The New Jersey Law Journal sponsored an all day CLE program for in-house counsel on Tuesday, March 20, 2012. Included in this program was a presentation by New York partner, Andrea Calvaruso entitled “New gTLDs – What In-House Counsel Need to Know: Making Informed Decisions and Protecting Your Brand.” Starting January 12, 2012, ICANN began accepting applications for new top level domain (“gTLD”) names. In addition to the gTLDs we are familiar with, such as .com, .org, .net, and .mobi, available gTLDs may include brand names such as “.kelleydrye.” or “.gucci,” as well as community or industry identifiers such as “.beauty” or “.basketball.”

Ms. Calvaruso provided in-house counsel with key information they need to protect their brands in an expanding Internet environment, including: an overview of the new top level domain model and how it may impact businesses; how to prepare for and manage the new enforcement issues associated with gTLDs; an explanation of ICANN’s applicable new dispute resolution procedures which will be available to brand owners after close of the application submission process in April 2012; and best practices to protect brands throughout the objection period and beyond.

New gTLDs - What In-House Counsel Need to Know: Making Informed Decisions and Protecting Your Brand