It is a case that dates back to 2010, but given the procedural delays in France, a fortiori when all avenues of appeal are used, the Court of Cassation has just handed down a decision that should close it definitively.
The company Les Vents du Nord sold and restored wind instruments. While it had reserved its domain name in 2007, it forgot to renew it in 2010. Fatal mistake! Its main competitor, who was working in the same city, reserved it the next day. He then set up a simple page allowing to redirect the Internet user to his own site and to his own shop.
The Court of Appeal and the Court of Cassation agree that this is a nasty act of unfair competition, because it is quite clear that all this is not pure chance, and that there is a real intention on the part of the competitor to divert customers away from the Vents du Nord. In fact, it seems to have worked out sadly well, since the company has closed down in the meantime. However, it will be compensated €15,000 for the damage suffered.