Domain and Trademark Blog

Ownership of intellectual property (IP) rights – such as trademarks, patents and copyrights – has become central to the strategies of innovating firms worldwide, it has been claimed.
According to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), global demand for patents has risen from 800,000 applications in the early 1980s to 1.8 million …

A Scottish textiles manufacturer believes strong protection of the Harris Tweed trademark is the foundation for its success.
Brian Wilson, chairman of Harris Tweed Hebrides, explained that the product can only be produced in the Hebrides Islands, reports the Stornoway Gazette.
This restriction must never be interfered with, he urged.
“We must be not only the …

A leading fashion retailer has obtained a .com URL for $200,382, highlighting the importance that domain names have to business success.
British firm Republic had previously traded primarily under a .co.uk site, although it also acquired a .eu address at the end of September, the Retail Gazette has reported.
The purchase of a .com …

Applications submitted during the Sunrise phase required validation by IP Rota, an IP rights validation company. As of December 1st, any names that are valid and have no competing Sunrise A application will be granted the block.
On December 6th, the validated domain names will resolve to a page that states “Reserved by the ICM Registry …

Companies should ensure they take all necessary steps to protect their business name, it has been suggested.
According to public advice service Business Link, an organization’s name is the most basic intellectual property (IP) asset it owns – and potentially the most important.
“Your business’ reputation is tied up with its name so you …

A new service has been launched for registrars that aims to make .eu domain names more secure for their customers.
EURid, which is the top-level domain registry for .eu domains, has launched a way to make Domain Name System Security Extensions (DNSSEC) more straightforward in which signing, re-signing and rollovers will be …

Trademark applicants must use one of two mark formats when attempting to make a registration, it has been claimed.
According to the US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), the depiction of the intended mark is an “important consideration”, and every application must include a clear representation.
USPTO uses this to file the mark in …

Organizations should be thinking about search engine optimization (SEO) when they register their domain names, it has been claimed.
According to The Best Spinner, businesses should attempt to secure as high a search engine ranking as possible with their new website, which is easier if their domain name is keyword-rich.
Where possible, organizations …

It is essential for businesses to take steps to protect their digital trademarks and domain names and if this can be done without litigation then that is even better, an expert has advised.
Ramon Ray, from Smallbiztechnology.com, has told Business Insider that not having an effective domain name is the equivalent of …

A lawsuit has been filed against internet regulator Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) and ICM Registry surrounding the way that .xxx domain names were allocated.
Adult company Digital Playground Inc and Manwin Licensing International SARL have bought a case alleging that the regulators have broken competition law by …