Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Trademarks more exposed starting January 2017

I force myself not to talk about the .SUCKS new gTLD because I strongly believe that it is the worst think that was brought by the ICANN new gTLD program. The latest announcement received from this registry - which front page states: "...is designed to help consumers find their voices and allow companies to find the value in criticism" - says that it will drop the wholesale price of .sucks domains to $1.99 in January.

What it means:
It means that the registry offers to buy a domain name for a cheap price starting January 2017 and it will then try to have buyers to renew the domain name at a much higher price at the moment to renew the domain name.
My suggestions:
  1. don't buy these domain names;
  2. don't participate in making the web worst than it already is;
  3. don't be fooled by such practice.
What does it mean for Trademarks and other Registrants:
During one year, starting in January 2017, your Trademark will be more exposed to infringements because of the low price of these domain names. Also, it will cost almost nothing to register yourname.sucks or yourtrademark.sucks for a third party.
My suggestions:
  1. don't pay attention if someone tries to annoy you because the price to renew these domain name will be higher so a squatter will probably not renew it;
  2. when paying attention to squatters, you increase their willing to renew a domain name;
  3. if you think this is going too far, have a look at the PDDRP Procedure at ICANN (Trademark Post-Delegation Dispute Resolution Procedure): "The Trademark PDDRP generally addresses a Registry Operator's complicity in trademark infringement on the first or second level of a New gTLD".
  4. don't participate in making the web worst than it already is...

What you missed in last Friday's Newsletter:
  1. Coming new gTLD: the .HOSPITAL new gTLD should be delegated soon;
  2. Cognac Producer Successfully Obtains Domains Reproducing its Brand Under new gTLDs;
  3. NAR Has Moved to nar.realtor;
  4. HOT - Your Trademark never wants to face this: http://hyatt.sucks/
  5. Coming in 2017, new domain name registration volumes for businesses related to adults;
  6. ICANN picks Madrid for next gTLD industry meeting.
Domain name registration volumes: 
  • New gTLDs related to CATERING; 
  • New gTLDs related to PHOTOGRAPHY; 
  • New gTLDs related to CITIES;
  • New gTLDs "sounding French"; 
  • HOT - New gTLDs related to COMPANIES; 
  • New gTLDs related to the LAW; 
  • New gTLDs related to FINANCE (a lot of red this week); 
  • New gTLDs related to COLORS. 
Our reports are available here.

Since most new gTLDs have launched, reports will be updated on a monthly basis starting January 2017.

Recent Trademark Clearinghouse Sunrise Period announcements

Note to our readers: starting January 2017, the content of our Newsletter will be sent by email only. It will not be made available online anymore on www.newsletter.domains.

.BRAND new gTLD Reports are updated once a month: CLICK HERE !