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gTLDs Update: List of gTLD applications published

June 2012 - Intellectual Property. Legal Developments by ATMD Bird & Bird LLP .

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Earlier this month, we reported that the list of gTLD applications would be published on 13 June 2012. "Reveal Day" has arrived and the list of gTLD applications has been published on ICANN's website. Please click here to download a PDF copy of this list for your review.

A total of 1,930 applications for new gTLDs were received by ICANN during the application period. Of the applications received, 66 applications are for geographic names and 116 applications are for Internationalized Domain Names (IDNs), for strings in scripts such as Arabic, Chinese, and Cyrillic.

 

The applications were received from 60 countries and territories, with the breakdown as follows:-

  • North America: 911
  • Europe: 675
  • Asia-Pacific: 303
  • Latin America and the Carribean: 24
  • Africa: 17

Trade mark owners may now submit comments within a 60-day period on the applied-for gTLDs, including concerns regarding potential trade mark infringement and dilution. There is no fee involved in submitting these comments. Such comments will be considered by the independent evaluators assessing the gTLD applications. The entire assessment period for each gTLD is expected to last between 9-20 months.

 

The 7-month objection period has also commenced as of 13 June 2012. Trade mark owners who wish to file formal objections against gTLD applications that infringe their rights should do so within the specified time frame. The 4 grounds of objection are as follows:-

  • Legal Rights Objection – where the gTLD infringes existing legal rights (e.g. trade mark rights)
  • String Confusion Objection – where the gTLD applied for is confusingly similar with an existing TLD or another gTLD application
  • Limited Public Interest Objection – where the application conflicts with generally accepted norms of morality or public order
  • Community Objection – where there is substantial opposition from a significant portion of the community to which gTLD is explicitly /implicitly targeted

We can assist with:

  • Reviewing the list of gTLDs for any possible conflict with your brand
  • Reviewing the list of gTLDs for string confusion with any gTLD you may have applied for
  • Filing formal objections on any of the grounds listed above

For further information, please contact Karol Goh at karol.goh@twobirds.com

For more information please visit www.twobirds.com

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