Icann creates trademark clearinghouse

Icann closed its latest international meeting with the announcement that it will create a database of internet trademarks, in a move designed to better protect them.

Chairman of the board of Icann, Peter Dengate Thrush, said the database would make it easier for firms to launch trademark infringement claims, and have them dealt with swiftly.

“In forming this trademark clearinghouse, we’ve listened to our community about providing trademark protection,” said Dengate Thrush. “We’ve also adopted an extremely rapid process by which people or organisations can challenge trademark infringement.”

However, Icann did not agree to a proposal that would have allowed firms to pre-register to apply for new generic top-level domains.

The number of such domains is to increase soon. "Under new procedures, the number of these gTLDs will eventually be expanded from its current list of 21 to include almost any word, in almost any language," Icann said.

Icann also said that it had put back a decision on the .xxx adult sites domain. The body has allowed for another two weeks of consideration on the domain.

The session closed with some final words of praise for host nation Kenya.

“This was one of the most productive Icann meetings in a place that is helping to define what internet access should become across the African continent,” said Rod Beckstrom, chief executive officer and president.