The system of internet domain names is set to undergo a radical overhaul in the next 12 months. The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers ("ICANN") yesterday announced that from 2012, website suffixes may include generic words like .law or .health, instead of traditional suffixes such as .com or country based suffixes like .ie. There will also be a number of generic top-level domain names ("gTLDs"). These are expected to be acquired by large corporations and suffixes such as .apple and .coke may soon become available.
The changes will also mean that domain names will be available in any language or script which, for example, will facilitate domain names in Chinese or Arabic. ICANN President, Rod Beckstorm, has heralded the move stating that it will "usher in a new internet age".
Companies looking to acquire a gTLD face a costly application process. There is an application fee of €185,000 plus an annual fee of approximately $25,000. The application fee could rise if there is competition for a particular suffix. However, these fees may prove a small price to pay for the increased branding opportunities. Applications will be taken from January next year and it is expected that the first domains will go online at the end of 2012.
It is expected that the proliferation of new domain names may lead to legal difficulties for trade mark owners. One problem will be the inevitable competition for sought after suffixes, which may lead to legal battles. A further difficulty could lie in fending off 'cyber-squatters' using a domain name identical to a company's registered trade mark.
In response to concerns, ICANN has established a clearing house to track any domain names which infringe a registered trade mark. There will also be a procedure where domain names found to infringe a registered trademark will be swiftly removed.
Despite any potential legal obstacles, ICANN believes that the changes will offer "organizations around the world the opportunity to market their brand, products, community or cause in new and innovative ways."
In light of these changes, it is important for Trade Mark owners to be vigilant in protecting their marks and act quickly to deal with online infringers.
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