The Trademark Clearinghouse: Protect your trademark online

The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is responsible for managing the domain name system and ICANN developed the new gTLD program in order to increase competition and choice in the domain name space. The Trademark Clearinghouse (TMCH) - launching March 26 - is the most important rights protection mechanism built into ICANN’s new gTLD program. It allows brand owners to submit their trademark data into one centralized database, prior to and during the launch of new gTLDs. Simply put: The TMCH is a one-stop-solution for protecting your brand in the new gTLD era.

Any trademark holder, private person, or company can submit their trademark to the Clearinghouse. Download the Clearinghouse guidelines for all detailed information regarding eligibility. The TMCH protects brands in two ways: with a Sunrise Service and a Trademark Claims Service.

What is the Clearinghouse?

The Trademark Clearinghouse (TMCH) is the most important rights protection mechanism built into ICANN’s new gTLD program. Operators of new gTLDs will be responsible for implementing certain rights protection mechanisms, supported by the Trademark Clearinghouse. The Clearinghouse allows brand owners to submit their trademark data into one centralized database, prior to and during the launch of new gTLDs. The Clearinghouse will open on March 26.

• Trademark holders will be able to submit their trademark information to a centralized repository.
• After verification, the trademark holder has fulfilled the basic (most important) condition to be able to register its corresponding domain name during the pre-registration period of multiple TLDs – also known as the "Sunrise period".
• Trademark holders will also have the option to be notified when someone registers a domain name that matches their record in the Clearinghouse.