The House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, Competition and the Internet is holding a hearing on “ICANN Generic Top-Level Domains (gTLD) Oversight Hearing,” at which ICANN’s Kurt Pritz is testifying. The hearing, happening now, has sparked an outcry from pro-intellectual property advocates. Excluding Pritz, all other witnesses are strong supporters of trademark interests.
Venable’s Jacqueline L. Patt, whose practice is focused on intellectual property protections, with a heavy emphasis on Web-based communications, says “The real impact of the [generic top-level domains] program will be in the additional burdens it creates on trademark owners in protecting their brands online. There is a potential for an increase in infringement of brands under the new gTLD program, and, as a result, associations will have to be even more diligent by monitoring the gTLD process and taking action when necessary to protect their brands.”
For more information on how intellectual property laws impact your association’s communications efforts, register for “Intellectual Property on the Web: Proactive Approaches to Compliance and Safeguarding Your Organization’s Communications.”
