[gnso-rpm-wg] TMCH Blog

Thu Feb 2 17:11:42 UTC 2017

We all knew full well that this sort of thing was going to happen with the
TMCH, it was widely discussed during development.  Thus it was decided to
require at least nominal proof of use, even if the trademark office hadn't
required it.  But still we knew that could be gamed as well.

The ultimate question is whether the benefit to internet users and
trademark owners has outweighed the detriment to domain investors from this
sort of gaming.  Personally I think that answer is fairly clear, that it
has done so, and would be a lot more clear if the TMCH was less expensive,
better publicized to trademark owners, and we developed some further
controls against this sort of gaming.  For example, we could design a
requirement that TMCH rights do not apply to entirely inapposite
trademarks.  If "THE" is registered for pizza, then the.pizza is somewhat
fair, the.shop less so but probably still fair, but the.car -- no way.

Mike Rodenbaugh
RODENBAUGH LAW
tel/fax:  +1.415.738.8087
http://rodenbaugh.com

On Thu, Feb 2, 2017 at 8:09 AM, <trachtenbergm at gtlaw.com> wrote:

> There is no system or program in the world that cannot be, and is not,
> gamed.  That does not mean that the system or program has no value or that
> there is necessarily a better system or program.  The risk of gaming is
> inherent in any system.  That said, obviously the goal for any system or
> program should be to minimize the risk of gaming to the extent possible
> without sacrificing the goal and benefits of the system or program.
>
>
>
> Best regards,
>
>
>
> *Marc H. Trachtenberg*
> Shareholder
> Greenberg Traurig, LLP | 77 West Wacker Drive | Suite 3100 | Chicago, IL
> 60601
> Tel 312.456.1020 <(312)%20456-1020>
>
> Mobile 773.677.3305 <(773)%20677-3305>
>
> trachtenbergm at gtlaw.com | www.gtlaw.com
>
>
>
> [image: Greenberg Traurig]
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* gnso-rpm-wg-bounces at icann.org [mailto:gnso-rpm-wg-bounces@
> icann.org] *On Behalf Of *Jonathan Frost
> *Sent:* Thursday, February 02, 2017 10:03 AM
> *To:* 'Phil Corwin'; 'Jon Nevett'; 'gnso-rpm-wg'
> *Subject:* Re: [gnso-rpm-wg] TMCH Blog
>
>
>
> These TMCH gaming issues have been well documented all the way back to
> 2014 .http://domainnamewire.com/2014/02/10/how-common-words-
> like-pizza-money-and-shopping-ended-up-in-the-trademark-
> clearinghouse-for-new-tlds/
> <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__domainnamewire.com_2014_02_10_how-2Dcommon-2Dwords-2Dlike-2Dpizza-2Dmoney-2Dand-2Dshopping-2Dended-2Dup-2Din-2Dthe-2Dtrademark-2Dclearinghouse-2Dfor-2Dnew-2Dtlds_&d=DwMFaQ&c=2s2mvbfY0UoSKkl6_Ol9wg&r=L7MB7eHT-UoCXD4iA3c7Sm3JrKXt7T1dG3NjBzCxm1c&m=OKMkQrneYX-CtA7AtUlUoYBf_3P3FyXg4Eiefy4GzSM&s=x78nQ0uAUek7apfpDY1TqfvruWlFiDa2HVbePuVZxJM&e=>
>
>
>
> Gaming the TMCH is as easy as starting an ecommerce store on a template
> and selling various products like t-shirts and pens with the arbitrary use
> of a common/valuable term (e.g.. pizza pen shop). This allows registration
> of the trademark for the term in any number of jurisdictions and subsequent
