to a forum where he accused Lamborghini of “theft” and promised to “defend, defeat, and humiliate” the automaker.
Source: Wayback Machine
Case Summary
As a result, Lamborghini receives the Lambo.com domain absolutely free of charge. Richard Blair is left with legal expenses, the loss of his initial $10,000, and a sharp court decision that dismissed his lawsuit with prejudice, prohibiting further consideration.
This story serves as a reminder of the importance of respecting intellectual property in the digital age. Court systems worldwide are increasingly siding with well-known brands against speculators who try to benefit from their reputation without making any contribution of their own. The success of domain investments depends not only on a good choice of name but also on the legality and good faith of the owner’s intentions. The Lambo.com case may become an important precedent for similar disputes in the future, showing that excessive speculation on others’ trademarks has its legal limits.