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TheDomains.com

Beckstrom On When New gTLD Will Get Approved: “Your Guess Is As Good As Mine”

March 14, 2011 by Michael Berkens

In an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle tonight, the CEO of ICANN Rod Beckstrom when asked when the new gTLD program will be approved by ICANN answered:

“The earliest time this program could be approved is sometime following the March meeting, and the latest it’s approved,

“is your guess is as good as mine”

I can’t speak for all involved in the ICANN process but when the head of the organization says the new extensions maybe approved anytime from today until “your guess is as good as mine” doesn’t exactly inspire a lot of confidence.

Certainly the statement would tend to discourage companies from investing the hundreds of thousands to Millions it will take to successfully secure and launch a new extension.

On explaining the brand protections for “global trademarks” Beckstrom said:

“We have agreed to create a global marks database. By marks we mean trademarks and service marks. … If you get a document to show that you own the trademark or service mark, you get to put it into a global database”

I though a global trademark was one which was recognized all around the world.

When I 1st heard of the term “Global Trademark” I thought about those brands universal in nature like Google, Microsoft, Intel and Yahoo, but apparently as we saw this week and as it was explained by the ICANN CEO, it could include generic terms like the letter “F” or the word  “Tsunami”.

So now that Japan experienced a Tsunami this week and the term was repeated thousands of times by all major news networks, I guess those networks like CNN and ABC news are now trademark infringers since they used the term and didn’t attribute it to the “Global Trademark Holder” as determine by the Global Database.

Right.

That makes plenty of sense, doesn’t it?

So maybe there is a problem with the way the CEO of ICANN is now expanding the definition of a “Global Trademark”?

To read the rest of the interview you can click here.

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Filed Under: ICANN

About Michael Berkens

Michael Berkens, Esq. is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of TheDomains.com. Michael is also the co-founder of Worldwide Media Inc. which sold around 70K domain to Godaddy.com in December 2015 and now owns around 8K domain names . Michael was also one of the 5 Judges selected for the the Verisign 30th Anniversary .Com contest.

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Comments

  1. BullS says

    March 14, 2011 at 3:11 am

    If you read in between the fine lines, if you have a generic name like Kayak, it means that your website have to deal with kayaks and other boating accessories,
    if you have oyster, your website is all about sea shells and not for hotels or travel.
    If you do, it is misrepresentation, false advertising and HomeLand/ICE will seize the domains.

    That the way it should be!!!

    Good luck folks.

  2. Chris says

    March 14, 2011 at 4:30 am

    So now ICANN is the earth’s trademark office?

  3. Angela (the dnsMOM) says

    March 14, 2011 at 5:29 am

    “I can’t speak for all involved in the ICANN process but when the head of the organization says the new extensions maybe approved anytime from today until “your guess is as good as mine” doesn’t exactly inspire a lot of confidence.”
    Oh dear! Maybe poor Rod CAN’T say anything in case of trademark infringement? I recommend a SOCKPUPPET to take the rap. I did hear they have it all sorted where the next meeting will be held…a meeting about where to have the next meeting – brilliant!

  4. Landon White says

    March 14, 2011 at 6:40 am

    @ MHB
    So maybe there is a problem with the way the CEO of ICANN is now expanding the definition of a “Global Trademark”?
    —-
    ALL ABOUT .. WINNING THROUGH INTIMIDATION?

    ICANN NOW openly shows it’s contempt for Domainers , after all
    the Honorable (cough) Bill Clinton will solve any problems …
    except one problem they did not see coming …

    THERE OWN STUPIDITY!

  5. Landon White says

    March 14, 2011 at 7:00 am

    @ MHB
    –
    –
    So who did end up paying Bill Clintons secret “SPEAKING FEE”

    i heard it was not ICANN … is that true ??

  6. TigerSheen says

    March 14, 2011 at 9:58 am

    One-word ccTLD’s are selling like hot-cakes right now, in anticipation of the gTLD program not happening.

  7. Meyer says

    March 14, 2011 at 10:16 am

    At the end of domain meetings, there is an auction of premium domains.
    Sometimes successful, sometimes not.

    Will we establish a pattern where at the end of Icann meetings, there is
    an auction of new registries?
    Some successful, some not.
    🙂

  8. TheBigLieSociety says

    March 14, 2011 at 10:29 am

    Will we establish a pattern where at the end of Icann meetings, there is
    an auction of new registries?
    ====

    What was that movie ? “They Horses Don’t They ?”

  9. TheBigLieSociety says

    March 14, 2011 at 10:29 am

    What was that movie ? “They Horses Don’t They ?”
    What was that movie ? “They SHOOT Horses Don’t They ?”

  10. Domainers Gate - The amazing idea that also the world famous Domaining.com has just cloned !!! says

    March 14, 2011 at 12:03 pm

    they’ll make more money as quickly as they’ll approve the new TLDs

  11. Gazzip says

    March 14, 2011 at 12:58 pm

    “So maybe there is a problem with the way the CEO of ICANN is now expanding the definition of a “Global Trademark”?”

    Does that really surprise you?

    (ICANN) = Beckstrom’s Law

    Non-Profit = Total Bullshit + More Power + More Greed = Huge Paychecks + Fat Benefits + Bonuses² = Who gives a F*** what every one else thinks!

    or for the scientific
    NP=tB+EGO+$$$= >$$$=>$$$=>$$$² = FY

    or for the Layman
    Bend over and take it in your chocolate starfish because we will do exactly what we want to.

  12. MHB says

    March 14, 2011 at 6:44 pm

    Gazzip

    Doesn’t surprise me but we will continue to fight against it

  13. WinningSex.com says

    March 14, 2011 at 6:59 pm

    @MHB,

    Once the “new gTLD plan” is put to bed for good, as in not happening- what does this do to the average one-word-termed ccTLD, price-wise?

  14. WinningSex.com says

    March 14, 2011 at 7:01 pm

    To anyone wondering, we hand-reg’d WinningSex dot com today for $7.99. With C. Sheen jumping on Winning.com today, we figured WinningSex.com had some value…I like it for 8-bucks anyway 🙂

  15. Gazzip says

    March 15, 2011 at 12:56 pm

    “Doesn’t surprise me but we will continue to fight against it”

    You must have the patience of a Saint to take on that bunch. They’re stone deaf.


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