> registration in the TMCH.
>
>
>
> *Jonathan Frost*
>
> General Counsel
>
> Telephone: (+1)877-707-5752 <(877)%20707-5752>
>
> 100 SE 3rd Avenue, #1310
>
> Fort Lauderdale, FL 33394
>
> E-Mail: jonathan at get.club
>
> Website: www.get.club
> <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.get.club_&d=DwMFaQ&c=2s2mvbfY0UoSKkl6_Ol9wg&r=L7MB7eHT-UoCXD4iA3c7Sm3JrKXt7T1dG3NjBzCxm1c&m=OKMkQrneYX-CtA7AtUlUoYBf_3P3FyXg4Eiefy4GzSM&s=v7QCiP1wp_mau0vEIBgSrskKOj1vQ7HIR7Ppzzs04YA&e=>
>
> [image: club]
> <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__app.getsignals.com_link-3Furl-3Dhttp-253a-252f-252fwww.nic.club-252f-26ukey-3DagxzfnNpZ25hbHNjcnhyGAsSC1VzZXJQcm9maWxlGICAgMCxgJ8KDA-26k-3D00a65763b45344369d29299760b3ae45&d=DwMFaQ&c=2s2mvbfY0UoSKkl6_Ol9wg&r=L7MB7eHT-UoCXD4iA3c7Sm3JrKXt7T1dG3NjBzCxm1c&m=OKMkQrneYX-CtA7AtUlUoYBf_3P3FyXg4Eiefy4GzSM&s=vUIihsKLKp9W__PrSGFyOEBGAWkyt0Wh3jaL5YVv42c&e=>
>
>
>
> Please be advised that this communication is confidential. The information
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>
> *From:* gnso-rpm-wg-bounces at icann.org [mailto:gnso-rpm-wg-bounces@
> icann.org <gnso-rpm-wg-bounces at icann.org>] *On Behalf Of *Phil Corwin
> *Sent:* Thursday, February 2, 2017 9:13 AM
> *To:* Jon Nevett <jon at donuts.email>; gnso-rpm-wg <gnso-rpm-wg at icann.org>
> *Subject:* Re: [gnso-rpm-wg] TMCH Blog
>
>
>
> I’m tempted to say that is one of *** craziest things I’ve ever seen, but
> if I use *** word *** I might be cited for infringement or have to pay a
> licensing fee ;-)
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Seriously, it would be interesting to know in what jurisdiction *the*
> trademark was granted in and whether they professed to demonstrate use in
> commerce.
>
>
>
> Also seems to be an example of a situation where everyone in general but
> no one in particular has an incentive to challenge *the* acceptance of
> *the* mark by *the* TMCH.
>
>
>
> *Philip S. Corwin, Founding Principal*
>
> *Virtualaw LLC*
>
> *1155 F Street, NW*
>
> *Suite 1050*
>
> *Washington, DC 20004*
>
> *202-559-8597 <(202)%20559-8597>/Direct*
>
> *202-559-8750 <(202)%20559-8750>/Fax*
>
> *202-255-6172 <(202)%20255-6172>/Cell*
>
>
>
> *Twitter: @VlawDC*
>
>
>
> *"Luck is the residue of design" -- Branch Rickey*
>
>
>
> *From:* gnso-rpm-wg-bounces at icann.org [mailto:gnso-rpm-wg-bounces@
> icann.org <gnso-rpm-wg-bounces at icann.org>] *On Behalf Of *Jon Nevett
> *Sent:* Thursday, February 02, 2017 8:55 AM
> *To:* gnso-rpm-wg
> *Subject:* [gnso-rpm-wg] TMCH Blog
>
>
>
> FYI -- for those who haven't seen this blog:
>
>
>
> https://www.thedomains.com/2017/02/01/the-trademark-
> clearinghouse-worked-so-well-one-company-got-24-new-gtld-
> using-the-famous-trademark-the/
> <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.thedomains.com_2017_02_01_the-2Dtrademark-2Dclearinghouse-2Dworked-2Dso-2Dwell-2Done-2Dcompany-2Dgot-2D24-2Dnew-2Dgtld-2Dusing-2Dthe-2Dfamous-2Dtrademark-2Dthe_&d=DwMFaQ&c=2s2mvbfY0UoSKkl6_Ol9wg&r=L7MB7eHT-UoCXD4iA3c7Sm3JrKXt7T1dG3NjBzCxm1c&m=OKMkQrneYX-CtA7AtUlUoYBf_3P3FyXg4Eiefy4GzSM&s=2Onc8hXvWGoYPz_rnFf68vildBkXJ6WITb4tIxG41fs&e=>
