Trademark owners who have registered their trademarks in the Trademark Clearinghouse for new gTLDs have already received more than 17,500 individual notices, regarding potential cyber-squatting on their brand in the new generic top-level domain (gTLD) name space. The TMCH, a central repository of trademarks, enables trademark holders to register domains in Trademark Sunrise, but it also warns TM holders if someone  registers a domain name that exactly matches their TMCH registration. These domain registrations may or may not infringe on a trademark, but the TMCH notification process is designed to keep brand holders aware of potential infringements. The trademark holder can then take appropriate action (i.e., C&D letter, URS, UDRP, or no action). More than 26,000 trademarks have been registered in the TMCH. If you have not registered your trademark(s) in the TMCH, it is not too late.

If you have any questions about the TMCH or new gTLDs, please contact your Safenames account manager. You may also contact us in the UK at +44 1908 200022 ([email protected]) or in the US at +1 703 574 5313  ([email protected]).