By: Susan Neuberger Weller The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (“ICANN”) is the organization that oversees domain names worldwide. It recently began accepting new applications for expanding the number of generic top-level domains (“gTLDs”) on the Internet. The most popular gTLDs until now have included .com, .info, .org, and .net. With the approval… Continue Reading
Category Archives: gTLD Issue
Subscribe to gTLD Issue RSS FeedLegal Challenge To ICM Registry’s and ICANN’s .XXX gTLD Continues – What Are The Implications For Other gTLD Applicants?
Posted in .XXX Domain Names, Domain Name, gTLD Issue, TrademarkWritten by Geri Haight As we reported in December, two adult entertainment companies filed suit in federal district court in Los Angeles against the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) and ICM Registry, the sole operator of the .XXX domain name registry. The complaint, filed by adult filmmaker Digital Playground Inc. and Manwin Licensing… Continue Reading
More Comments? ICANN Extends Public Comment Period For An Additional 45 Days
Posted in Domain Name, gTLD IssueWritten by Geri Haight ICANN has announced that it has extended the public comment period for new generic top-level domain (gTLD) applications for an additional 45 days. The public comment period was scheduled to close on August 12th. The new end date is now September 26, 2012. ICANN stated that this extension will not impact other looming… Continue Reading
ICANN’s New gTLDs Program: Disputes, Comments and Objections
Posted in .XXX Domain Names, Domain Name, gTLD Issue, Trademark, Trademark InfringementWritten by Geri Haight What if someone applied for a new generic Top Level Domain (gTLD) that is confusingly similar to the gTLD applied for by your company? Who has standing to file an objection or to submit a public comment in response to an applied-for gTLD? These are the questions that many participants and observers… Continue Reading
Has Someone Applied to Register Your .BRAND?
Posted in Domain Name, gTLD IssueWe recently published an alert on the planned expansion of the domain name system and what it really means for trademark owners. Click here to read the top 5 things you need to know.
The List of gTLD Applicants: A Breakdown
Posted in Domain Name, gTLD Issue, TrademarkWritten by Geri Haight The list of gTLD applications and applicants, disclosed by ICANN yesterday, is a fascinating read. It provides an insight into how the Internet will be transformed (or, depending on your point of view, confused) in the coming years as new domain name extensions are introduced to consumers. But, at the outset, what… Continue Reading
Happy Reveal Day! The List of New gTLD Applications Is Now Available
Posted in Domain Name, gTLD IssueWritten by Geri Haight ICANN published the list of applied-for gTLD character strings today. Here is the list. Take a look to see who has applied. There are many applications for .BRANDS, like .AMERICANEXPRESS, .MACYS, and .LEGO. The majority of applications seem to be for .GENERICS, such as .APP, .BASKETBALL, .BLOG, .BOOK, .GAME, .INSURANCE and .NEWS.
Has Someone Applied to Register Your .BRAND? Find Out On June 13th
Posted in Domain Name, gTLD Issue, Trademark, Trademark InfringementWritten by Geri Haight Last year, the Internet Committee for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN), the organization responsible for the coordination of the global Internet domain name system, announced a plan to bring sweeping changes to the Internet’s generic top level domain (gTLD) structure. Internet users are familiar with gTLDs, if not by name. gTLDs… Continue Reading
ICANN’s Trademark Clearinghouse: An Update
Posted in Domain Name, gTLD Issue, TrademarkWritten by Geri Haight As part of its plan to dramatically expand the Internet’s infrastructure beyond .com (and other pre-existing generic top level domains (gTLDs)), ICANN, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, promised brand owners that a variety of additional trademark protection mechanisms would be put in place. One such mechanism is the Trademark Clearinghouse.
ICANN’s Appoints Independent Objector and Gets TLD Application System Back Online
Posted in Domain Name, gTLD IssueWritten by Jamison Arterton As promised, ICANN reopened the TLD Application System (“TAS”) on May 22, 2012. Registered users are now able to log in and complete their applications. ICANN has indicated that the system will remain open until 23:59 GMT/UTC on Wednesday, May 30, 2012.
