FAQ
Note: this page is available in English only
Registrar
What is the role of a Registrar?
During the Sunrise period of a new TLD, domain names can be registered through an ICANN-accredited Registrar. The process is similar to any standard domain registration, except that the Registrar will request your SMD file. You may be asked to either upload the SMD file (as you would attach a file in webmail) or copy and paste its contents into a text box.Do I need to be an ICANN-accredited Registrar to register my trademark in the Clearinghouse or connect the TMDB?
Any organization or individual can register an account with the Trademark Clearinghouse to benefit from our services. However, only ICANN-accredited Registrars can connect to the Trademark Database (TMDB).What are a Registrar’s obligations during the Claims process?
Registrars must comply with ICANN’s technical specifications when processing Claims Registrations, as defined here in sections 5.3.4 and 5.3.5.
In summary, Registrars must:
- Verify domain name availability with the Registry Operator.
- Obtain a CNIS lookup key if the label is covered by a trademark record.
- Query the CNIS to obtain Claims Notice Information (see section 6.5).
Registrars may only query the CNIS for domain names that have been applied for by a registrant. Any other use of CNIS queries is strictly prohibited.
- Use that information to populate the Trademark Claims Notice (as detailed in Exhibit A of the TMCH Requirements).
- Clearly display the Trademark Claims Notice to the potential registrant in real time, at no cost, and in the required format (see Exhibit B of the TMCH Requirements).
- Require affirmative confirmation from the registrant before continuing with the domain name registration.
The Trademark Claims Notice must be provided in English, and Registrars are encouraged to offer it in the language of the registrant’s registration agreement as well.
All TMCH Requirements can be found here.Who can Registrars contact for technical questions?
Registrars with technical questions regarding the SMD revocation list or Claims notifications should contact Kyndryl (formerly IBM) directly at support@marksdb.org.General
Do I need to be the trademark owner to register in the Clearinghouse?
No, Trademark Agents are also eligible to submit a trademark on behalf of the trademark owner. Trademark Agents are entities or individuals authorized to act on behalf of a Trademark Holder who has agreed to the Clearinghouse Terms and Conditions for Trademark Agents.My brand is not yet registered as a trademark. Can I register it with the Clearinghouse?
The Trademark Clearinghouse in itself is not a trademark office. If you want your trademark to become a registered trademark, it is best to contact your local trademark office or agent to find out how. You can only include your brand in the Trademark Clearinghouse after it is officially registered as a trademark. Apart from registered trademarks, the Clearinghouse also accepts marks protected by treaty or statute, or court-validated marks.What type of trademarks are accepted in the Clearinghouse?
You can currently submit the following to the Trademark Clearinghouse:
1. Registered Trademarks
2. Court-Validated Marks
3. Marks Protected by Treaty or Statute
In the future, the Trademark Clearinghouse may accept other types of marks, such as company names, but this is not currently the case.
Accepted specific types of trademarks:
- Well-known or famous non-registered trademarks: If recorded as a court-validated mark.
- Trademarks registered via accelerated procedure: Such as in the Benelux, if they meet verification requirements. These will be re-verified after the opposition period ends. If no longer protected, they will be deemed invalid.
- Trademarks not exclusively consisting of letters, words, numerals, and special characters: accepted under certain conditions.
- Trademarks containing numbers
- Trademarks in IDN characters (Internationalized Domain Names)
- Trademarks in both Latin and non-Latin script
- Trademarks with at least one character: two-character labels (also know as a Second-level domain (SLD)) (will be withheld to prevent confusion with country codes and can only be released with government and country-code manager agreement.
- Trademarks consisting of multiple scripts: check with the applicable registry as not all registries accept mixed-script domain names.
For more detailed information, please refer to the TMCH Guidelines.What type of trademarks are not accepted in the Clearinghouse?
The following types of trademarks are not accepted in the Trademark Clearinghouse:
- Trademarks under application
- State trademarks: trademarks must have at least national effect; city, state, province, or sub-national trademarks are not accepted.
- Trademarks subjected to successful cancellation or invalidation procedures
- Trademarks subjected to successful rectification proceedings
For more information, please refer to the Trademark Clearinghouse Guidelines.Can you search the TMCH database for registered trademarks?
We only share information to our Trademark Agents and Trademark Holders regarding their own portfolio.Are trademarks with a dot accepted in the TMCH?
Trademarks containing a dot are accepted under certain conditions:
- if the dot functions as punctuation (e.g., a period); or
- if the dot functions as abbreviation (e.g. "mister" being abbreviated to "Mr."); or
- if the dot functions as a figurative part of the trademark.
However, please keep in mind that trademarks which include a top-level domain extension (e.g.,"icann.org") or start with a dot (e.g., ".icann") are not accepted.
For more details, please refer to section 2.2.5 of the TMCH Guidelines.Are Sunrise periods mandatory for every new gTLD, and how long must they last?
Yes, every registry is required by ICANN to organize a Sunrise Period of at least 30 days before domain names are offered to the general public. During this period, a registry may not process registrations of domain names during a Sunrise Period unless the registration is accompanied by a valid Signed Mark Data (SMD) file issued by the Trademark Clearinghouse.
