(pressebox) (Koeln, 22.06.2013) Following ICANN’s decision to liberalise the domain name market,
hundreds of new Top Level Domains (TLD) will soon begin to appear in the
online space. While the new extensions offer exciting opportunities for
brands and businesses online, ensuring the protection of intellectual
property and official trademarks across all of the new domains requires a
proactive approach from all of the stakeholders involved.

With the first new TLD launch expected this year, now is the time for the Trademark Clearinghouse (TMCH) to start encouraging IP and trademark holders to adopt a proactive stance in relation to the new domains - to ensure their best protection. Working with independent research agency Vanson Bourne, the TMCH has been able to gauge the business reactions to the changing domain landscape, the following results determine:

• the level of business awareness regarding the launch of the new domains this year
• whether businesses have adequately assessed the impact that the new TLD
programme might have on their intellectual property
• the number of businesses that plan to submit their trademarks into the
Trademark Clearinghouse
• the perceived level of threat the new domains present to trademark /IP holders
• where the responsibility lies within an organisation when it comes to protecting
brands/trademarks online

The results are revealed in an independent survey, commissioned by Deloitte and conducted by Vanson Bourne, of 200 global consumer-facing businesses with 3,000-10,000+ employees – regarding their IP provisions in light of the new domain initiative.

Hans-Peter Oswald
http://www.domainregistry.de/...