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Alert 344 Global – Local Language Domain Names
From 16 November 2009, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) will begin the process of introducing non-Latin characters as endings to domain names. At present, all such endings must be written in Latin script, even if the earlier part of the name is in another script.
The new process means that Country Code Top Level Domains (ccTLDs) such as .eu, and .AE, and generic Top Level Domains (gTLDs) such as .org, .net and .com will eventually include endings in non-Latin characters such as .امارات (dotEMARAT) for the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
These new endings will be known as ‘Internationalised Domain Names’ (IDNs).
From 16 November, nations and territories can formally apply to ICANN for a ‘FASTTRACK’ IDN ccTLD in their national/official language if they so wish. If the application meets ICANN’s filing and technical requirements, the applicant nations will be fast tracked so that they can open their new IDN ccTLD registration in 2010.
It is important to note that this is the first step in a long process and does not mean that anyone can register domain names, including the new endings, yet.
ICANN aims to ‘release’ the first batch of IDNs available in Spring 2010. When the IDNs are released, the country registries will individually decide on their requirements for registration of individual domain names under the new IDNs (such as price, qualification requirements, sunrise periods, and general release dates). These requirements may differ from IDN ccTLD to IDN ccTLD, so any potential IDN ccTLDs of interest to you should be carefully monitored.
Countries believed to have already expressed an interest in participating from 16 November are: Bulgaria, Egypt, Mongolia, Russian Federation, Sweden and Tunisia.
Algeria, Hong Kong, Jordan, Libya, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, Syria and the United Arabic Emirates are also expected to file applications for their IDNs. The UAE and Saudi Arabia were both involved in the pre-launch trials of IDNs, so they are expected to be in the first release of IDN ccTLDs.
To do this effectively, we will need answers to many questions. For example, will existing domain name holders of Latin-character domain names have first option over the corresponding IDN? Will sunrise periods allow brand owners to register their brands with IDN ccTLDs first? If so, do you have a qualifying right in the local language?
The answers will only be known as ICANN accepts the IDNs and allows the registries to take steps to release them for registration.
The introduction of IDNs is likely to lead to an increase in cyber-squatting and scam emails to brand-owners, mainly from China or Hong Kong, claiming that a client is interested in registering a series of domain names or keywords with the new IDNs, which incorporate international brands (see Alert 248 of May 2007).
For now, companies should keep a watching brief so that they become aware of the release of IDN ccTLDs and their registration requirements once they are known. You should also consider collating information on those territories where local language is of commercial importance to your business, so that you are able to draw up a list of potential filings for consideration at the appropriate time.
Where your company has a monitoring service in place for your IP rights within domain names, you should also consider asking your service provider whether the watch service will ultimately reveal potentially conflicting IDNs.
For more information, email Jon Parker in our Dubai office on jparker@iprights.com or David Gill in our UK office on dgill@iprights.com.
