ICANN stands ready to accept applications for new generic Top-Level Domains in January 2012. The New gTLD Program brings with it rights protection mechanisms that may be of use to trademark holders seeking to protect their rights.

1. © 2011 EHSchierman .COM and .NET, meet .ANYTHING Introducing the New Generic Top-Level Domain Program September 15, 2011 Elizabeth Herbst Schierman US Patent Attorney CLE Presentation Sponsored by the Intellectual Property Law Section of the Idaho State Bar

2. Topics Covered Terminology History Program in a Nutshell Application Process Rights Protection Mechanisms URS vs. UDRP Future Outlook

4. Top-Level: www.website.com

5. 2nd-Level: www.website.com

6. gTLD: Generic TLD

7. ccTLD: Country Code TLD

8. ICANN – The Internet Corp.

10. Operates the gTLD

11. e.g., Verisign, Inc.

12. Registrar

13. Services the gTLD

14. e.g., Go Daddy

15. Registrant

17. .com, .edu, .gov, .int, .mil, .net, .org, .arpa

18. 1998 - ICANN Created

19. 2000 – 1st gTLD Expansion

21. .asia, .cat, .jobs, .mobi, .post, .tel, .xxx, .travel

23. June 2011 – Program Approved

24. January 2012 – Application Period Will Open

26. App. New gTLD = App. To Run Business

27. Eligibility:

29. 1st Rnd App. Window = 90 Days

30. Eval. Fee - $185,000

31. Total App. Process Time:

32. 9-20 mos.

33. App. Classification:

34. Community-Based, or

36. Window: Jan 12–Apr 12, 2012

37. $5000 to Register & get Form

38. Complete Form, Pay $180,000

39. Demonstrate Ability to Operate Registry

41. w/i 2 wks of Close of App. Submission Period

42. 4: Comment Period

43. w/i 60 days of Publication

44. 5: GAC – Early Warning

46. String Review

47. Similarity in Appearance to Existing TLDs or Reserved Names

49. Opens: Posting Complete Apps.

50. Closes: ~7 mos.

51. Dispute Resolution

52. 8: String Contention

53. Same or Similar Strings

55. 10: Pre-Delegation Technical Test (~ 2 mos.)

56. 11: Delegation

58. History of Cybersquatting

59. Initial Evaluation:

60. String Reviews:

62. String Reviews (cont.):

63. App. gTLD compared to

64. Existing gTLDs

65. Applied-for gTLDs

66. Requested IDN ccTLDs

68. Identical = App. Can’t Be Submitted

69. Similar:

70. Existing gTLD: Fail

72. Grounds:

73. 1) String Confusion Objection

74. Confusingly-Similar to Existing TLD or Same-Round Applied for TLD

76. 2) Legal Rights Objection

78. 2) Legal Rights Objection (cont.):

79. Standing: Rightsholder

80. E.g., Trademark Rights Holder

81. Registered or

83. 2) Legal Rights Objection (cont.):

84. Factors:

85. Similarity

86. Bona Fide Acquisition and Use by Objector

87. Strength

89. 2) Legal Rights Objection (cont.):

90. Factors (cont.):

91. Applicant’s Use or Preparation to Use w/ Bona Fide Offering of Goods or Services or Info in Non-Interfering Way

92. Applicant’s Marks

94. 3) Limited Public Interest Obj.

95. Contrary to Generally Accepted Legal Norms of Morality and Public Order, Per Int’l Law

96. Standing: Anyone

98. 4) Community Objection

99. Substantial Opp’n from a Significant Portion of Community Targeted

101. File with DRSP

102. In English

103. Burden: On Objector

104. Evaluation:

105. 1 or 3 Experts on Panel

106. Additional Statements?

108. Costs

109. Filing Fee $1,000-$5,000

110. BOTHfor Filing Objection & Responding to Objection

112. Contention Sets:

113. Community Priority Eval.

114. Community-Based App(s). Get Priority

115. Scored – Need 14+ Points

117. Contention Sets (cont.)

118. Auction

119. Bids in Rounds – Start Price and End Price

121. Trademark Clearinghouse

122. Registered Mark Holders Can Seek Listing – Fees ?

123. Trademark Claims Service

124. w/i 60 Days of Reg. Opening

126. Trademark Claims Service (cont.)

127. Notice to Mark Holder - Domain Name Registered

128. Sunrise Period

130. Sunrise Period (cont.)

131. w/i 30 Days of Pre-Launch

132. Precedes “Land Rush” or General Availability Period

133. Notice to Mark Holder - Someone Seeks Sunrise Reg.

135. Uniform Rapid Suspension (URS)

136. Standing: Registered or Court-Validated Mark Holder

137. Against: Registrant (2ndLevel)

138. Registrant No Legitimate Right or Interest in Domain Name

140. URS (Cont.)

141. Standard: Clear & Convincing Evidence

143. Trademark Post-Delegation Dispute Resolution Process (PDDRP)

144. Standing: Trademark Holder Claiming Infringement

145. Registered or Unregistered

147. PDDRP (cont.)

148. Top Level

149. Taking Unfair Advantage of Distinctive Character or Reputation of Mark; or

151. PDDRP (cont.)

152. Top Level (cont.)

153. Likelihood of Confusion

154. 2nd Level

155. Pattern of Profit from Sale of Infringing Domains, &

157. PDDRP (cont.)

158. Burden: Complainant

159. Standard: Clear & Convincing Evidence

161. Registry Restrictions Dispute Resolution Procedure (RRDRP)

162. Standing: Harmed Organization or Individual

164. Uniform Domain Name Resolution Policy (UDRP)

165. Implemented in 1999

166. Against: 2ndLevel

168. URS: Holder of Registered orCourt-Validated Mark

169. UDRP: Mark Holder, Registered or Unregistered

170. Standard

171. URS: Clear & Convincing

173. URS: Lower (e.g., $300 Filing)

174. UDRP: Higher (e.g., $1,500+)

175. Timing

176. URS: ~Faster (e.g., Resp. 14d)

178. URS: Suspended Domain

179. UDRP: Transfer Available

181. Estimated 200-300 TLDs Delegated Annually

183. More Land for Squatters

184. More Options for Infringers

185. More to Monitor

186. More Expense

187. Objections

188. Clearinghouse Fees

190. More Marketing Flexibility

191. Another TM Search Tool

192. Clearinghouse Data

193. Avoid Unintentional Infringement

195. Early Detection of Infringement by Others

196. Notice of Reg. of Domains

197. Willful Infringement Evidence

198. TM Claims Service Not.

200. Monitor Complete gTLD Apps.

201. File Objections

202. Register with Clearinghouses

203. Register Marks

204. Plain Word vs. Design Marks