The Final Applicant Guidebook: Implications for Brand Owners

June 14, 2011 • Webinar

As the expected launch of the new gTLD Program draws nearer, ICANN has been considering a final round of comments on its Applicant Guidebook, many of which focus on requests for improved protections for brand owners in the delegation of new TLDs and the potential flood of domain name registrations that will follow. ICANN plans to post its final version of the Applicant Guidebook by May 30, 2011, in time for consideration of the New gTLD implementation program at a meeting of the ICANN Board to be held on June 20, 2011 at the ICANN meetings in Singapore.

In a few short months, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) intends to liberalize the Internet's current naming hierarchy by enabling a large number of generic Top-Level Domains (gTLDs) to be added to the existing Domain Name System under its New gTLD Program. The new gTLDs may run a wide gamut of categories, from brand names to geographic locations to virtual communities to generic goods or services. The availability of the new gTLDs is expected to have major competitive and legal implications for brand owners worldwide. Regardless of a company's position on the benefits or burdens of the new system, the time has arrived when everyone must decide the best course of action for their business.

This webinar will examine:

• The latest details regarding the final New gTLD Applicant Guidebook
• Implications for brand owners who are interested in adding gTLDs to their brand protection strategy and brand owners who are pursuing a defensive strategy with respect to the new Program
• How companies are continuing their preparations
• Expectations ahead of the ICANN meetings in Singapore in late June

Speakers:

• Flip Petillion - Partner, Crowell & Moring LLP. An expert in the legal aspects of TLD and domain name litigation. An arbitrator in different organizations, including WIPO, NAF, CAC and CEPANI.
• Ben Anderson - Domain Operations Manager, NetNames. An expert in Registrar and Registry operations management. A member of the INTA ccTLD subcommittee, ICANN's Vertical Integration WG and GNSO as well as a number of ccTLD registry groups.
• Bart Lieben - Counsel, Crowell & Moring LLP. An expert in the legal aspects of setting up TLDs (including .ASIA, .EU, .MOBI, .CO) and the architect of the ClearingHouse for Intellectual Property (CHIP).

Date: Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Time: 12:00 - 1:00 pm EDT