The New Trademark Clearinghouse

With the huge increase in number of generic Top-Level Domain Names, trademark owners should consider recording their registered trademarks with the new Trademark Clearinghouse to be launched by The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). Beginning March 26, 2013, trademark owners may submit trademark information to the Trademark Clearinghouse to protect their online brands. Otherwise, brand owners may have to force transfer of domain names that incorporate the owners' trademarks.


As additional services, the Trademark Clearinghouse will notify trademark owners when someone else seeks to secure a domain name that matches their registered trademark, plus trademark owners may also secure second level domain names that correspond with their registered trademarks before the general public can do so.