Trademark Clearinghouse

"The Trademark Clearinghouse is one of several important enhanced rights protection mechanisms that have been built into the New gTLD program. The Trademark Clearinghouse will accept and authenticate rights information, and will support both trademark claims and sunrise services, required in all new gTLDs ... the Trademark Clearinghouse mechanism functions by authenticating information from rights holders and providing this information to registries and registrars. Benefits of registering a trademark with the Clearinghouse include access to Sunrise registration with new gTLD registries and notification from the Clearinghouse when a domain matching your trademark has been registered. - ICANN"

Overview and Synopsis

• The simple and easy way for Trademark Holders to register and protect their brands with NewTLDs
• Trademark Holders will be able to submit their trademark information to a single and centralized repository
• Upon verification of a trademarks credentials, Trademark Holders will be able to protect their brands through a Sunrise Service and a Trademark Claims Service
• Verified trademarks will be be able to register their respective domain name during the pre-registration period of any NewTLD (Sunrise period)
• Additionally, Trademark Holders will also have the option to be notified if someone or another entity registers a domain name that matches their record in the Clearinghouse.

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• Resellers can process TMCH applications through HEXONET via API or Control Panel
• RegistrarOC clients can submit TMCH applications through HEXONET API
• Individual clients can submit TMCH applications through HEXONET

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Benefits for Trademarks Registered with the Trademark Clearinghouse

Sunrise Services - TMCH

Sunrise is an initial period of at least 30 days where domain names are offered to Trademark Holders before they domains are offered to the general public. A Sunrise Period is mandatory for all new gTLDs and those with a validated trademark entry in the Clearinghouse can register their branded domain.

• Trademark holders will have ample time to register their IP rights using a user-friendly web interface, or an agent of their choice
• Register once with the Clearinghouse and register any or all corresponding domain names for any new gTLD
• Greatly reduce the administrative burden and associated costs for Trademark Holders

Claims Service - TMCH

The Trademark Claims service helps Trademark Holders after the Sunrise period is over. It is a notification service, mandated by ICANN for all new gTLDs, warns both domain name registrants as well as trademark holders of possible infringements. The service works as follows:

• A potential domain name registrant gets a warning notice when attempting to register a domain name that matches a trademark registered in the Clearinghouse.
• If, after receiving and accepting the notice, the domain name registrant continues to register the domain name, the trademark holder with the corresponding mark will receive notification of the domain name registration, so they can take any appropriate action.
• This service is available within the first 90 days of a General Availability.

See also

#See also