>
>
> The Trademark ClearingHouse Worked So Well One Company Got 24 new gTLD
> using The Famous Trademark “The”
>
> February 1, 2017 by Michael Berkens
> <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.thedomains.com_author_michael-2Dberkens_&d=DwMFaQ&c=2s2mvbfY0UoSKkl6_Ol9wg&r=L7MB7eHT-UoCXD4iA3c7Sm3JrKXt7T1dG3NjBzCxm1c&m=OKMkQrneYX-CtA7AtUlUoYBf_3P3FyXg4Eiefy4GzSM&s=_Zqz61CYVCc8PqDLQ2xnXrlX1SmmCe8hTS1y1rXe8Mw&e=> 5
> Comments
> <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__www.thedomains.com_2017_02_01_the-2Dtrademark-2Dclearinghouse-2Dworked-2Dso-2Dwell-2Done-2Dcompany-2Dgot-2D24-2Dnew-2Dgtld-2Dusing-2Dthe-2Dfamous-2Dtrademark-2Dthe_-23comments&d=DwMFaQ&c=2s2mvbfY0UoSKkl6_Ol9wg&r=L7MB7eHT-UoCXD4iA3c7Sm3JrKXt7T1dG3NjBzCxm1c&m=OKMkQrneYX-CtA7AtUlUoYBf_3P3FyXg4Eiefy4GzSM&s=4GuL5r91EB1NAAQIMt4U6HlXbtcnf6Zk4MT_p2uUFsw&e=>
>
> The Trademark ClearingHouse (TMCH)
> <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.trademark-2Dclearinghouse.com_&d=DwMFaQ&c=2s2mvbfY0UoSKkl6_Ol9wg&r=L7MB7eHT-UoCXD4iA3c7Sm3JrKXt7T1dG3NjBzCxm1c&m=OKMkQrneYX-CtA7AtUlUoYBf_3P3FyXg4Eiefy4GzSM&s=L6nXIBZdT5Ra1HDLX1UG2kNvYiO9ouzfW0nN7ktXMF4&e=>
> which was set up/ contracted by ICANN to protect those famous worldwide
> brand names from abuse by those nasty domain name squatters resulted in a
> whole new industry.
>
> Those playing the TMCH for their own benefit to get first jump at new gTLD
> domain names to get registered in Sunrise ahead of all other under common
> words like “the”
>
> Actually there maybe no better example than those domain names obtained on
> the world-famous trademarks as of the word”the”,  which is the most used
> word in the English language
> <https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__en.wikipedia.org_wiki_Most-5Fcommon-5Fwords-5Fin-5FEnglish&d=DwMFaQ&c=2s2mvbfY0UoSKkl6_Ol9wg&r=L7MB7eHT-UoCXD4iA3c7Sm3JrKXt7T1dG3NjBzCxm1c&m=OKMkQrneYX-CtA7AtUlUoYBf_3P3FyXg4Eiefy4GzSM&s=EjYqEPZAlywUCDflt_vUfsaGQkKtx8s-Q8_tzAE5y4w&e=>
> .
>
> The world-famous trademark for the word “the” was obtained by Goallover
> Limited of London who according to DomainTools.com owns an amazing amount
> of domain names approaching nearly 100, but was able to get all of the
> following new gTLD’s using their globally well-known trademark on the word
> “the” under the ICANN trademark clearinghouse rules which  allows them to
> obtain the domain names ahead of all other applicants.
>
> Of course the company could have had obtained even more “the” new gTLD
> domain names in Sunrise but apparently did not apply for more.
>
> Somehow the company doesn’t appear to own the domain name The.Com
>
> For all Trademark Holders its nice to know the world is a safer place:
>
> the.car
> the.career
> the.cars
> the.casino
> the.doctor
> the.earth
> the.foundation
> the.furniture
> the.game
> the.group
> the.ltd
> the.mba
> the.pub
> the.report
> the.run
> the.school
> the.services
> the.storage
> the.tools
> the.university
> the.watch
> the.wine
>
>
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