ICANN Declares June 13 ‘Reveal Day’ for Applied-for Generic Top Level Domains

June 14, 2012

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) declared June 13, 2012 “Reveal Day” for the list of applied-for generic Top Level Domains (gTLDs). These new gTLDs will have a significant impact on advertising strategies and conducting business on the Internet.

ICANN, the organization that regulates the Internet domain name system, has made available to the public a list of applied-for new gTLDs strings. The gTLD applications are subject to a comment and objection period as defined below.

Comment Period: The application comment period for the published list of applied-for gTLDs opened June 13, 2012. Any interested party may submit comments for 60 days from this date.

Objection Period: The objection period for the published list of applied-for gTLDs also opened June 13, 2012, and ICANN intends for it to remain open for seven months. There are four grounds for objecting to an applied-for gTLD:

The applied-for gTLD is confusingly similar to an existing TLD or to another applied-for gTLD.
The applied-for gTLD violates an objector’s legal rights (e.g., it may be advisable for brand owners to challenge a particular gTLD if it appears to cause a likelihood of confusion with a trademark or service mark, or is otherwise objectionable).
The applied-for gTLD is immoral or against public order.
There is substantial opposition to the gTLD application from a significant portion of the community that the gTLD targets.

A panel of experts with experience in relevant subject matter will review all objections.

Hodgson Russ can assist you by offering advice concerning:

Whether or not an applied-for gTLD is likely to cause confusion with your trademarks or service marks, or isotherwise objectionable.
How to protect your trademark, service mark, or other rights with respect to potentially objectionable gTLD applications.
The preparation and filing of comments and objections to applied-for gTLDs.

For more information, please contact:

Paul I. Perlman
pperlman@hodgsonruss.com
716.848.1479