Frequently Asked Questions - Registrars

Registrars can only query the CNIS for domain names that have been applied for by a potential domain name registrant. Registrars are prohibited from querying the CNIS for any other purpose.

The Trademark Notice must be provided by the registrar to the potential domain name registrant in English. Additionally, to best serve its potential domain name registrants, registrars should provide the Trademark Notice to potential domain name registrants in the language of the registrant’s registration agreement.

The specific technical obligations that registrars must satisfy when processing Claims Registrations is available at http://tools.ietf.org/html/draft-lozano-tmch-func-spec sections 5.3.4 and 5.3.5. In general, Registrars must verify domain name availability with the Registry Operator and obtain a CNIS lookup key if the label is covered by a trademark record, registrars must query the CNIS to obtain Claims Notice Information (see section 6.5 of http://tools.ietf.org/html/draft-lozano-tmch-func-spec section), use the Claims Notice Information to populate the Trademark Notice (see Exhibit A of http://newgtlds.icann.org/en/about/trademark-clearinghouse/rpm-requireme...), clearly and conspicuously display the Trademark Notice to the potential domain name registrant and inquire as to whether the potential domain name registrant wishes to continue with the registration. The Trademark Notice must be provided by the registrar at the time of potential registration in real time, without cost to the prospective domain name registrant, and must be in the form specified in the Trademark Notice Form (an example of which is attached to Exhibit B of the TMCH Requirements). The Trademark Notice must require an affirmative confirmation by the potential domain name registrant to continue with the registration.

Please submit your question to IBM.

During the sunrise of a new TLD, you may go to a Registrar to request the registration of a domain name (e.g. exampleone.example or example-one.example). The registration process is going to be similar to the process you are used to with your favorite Registrar, but at some point in the process, the Registrar will ask you for your SMD file. The Registrar may require you to upload the SMD file (similar to the process to upload an attachment on a web mail provider) or to copy/paste the contents of the SMD file (select all text, copy and paste) into a text box.

Yes, you must be an ICANN accredited registrar to register within the Clearinghouse.