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<div>As discussed during yesterday's BC meeting in Toronto, Elisa Cooper has proposed a comment regarding ICANN's proposed plan for matching rules for names entered in the Trademark Clearinghouse.</div>
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<div>ICANN's Public Comment page for the proposed matching rules is <a href="http://www.icann.org/en/news/public-comment/tmch-docs-24sep12-en.htm">here</a>. The Matching Rules document we are commenting on is <a href="http://newgtlds.icann.org/en/about/trademark-clearinghouse/matching-rules-24sep12-en.pdf">here</a>.</div>
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<div>Below is the BC comment proposed by Elisa Cooper:</div>
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<div>Subject: Trademark Clearinghouse Matching Rules for @ and &</div>
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<div>Upon review of the possible methods for translating @ and & as described in the Explanatory Memorandum: Implementing the Matching Rules, the Business Constituency requests that the languages for translations of @ and & be chosen on a per-record
basis by the trademark owner.</div>
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<div>The memorandum suggests that the language of translations should be based upon the official language(s) of the trademark registry.</div>
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<div>Restricting translations to the official language of the trademark registry is problematic, particularly for global brands or for trademarks registered in countries where there is no official language.</div>
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<div>Furthermore, requiring that translations of @ and & match the official language of the trademark registry would likely result in additional costs to brand owners for additional submissions of the same mark to the Trademark Clearinghouse.</div>
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<div>Initial comments closed 16-Oct. At least one comment (<a href="http://forum.icann.org/lists/tmch-docs-sep12/msg00007.html">link</a>) refers to the language restriction, so the BC could file a reply comment by the Reply closing date of 7-Nov.</div>
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<div>That gives us enough time to allow our regular 14-day review and approval period. So, please reply all with your questions or suggestions regarding this draft, before 30-Oct-2012. </div>
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<div>Steve DelBianco</div>
<div>Vice chair for policy coordination</div>
<div>Business Constituency</div>
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