The new generic Top Level Domains (gTLDs) represent a major expansion of real estate on the Internet. With hundreds of new gTLDs launching, the Trademark Clearinghouse (TMCH) is the first step you need to take to protect your trademark.
Introduced as a rights protection mechanism by ICANN, the TMCH is a central repository that that contains and verifies trademark information. Brand owners enrolled in the Trademark Clearinghouse gain access to the Sunrise Period and the ability to buy domain blocks.
Registering your trademark through the TMCH also means that you receive notifications if a third-party attempts to register your trademark as a domain name under the new gTLDs. These notifications protect your trademark without having to register your domain name in each new gTLD extension.
Dedicated account managers ensure the accuracy of your Trademark Clearinghouse submission to save you time.
Trademark validation may take up to 34 days, but Webnames.ca can help expedite the process to 15 days or shorter, in some cases.
Once your Trademark Clearinghouse application has been approved, you receive a SMD file with your trademark information. This file can be stored within your Webnames.ca account to quickly grant you access to the Sunrise Period of each new gTLD.
To submit your trademark for validation, please select your trademark type and fill out the form below to provide us with information on your registered trademark. The TMCH will accept 3 trademark types: Registered trademarks, Court validated marks and Marks protected by statute of treaty.
Need help? Call us at 1-866-470-6820 (North America) or 1-778-329-9834 (International) or by email at tmch@webnames.ca.
As Canada’s only accredited Trademark Clearinghouse agent, Webnames.ca helps identify key new gTLDs, while giving you unparalleled advice on how to protect your brand. With years of experience, our account managers give you the right advice and solutions to protect your trademark online.
Each new gTLD launches with a Sunrise Period, a priority registration phase exclusive to brand owners. As your trademark agent, Webnames.ca gives you advice and access to our leading domain registration system to keep your trademark safe.
Save time when you submit your Trademark Clearinghouse application. Your account manager ensures that your application is always accurate and includes all the necessary information.
Your dedicated account manager ensures that your TMCH submission is always up-to-date and renewed automatically to protect your trademark.
Receive up-to-date information about the gTLDs including launch dates, eligibility requirements and pricing.
Track and manage all your domain names and TMCH information from a single dashboard. Monitor all your Sunrise registrations, SMD files and domain pre-orders with ease.
Once enrolled into the Trademark Clearinghouse, Webnames.ca can help you secure domain “blocks” to keep your brand safe without having to register each domain.
The Trademark Clearinghouse was created by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to act as a repository for trademark information. With hundreds of new gTLDs launching, the TMCH also acts as a verification tool of trademark submissions. Once trademarks have been verified, access to the Sunrise Period, a priority registration phase, is made available to trademark owners.
Each new gTLD typically has three launch phases: Sunrise, Landrush/EAP and General Availability.
Sunrise Period – the first phase of a launch, Sunrise is only available to brand owners that are enrolled in the Trademark Clearinghouse.
Landrush/Early Access Period – the subsequent phase, Landrush/EAP allows any registrant to secure a domain name, provided they are willing to pay a premium price.
General Availability – the final phase, General Availability is an ongoing phase and is open to everyone.
The Trademark Clearinghouse comes into play because it allows brand owners the ability to register their domain names prior to the general public. In addition, once a domain name hits GA, the TMCH provides a claims notice services, where brand owners are notified if their brand is infringed upon.
The Trademark Clearinghouse acts as a repository that different gTLD registries can access. Once the launch dates of individual domain extensions draw near, gTLD registries require a “Single Mark Data” (SMD) file issued by the TMCH. The SMD file grants you access to the Sunrise Period, where you can register domain names that match your validated trademark(s).
The Sunrise Period is a priority access phase granted to TMCH validated brand owners. If your trademark has been successfully enrolled in the TMCH, your SMD file allows you to register domain names that match your submitted trademark before the general public receives access to the gTLD.
The Trademark Clearinghouse not only grants you priority access to a gTLD, it also allows you access to other brand protection mechanisms such as the Domains Protected Marks List (DPML) and the claim notifications.
The DPML allows you to purchase “domain blocks” that prevent third-parties from registering domain names that contain or match your trademark. You, as the brand owner, don’t need to register individual domain names and eliminates any maintenance fees.
The claim notification is a 90-day period where third-parties that attempt to register a domain name with your trademark receive an infringement warning. If they proceed, you will be notified of the infringement and can take legal action to secure the domain name.
