In view of ICANN’s launch of new generic top-level domains (gTLDs), many brand owners are taking active steps to protect their brands by registering with ICANN’s designated rights repository, the Trademark Clearinghouse (TMCH). Registration with TMCH provides participating brand owners with notice of third-party attempts to register domain names that reflect exact matches of their brands. In addition, registration with TMCH allows brand owners a limited window of time (typically 30 or 60 days) termed a “sunrise period” in which to register matching domain names before they are released to the general public.
