Tomorrow, 13 June 2012 (GMT), ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) will finally reveal the full list of new gTLD applications in London.
While tomorrow is the full 'Reveal Day', several applications have already been 'revealed' by the applicants themselves; from .design, .rip and .corp to the more controversial .sucks. Some brand owners have also hinted at applications for generic terms along with their brand names. It has been speculated that Google has applied for around 50 gTLDs with terms like '.lol' and '.docs' accompanying '.google' and '.youtube'. However, it is anticipated that over 1900 applications will be announced.
Tomorrow also marks the start of a 60-day period where anyone can submit comments regarding any applications. The Early Warning period for the GAC (ICANN's Governmental Advisory Committee) also takes place within this period, where a government can provide an official notice to an applicant on a gTLD application that raises sensitivities or concerns for it.
A seven-month objection period starts from 'Reveal Day', during which interested parties can object to any of the new applications on certain grounds, including prior trademark rights.
ICANN's Reveal Day is an early opportunity for brand owners to identify potential benefits and risks associated with the various proposed applications. We advise clients to review the published list of gTLD applications. We expect to be approaching some clients with specific recommendations.
We will continue to monitor ICANN for new gTLD developments and provide updates. Please do not hesitate to call us if you have any questions about your top level domain name.
