Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Users urged to register .africa now

Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) plans to launch some 1900 new Generic Top Level Domains (gTLD’s). This new system will allow for the registration of generic words, geographic names and brand names as top level names, for example .lawyer, .africa, .zulu, .google and .clothing, and ICANN has established a so-called ‘Trademark Clearinghouse’, which came into effect on 26 March 2013.

“If you register with the Trademark Clearinghouse (TMCH) you will be entitled to register your trade mark as a domain name during the so-called ‘Sunrise Period’ for each new gTLD as and when it comes into effect.  This will give you a preferential registration right, in that you will be able to register your trade mark as a domain name before the general public are able put in their applications,” the company said in a statement.

ICANN have just announced the launch of the first batch of new gTLD’s, which are as follows:

TLD
Sunrise Period
.shabaka
31 October 2013 – 29 December 2013
.ventures
26 November 2013 – 24 January 2013
.holdings
26 November 2013 – 24 January 2013
.clothing
26 November 2013 – 24 January 2013
.plumbing
26 November 2013 – 24 January 2013
.bike
26 November 2013 – 24 January 2013
.singles
26 November 2013 – 24 January 2013
.guru
26 November 2013 – 24 January 2013


The company highlighted that it is very important for companies to register with the TMCH. “It is extremely important for you to register your trade mark with the TMCH, otherwise you will not be able to participate in the Sunrise Period. For example, when .africa launches in March 2014, if you not registered your trade mark with the TMCH you cannot participate in and/or register your trade mark as a TLD, during the Sunrise period. The same applies to .durban, .joburg and .capetown.”

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