Since our last blog post, the total number of domain name registrations among all new gTLDs has reached 1,414,766. There has been little movement this week on the leader board. The leaders are:

Number

New domain

Total registrations

1

.xyz

250,731

2

.berlin

136,703

3

.club

78,767

4

.guru

64,123

5

.photography

39,868

6

.email

34,799

7

.link

33,781

8

.在线 (online)

33,726

9

.today

29,669

10

.tips

25,661

ICANN has delegated four new gTLDs to the root zone:

  • .active
  • .suzuki
  • .place
  • .direct

Protecting the home front

It is important to remember that each newly delegated string that is set to launch is potentially one new threat to a trademark owner’s brand unless it has proactively protected its registered trademarks.

As a reminder, ICANN has set up mandatory rights-protection mechanisms to help trademark owners safeguard their IP in the vast expansion of the Internet. These mechanisms are designed to support IP owners in protecting their marks from being registered as second-level domains.

The first step in this protection process is recording a registered trademark in ICANN’s Trademark Clearinghouse (TMCH), a centralized repository of protected marks. Only trademarks recorded in the TMCH receive the protections and benefits of Sunrise and Trademark Claims services.

Sunrise

Sunrise services require any newly delegated gTLDs to implement an initial sunrise period lasting at least 30 days, during which trademark owners who are registered in the TMCH and received a verified signed mark data (SMD) file can obtain a desired second level domain in the new gTLD. The SMD file is an instrument used to register domain names during the sunrise period of new gTLDs and request other services, such as initiating the Uniform Rapid Suspension process.

The following gTLDs are in sunrise; thus, those who are registered in the TMCH and have a verified SMD file can obtain early registration in any desired gTLDs:

gTLD

Sunrise opens

Sunrise closes

.中信 (citic)

06/03/14

07/03/14

.citic

06/03/14

07/03/14

.网址 (website)

06/03/14

07/03/14

.engineering

05/06/14

07/05/14

.capital

05/06/14

07/05/14

.exchange

05/06/14

07/05/14

.gripe

05/06/14

07/05/14

.globo

05/09/14

07/09/14

.moscow

06/10/14

07/10/14

.mockba

06/10/14

07/10/14

.media

05/13/14

07/12/14

.pictures

05/13/14

07/12/14

.lease

05/13/14

07/12/14

.cologne

06/12/14

07/13/14

.koeln

06/12/14

07/13/14

.haus

05/14/14

07/14/14

.公司 (company)

06/16/14

07/16/14

.网络 (network)

06/16/14

07/16/14

.网络 (network)

06/16/14

07/16/14

.town

05/20/14

07/19/14

.reisen

05/20/14

07/19/14

.university

05/20/14

07/19/14

.toys

05/20/14

07/19/14

.limited

05/27/14

07/26/14

.wtf

05/27/14

07/26/14

.fail

05/27/14

07/26/14

.financial

05/27/14

07/26/14

.london

04/29/14

07/31/14

.reise

07/01/14

07/31/14

.vegas

06/02/14

08/01/14

.dental

06/03/14

08/01/14

.care

06/03/14

08/02/14

.surgery

06/03/14

08/02/14

.rio

06/30/14

08/03/14

.yokohoma

06/05/14

08/04/14

.investments

06/10/14

08/09/14

.cash

06/10/14

08/09/14

.tax

06/10/14

08/09/14

.fund

06/10/14

08/09/14

.career

06/16/14

08/16/14

.desi

06/16/14

08/17/14

.fitness

06/17/14

08/17/14

.furniture

06/17/14

08/17/14

.schule

06/17/14

08/17/14

.discount

06/17/14

08/17/14

.luxe

06/23/14

08/23/14

.beer

06/23/14

08/23/14

.credit

06/24/14

08/23/14

.creditcard

06/24/14

08/23/14

.press

06/24/14

08/23/14

.host

06/24/14

08/23/14

.website

06/24/14

08/23/14

.claims

06/24/14

08/23/14

.gratis

06/24/14

08/23/14

.global

06/25/14

08/24/14

.digital

07/01/14

08/30/14

.insure

07/01/14

08/30/14

.accountants

07/01/14

08/30/14

.okinawa

07/01/14

08/30/14

.finance

07/01/14

08/30/14

.삼성 (Samsung)

07/01/14

08/30/14

.durban

07/01/14

08/30/14

.digital

07/01/14

08/30/14

.capetown

07/01/14

08/30/14

.insure

07/01/14

08/30/14

.republican

07/02/14

09/01/14

.bayern

07/01/14

09/02/14

.joburg

07/01/14

10/01/14

Trademark Claims Services

The trademark claims services occurs after the sunrise period closes and requires each new registry to hold a trademark claims period of at least 60 days. During this time, a potential new domain name registrant will receive a warning if the proposed name is identical to a recorded trademark in the TMCH. If the potential domain name registrant continues through with registration, the owner of the trademark or the trademark agent will receive a notification concerning the domain registration. Such notification systems are beneficial to trademark owners because it allows them to take action expeditiously.

Freedom for all, to acquire a new second-level domain

Following sunrise and landrush periods, new gTLDs move into the final stage, general availability. At this time anyone can register a second-level domain within the new gTLD subject to availability. Read a list of new gTLDs and their current status.

If any of these gTLDs could be of value to you or your brand, or are of concern — remember that, as a registered agent of ICANN’s Trademark Clearinghouse, we can help develop and implement your gTLD strategy. For more information, read Porter Wright’s law alert about gTLDs.