What does the future of brand marketing look like in a world of 1,000+ new domains?

Chief Envisioning Officer, Microsoft UK to Deliver Keynote Address at London’s Digital Marketing & gTLD Strategy Congress (September 26 - 27, 2013).

If you are an existing or prospective TLD applicant, one of the top of mind questions you likely have is "what does the future of brand marketing look like in a world of 1,000+ new domains?"

To provide you with the insights and ideas you need to ensure your digital strategy is best prepared to capitalize on the changing internet landscape, Momentum's Digital Marketing & gTLD Strategy Congress, taking place September 26-27 in London, will once again assemble a "who's who" of brand, technology and domain experts at the industry's most interactive and highly anticipated digital marketing event.

Providing these insights are such visionaries and industry leaders as:

• Dave Coplin, Chief Envisioning Officer, Microsoft UK, who will be delivering a keynote address on "Looking Forward to the Future of Brand Marketing Post-gTLD".
• Frank T. Schilling, Founder, Managing Director, Uniregistry, Corp. who will be discussing the future of the internet and what it means for brands, investors and industry.

Additionally, by attending, you will learn:

• Connecting the Value of a Great Name: Deconstructing a Successful Go-to-Market TLD Strategy with GoDaddy.
• Digital Marketing Strategies to Best Incorporate and Maximise the Benefit from Your New TLD from KPMG and the Brand Registry Group.
• Marketing Do’s and Don’ts and Best Practices for Brands As You Prepare for Launch from .CO and Afilias.
• How to Best Utilise Your .BRAND to Your Digital Advantage with Google.
• Recommendations for Ensuring Your Brand is Not Compromised as Your New TLD Comes Online with Richemont, LEGO and HSBC.
• Best Practices from Fast -Tracked IDN CC and Geo TLDs with .Berlin and .London.
• Insights into successfully building an online brand with GoDaddy

Finally, you will gain key exclusive insights into the latest TLD developments from Christopher Mondini, Vice President of Stakeholder Engagement for North America ICANN and other key industry leaders such as Mark Monitor, Domain Diction, SEDO, Authentic Web, ARI Registry Service, NetNames, the Domain Name Association and many more.

With a room block currently at 75% capacity, this event will sell out so be sure to register for the conference and reserve your hotel room today.

A Registrar getting a head start on New TLDs

TMCH unclear or ICANN web site needs update?

When I worked for Airbus SAS, one word was in every mouth: "P-R-E-C-I-S-I-O-N" (accuracy). I wish it was the same on the ICANN web site.

On the ICANN FAQs, in "What are Trademark Claims and Sunrise Services?", I read: "The Trademark Claims period follows the Sunrise period and runs for at least the first 90 days of an initial operating period of general registration" (http://newgtlds.icann.org/en/about/trademark-clearinghouse/faqs).

The "at least" really annoys me because it I do not read the same on the official Trademark Clearinghouse web site where I read: "Trademark Claims services will be provided for a 90 day period as of general availability when a TLD launches" (http://trademark-clearinghouse.com/help/faq/how-will-trademark-claims-service-function).

So, is it 90 days maximum or 90 days at least?

American Administration involved in .WINE & .VIN new gTLDs?

I was recently informed that "the American Administration" would try to, or "would have tried to" tell .WINE & .VIN applicants to stop talking to French wine institutions regarding possible solutions on the protection of Wine Geographical Indications.

I have absolutely no idea if this is true or not but there are different reasons why this could be attempted:

1. The GAC has not enough knowledge about domain names and/or new gTLDs to help solve the problem and it causes more trouble than needed with this issue. At this point it's better if it stops causing more trouble. Ex: I don't know who had the brilliant idea to raise an early warning on .VIN and not on .WINE but I wonder if it is not the GAC in which case I agree if the situation is handled differently.
2. There is an issue with .WINE and .VIN new gTLDs and ICANN knows it. If nothing is done about these 2 strings...it would mean ICANN doesn't care about protecting wine GIs: this could cause more trouble in the future.
3. Applicants know there is an issue with these 2 strings and it is possible they know it is too late already so they play the watch. Playing the watch can mean several things:
1. "We don't want to protect .wine and .vin domain names because we could sell less domain names" (note I completely disagree with this) so let's just try to force it through;
2. "We don't want to protect .wine and .vin domain names because it means more work for us and we don't care enough about these strings to spend more time on this (these)";
3. "If we add more protection mechanisms, it will block future Registrants from buying and we don't want that" (note I also disagree with this);
4. "French are as good in business as their President is good at Presiding and American, Irish and Gibraltar Champagne are as good as theirs so why would we listen to their requests?";
5. "What? We never received any requests from them to solve the wine Geographical Indications question: did we miss something?";
6. "We applied: why didn't they come with a Community application then?";
7. "If we don't answer their requests, maybe the ICANN board will just drop it".

Of course I could invent may others but there is another one...

..."what if the ICANN board forces us to use these protection mechanisms for all of our other applications? Maybe we should just not answer then".

More soon.

Next new gTLD Applicant Webinar: 08 August 2013

Date/Time: 08 August 2013, 01:00 – 2:30 UTC (07 Aug, 6:00pm – 7:30pm PDT)

• Information on evaluation progress and program developments;
• Additional updates on Community Priority Evaluation;
• Auctions and Extended Evaluation.

More information here.

L'Oréal to withdraw its .MATRIX new gTLD application

L'Oréal to withdraw another of its new gTLD application: the .MATRIX

"Matrix is committed to serving each and every community salon and empowering stylists to create positive change for their clients and the world around them. Through inspiration and innovation, Matrix supports every salon professional to achieve their dreams".

• The withdrawn application can be found here;
• The Matrix web site.

New gTLDs objections on a map!

A Google map with countries that have objected to domain name extensions.

View ICANN map in a larger map

Provided by Krishnadev

gTLD Strategy Congress: new speakers announced

Digital Marketing & gTLD Strategy Congress - UK & European Edition - September 26-27, London

Newly announced speakers from:

• Microsoft UK;
• GoDaddy;
• ARI;
• NetNames;
• Interbrand;
• The Domain Name Association.

Find out more at www.gtldworldcongress.com