ICANN’s gTLD Program – A Look Back and Forward

With the upcoming ICANN51 meeting starting this Sunday thru Thursday here in LA, The National Law Review has an article out today on the new gTLDs, how brands are using and engaging them, and “which new gTLDs that may give .com a run for it’s money.”

The author, Monica Riva Talley, makes note that according to the World Trade Review, the .xyz extension was not only had 80% of the top 50 brands registered or blocked themselves in it, but that it was prevalent in cybersquatting use. (Her notation of .xyz as the most popular, is probably based on its’ inflated numbers, not ‘popularity’.)

World Trademark Review (WTR) recently explored the .xyz domain registration of the 50 most valuable brands and found that 80% had either registered or blocked their brand in this space. WTR’s review also found evidence of prevalent cybersquatting; for example, a single individual currently owns the domains names “americanexpress,” “honda,” and “homedepot” in the .xyz space.

She notes that overall brand adoption of the new gTLDs is inconsistent, with some brands more active than others. And that according to the Trademark Clearinghouse, over 33,000 trademark protection apps have been submitted from over 11,000 brands, and over 50% for multiple years.

You can read more here.