New Delhi, September 1, 2026: Anand and Anand has successfully represented The Scent Stories in proceedings before the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center, resulting in the dismissal of a complaint concerning the domain name www.thescentstories.com.

In its decision, the WIPO Panel held that the complainant had not established the requisite element of registration and use of the disputed domain name in bad faith. The Panel noted that, under the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP), establishing bad faith constitutes one of the three cumulative requirements for a complaint to succeed.

Evidence of Bona Fide Business and Use in India

A significant aspect of the proceedings was the evidence placed on record establishing The Scent Stories’ bona fide commercial activities in India.

The Panel took note of sales records and invoices demonstrating use of the THE SCENT STORIES mark in India since at least 2022. The Panel also considered the company’s valid Indian trademark registration and the evidence demonstrating its genuine business activities in the country.

The Panel found no evidence establishing bad faith, cybersquatting or any conduct intended to create an association between The Scent Stories and the complainant. It also noted that the complainant had not substantiated use of its trademark in India or established any reputation in the Indian market.

Procedural Issues and AI-Assisted Drafting

The proceedings also raised an important procedural issue concerning an unsolicited supplemental filing submitted by the complainant after The Scent Stories had filed its response. The Panel declined to admit the supplemental filing, observing that the material sought to be introduced could reasonably have been anticipated and investigated prior to the filing of the complaint.

The Panel further noted the presence of certain internal drafting notes in the complaint and observed that the complaint appeared likely to have been prepared using an AI platform. The observation highlights the importance of appropriate review and verification of filings, particularly where AI-assisted drafting tools are used in legal proceedings.

Commenting on the decision, Safir Anand, Senior Partner, Anand and Anand, said:

“The matter required us to place the client’s bona fide business activities and legitimate interests squarely before the Panel, supported by contemporaneous commercial evidence. The decision reinforces the importance of examining the complete factual and commercial context in domain name disputes, particularly where allegations of bad faith are concerned. It also serves as a timely reminder that technology-assisted drafting must be accompanied by careful legal review and verification of the material placed before a judicial or arbitral forum.”

The matter was handled by Safir Anand, Senior Partner, along with Rashi Chandhoke, Senior Associate, from Anand and Anand.

About Anand and Anand

Anand and Anand is one of India’s leading intellectual property law firms with offices in Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Bengaluru. The firm advises and represents clients across patents, trademarks, copyrights, designs, litigation, enforcement and allied areas of intellectual property law as also corporate and commercial laws. For over a century, Anand and Anand has been at the forefront of protecting innovation, brands and creative assets for domestic and international clients.