Concerns of trademark abuse for the recently relaunched .CO country code Top Level Domain have prompted the new registry operator to write an open letter to brand owners to reassure them that their rights will be protected.
Concerns have been raised that the .CO could easily become a typographical error, or typo, for .COM names.
However the letter, written with internationally recognised best practices, and in consultation with the leading global firms of Deloitte and Laga, notes .CO will be a pioneer in the domain industry by implementing many of the Rights Protection Mechanisms (RPMs) proposed by ICANNâs Implementation Recommendation Team (IRT) to safeguard the rights of brand owners around the world.
This includes, among other things, implementing a carefully structured Sunrise process, commencing in April, where owners of eligible registered trademarks will have the chance to register corresponding domain names before the registry opens to the general public.
âAs the new registry operator of the .CO TLD, we recognize and embrace our responsibility to serve as a reliable trustee for the .CO domain â a unique digital resource with broad global appeal,â said Juan Diego Calle, chief executive officer of .CO Internet. âWe are committed to managing the .CO Registry in a responsible manner â one that places a premium on protecting the rights of brand owners.â
Some of the key RPMs and other protections announced by the .CO Registry include:
1) An IP Clearinghouse to assist brand owners (through their registrars) in securing their brands in .CO during the Sunrise process in an efficient and effective manner;
2) A Rapid Takedown Policy to rapidly take down domains in cases where phishing, pharming, malware, or other significant criminal and/or security threats have been established, including serial cyber-squatting; and
3) A list of Specially Protected Marks offering added protection to leading brands that the global consulting firm of Deloitte has independently identified as having made significant efforts to protect and enforce their trademarks in the domain name space. For a full summary of the Deloitte criteria, see: www.deloitte.com/be/brand-list.
Additionally, proxy registrations, where registrants shield their name and contact information, will be prohibited.
These RPMs are aligned with the Registryâs goal of positioning .CO as a truly global, recognizable and credible domain enabling secure Internet commerce and innovation for consumers, companies and communities worldwide. Associated with the words âCOmpany,â âCOrporationâ and âCOmmerceâ â the .CO domain launch is expected to generate significant interest given the scarcity of credible web address options in the market.
âWe have built the .CO Registry on a globally distributed, state-of-the-art platform with the highest standards of stability, security and performance to seamlessly power the resolution of domain names in every corner of the world,â said Nicolai Bezsonoff, chief operating officer for .CO Internet. âIn addition to being recognized in the industry for our stable, secure technology, we want .CO domain names to be relied on by the worldâs leading businesses, trademark owners and entrepreneurs as stable, secure digital assets on which to build and grow their brands.â
More details on the various RPMs .CO Internet is putting in place can be found at www.cointernet.co/global-responsibility. Additional information will be published as it becomes available. In the meanwhile, holders of brands who are identified on the Deloitte Brand List will be contacted once the list is published and invited to register their respective brands with .CO Internet.
More information on the recently re-launched .CO is available at www.cointernet.co.