gTLD Launch: An Update on the TAS Interruption
Posted in Domain Name, gTLD IssueWritten by Jamison Arterton and Geri Haight As previously posted, ICANN’s TLD application system (“TAS”) has been plagued by a “technical glitch ” that has caused the online application system for new generic top level domains (gTLDs) to be taken offline in order to protect the confidential information of the applicants. Despite prior indications that the system… Continue Reading
gTLD Batching Update: Digital Archery Services Available at a Price
Posted in Domain Name, gTLD Issue, TrademarkWritten by Jamison Arterton As ICANN struggles to get its application system back online, companies have begun lining up to make a profit off of the peculiarities of the application process itself. Pool.com, a domain name drop catch service provider, has recently announced a “Digital Archery Service” which, it claims, can help gTLD applicants get their applications… Continue Reading
Nothing Revealed on “Reveal Day”: New gTLD Application System Remains Suspended
Posted in Domain Name, gTLD IssueThe much anticipated “Reveal Day” — so dubbed by ICANN itself — has now come and gone without fanfare. May 1st was to be the day when ICANN was scheduled to publish the list of all applied-for new generic top level domains (gTLDs) as part of the roll-out of the new Internet era. Instead, all… Continue Reading
The Latest From ICANN: New gTLD Application System Shut Down
Posted in Domain Name, gTLD Issue, TrademarkWritten by Jamison Arterton ICANN has temporarily taken the TAS application system for new generic top level domains (gTLDs) offline due to a “technical glitch.” According to ICANN, a technical problem allowed a limited number of users to view other users’ file names and user names. To protect the applicants’ data, on April 12, 2012,… Continue Reading
The Batching Games: ICANN’s Plan to Process New gTLD Applications
Posted in Domain Name, gTLD IssueWritten by Jamison Arterton On March 29, 2012, the user registration window closed for anyone planning to apply for a new generic top level domain (gTLD). Applicants who registered prior to March 29, 2012, however, still have until April 12, 2012 to complete their application. As of March 25th, ICANN had 839 registered users in the system. Given… Continue Reading
Applying for a New gTLD? Registration Deadline of March 29, 2012 Approaches As Cybersquatting Continues To Rise.
Posted in Domain Name, gTLD Issue, Trademark Infringement, Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution PolicyTime is running out to apply for the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers’ (ICANN) new program to dramatically expand the number of generic top-level domain names (gTLDs). This controversial program has the potential to add countless new names to the currently available top-level domains (like .COM and .NET) by allowing companies to apply to serve… Continue Reading
WIPO Named Exclusive Arbitrator of “Legal Rights Objections” for New gTLD Program
Posted in Domain Name, gTLD Issue, Trademark, Trademark Infringement, Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution PolicyWritten by Jamison Arterton ICANN has recently appointed the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) to be the exclusive provider of dispute resolution services when a third party files a formal “Legal Rights Objection” or “LRO” to a pending application under the new gTLD program. In assessing the validity of an LRO, the WIPO panel will decide whether… Continue Reading
Second Application Window for New gTLDs “Reaffirmed” By ICANN
Posted in Domain Name, gTLD Issue, TrademarkLast week, during a special meeting of the ICANN Board of Directors, the ICANN Board approved a resolution that contained a “reaffirmation” that ICANN will open a second application window for the gTLD program “as expeditiously as possible.” The first application window, which opened on January 12, 2012, is schedule to close on April 12, 2012. Because… Continue Reading
The Latest on the New gTLD Launch: “Reveal Day” Set For May 1st
Posted in Domain Name, gTLD Issue, TrademarkWritten by Jamison Arterton Trademark owners, mark your calendars. ICANN announced that Tuesday, May 1, 2012 will be “reveal day.” On May 1st, ICANN will publicly post the gTLD character strings that have been applied for in connection with its new gTLD program. Following publication, interested parties may submit comments related to proposed new gTLDs, which will… Continue Reading
.Anything 101: A Brief Guide to the New gTLD Program
Posted in Domain Name, gTLD Issue, Trademark, Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution PolicyWritten by Jamison Arterton Last week, ICANN began accepting applications for its new gTLD program. ICANN has posted a series of extremely comprehensive materials outlining the registration and evaluation process. A copy of those materials can be found here. The following brief summary of the application process is geared toward trademark holders seeking to protect their trademark rights during this… Continue Reading
New gTLD Application Period Opens January 12th, Ready or Not
Posted in Domain Name, gTLD Issue, TrademarkDespite recent outcry by international organizations, those representing brand owners, and members of Congress, ICANN is set to launch the much-anticipated process to issue in the .anything world. ICANN will begin accepting applications for new generic top level domains (gTLDs) on Thursday, January 12th. In advance of the launch, ICANN has set up a new website to provide applicants… Continue Reading
International Organizations Join the Opposition to ICANN’s New gTLD Program
Posted in Domain Name, gTLD Issue, Trademark InfringementICANN will start accepting applications for new gTLDs on January 12, 2012. But not before further public opposition to the program builds. Most recently, the United Nations, International Monetary Fund and a host of other intergovernmental organizations (“IGOs”) have joined the growing list of opponents to ICANN’s new program. A recent letter sent to ICANN on behalf of… Continue Reading
Opposition Heats Up to ICANN’s New gTLD Program
Posted in Domain Name, gTLD Issue, TrademarkWritten by Jamison Arterton On January 12, 2012, ICANN will roll out its new gTLD program. Under the new program, applicants will be able to create and register a Top-Level Domain registry of their choosing. In anticipation of this rollout, 93 companies and business associations have joined the Association of National Advisers (ANA) to form… Continue Reading
Pre-Register Your .XXX Domain Names Now
Posted in Domain Name, gTLD IssueAlthough .xxx domain names will not become generally available to the public until December 6, 2011, many registrars are offering pre-registration of these domain names now. If you submit an application to reserve a .xxx domain name during the pre-registration phase (i.e., before the December 6th launch date), you are not guaranteed registration of that domain name. Nonetheless, it… Continue Reading
