The deterrent effect of the Clearinghouse

Trademark Clearinghouse data indicates protection mechanisms are working: over 500,000 claims notices delivered

New figures highlight Trademark Clearinghouse’s progress on its first anniversary, marked at ICANN49 Singapore

Brussels, 25^th March 2014: As key stakeholders in the domain name world turn their attention to the  ICANN Singapore meeting this week, the Trademark Clearinghouse (TMCH) can reveal that over 500,000 Claims Notices (CNIS) have been delivered, of which 95% of the queries for trademark terms are not being followed through to a live registration.  Notices issued by the TMCH are sent as a warning to anyone attempting to register a domain name which matches a trademark term recorded in the TMCH and this metric clearly shows the deterrent is working.

So far, less than 70 of the 1,300 applied for Top-Level Domains (TLDs) are both live and in the phase of accepting registrations from the general public, yet the number of warnings issued by the TMCH clearly indicates a high level of interest in trademarked terms from third parties.

The data is revealed in conjunction with a key TMCH milestone – the first anniversary since opening for submission of trademarks. To date, the TMCH is providing protection to over 10,000 brands and businesses and over 28,000 trademarks have been recorded within its database. Since its inception, the TMCH has worked continually to raise awareness of its critical function and to maximise the benefits it offers to trademark owners.  Crucially, by now it provides an ongoing notification service which is not time limited, as well as protection for previously abused terms.

Jan Corstens, Worldwide Project Director at Trademark Clearinghouse and Partner at Deloitte commented, “Our  firm message is to encourage any trademark holders who have yet to record their marks with the TMCH to come forward as soon as possible - it’s not too late to benefit. The TMCH remains the only universal rights protection system across the entire new gTLD programme and by recording protected terms in the TMCH, trademark owners are being offered the best protection available as more new domains are deployed. Together with the URS and UDRP, the TMCH completes ICANN’s right protection toolbox and is the first line of defense and the most cost efficient way before taking any litigating step.”, Corstens continued.  

TMCH representatives will be attending ICANN49 in Singapore. If you are also attending the summit and would like to learn more about the TMCH and its services, or to secure an update briefing, please visit booth 9. Alternatively, please contact Tanita Cross on +44 207 291 0230 or email press[at]trademark-clearinghouse[dot]com for further information.

-Ends-

About the Trademark Clearinghouse

The Trademark Clearinghouse is the centralized repository of validated trademarks for the purpose of protecting brands in ICANN’s new gTLD program. The Trademark Clearinghouse consists of two primary functions: the authentication of contact information and verification of Trademark Records and the storage of such Trademark Records in a database in order to provide information to the new gTLD registries to support the providing of Notifications of Registered Name (NORN). The Trademark Clearinghouse is operated by Deloitte and IBM, in accordance with ICANN policy.

For more information about ICANN, visit www.icann.org.