There are two types of Sunrise periods:
- In a Start-Date Sunrise, domain names are typically allocated "first-come, first-served," and the registry must give ICANN/TMCH 30 days' notice. A Start-Date Sunrise must run for 30-60 days.
- In an End-Date Sunrise, the registry collects all applications, and disputed names are often auctioned at the end. An End-Date Sunrise must last at least 60 days. Sunrise periods can only start after ICANN accepts the registry's TLD startup information.
The key difference is allocation: first-come, first-served for Start-Date, vs. end-of-period resolution (like auctions) for End-Date.What is a Limited Registration Period?
A Limited Registration Period is any registration phase between the end of a Sunrise Period and the start of General Availability. It is by definition a registration period in which the registry has imposed additional registration restrictions that limits domain names from being generally available to all registrants that are qualified to register domain names within the TLD.
During this period, the Claims Service (trademark warnings) will operate. However, this does not mean that the Limited Registration Period is linked to the Claims Period - it's a separate phase before General Availability and the Claims Period.What is the Qualified Launch Program?
The Qualified Launch Program allows registries to register a limited number of domain names for promoting their new TLD before the start of the Sunrise Period, while protecting intellectual property. If a domain name matches a TMCH record, only the Sunrise-Eligible Rights Holder can register it. If a domain name does not match a TMCH record, it may be registered under the Qualified Launch Program to any third party. We refer to the ICANN website for more details.What options does a trademark owner have if someone attempts to register a domain name using their trademark?
Our Sunrise service allows trademark owners to register domain names corresponding to their marks before they become available to the general public. Sunrise periods last a minimum of 30 days.
Following the Sunrise period is the Trademark Claims period, which lasts for at least 90 days during the initial General Availability period. During this time:
- Anyone attempting to register a domain name matching a Trademark record in the Trademark Clearinghouse will receive a notice with the relevant mark information, alerting them to the trademark's existence.
- If the domain name is registered despite the notice, the Trademark Clearinghouse will notify the trademark owners with matching records, allowing them to take appropriate action.What is the Trademark Clearinghouse Certificate Authority?
The Trademark Clearinghouse Certificate Authority (TMCH-CA), operated by ICANN, provides essential digital certificates to the Trademark Clearinghouse (TMCH), including the TradeMark Validator (TMV) certificate. These certificates are crucial for signing and encrypting Signed Mark Data (SMD) files, validating their origin, and ensuring ownership.My question is not listed in the FAQ section. What should I do?
Please raise a ticket to our dedicated Customer Support system by clicking on "Get support" on the TMCH interface or by sending an email to support@trademark-clearinghouse.com.What is the expected response time for customer support tickets?
The expected response time will vary depending on the number of customer support tickets submitted at the same time and the type and gravity of the issue submitted. A response can take up to 10 days.Account
What if I do not agree to the Terms and Conditions?
The terms and conditions will be final. You will not be able to complete the registration process if you do not agree to the Terms and Conditions.How can I contact the Clearinghouse if I have issues when creating my account?
You can submit your query by sending an email to support@trademark-clearinghouse.com. Alternatively, the Trademark Clearinghouse can also be reached by phone during Belgian business days - Monday to Thursday from 9 AM to 12 PM and 1 PM to 5 PM (UTC+2) at +32.226394870.What is the Trademark Clearinghouse User Interface?
The Clearinghouse User Interface is the online web application that is available through
https://secure.trademark-clearinghouse.com/tmch/public/login. This enables you to, among other things, (i) create and manage your account(s) with us, and (ii) opt-in to the Trademark Clearinghouse services.How can I register as a Trademark Agent?
Registering as a Trademark Agent involves five simple steps:
1. Fill Out the Application Form: Complete the Trademark Agent application form on our secured website.
2. Verification: The Clearinghouse will verify your submitted information.
3. Receive Confirmation: If verification is successful, you will receive a confirmation email with your username and temporary password.
4. Set Final Password: Log in for the first time and choose a new, permanent password.
5. Download and Submit Documents:
- Download, print, sign, and upload your personalised Trademark Agent contract.
- Download the pro-forma invoice and complete the wire transfer for the prepayment deposit.
Once we receive the signed contract and prepayment deposit, you will receive a confirmation email and are ready to go!"How can I register as a Trademark Holder?
To register as a Trademark Holder, you need a valid trademark and must provide details like registration number, jurisdiction, and proof of use to the Trademark Clearinghouse (TMCH), either directly or through an agent. This allows you Sunrise access and Trademark Claims notifications. Visit https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b66ILgo-Dns for more info.What is the difference between a Silver and Gold Agent account?
Silver and Gold accounts are a type of prepayment account only available to Trademark Agents. The difference between a Silver and Gold Agent account primarily lies in the deposit amount and its refundability:
Silver Agent:
- Register trademarks for your clients and make a non-refundable deposit of 5,000.00 USD.
- This deposit is also fully redeemable for any of our services.
Gold Agent:
- Register trademarks for your clients and make a 15,000.00 USD deposit.
- This deposit is fully redeemable for any of our services.
- The remaining balance is refundable upon contract termination.
For more details, please refer to our detailed fee structure.Can a Trademark Agent register a single account for multiple Trademark Holders?
Certainly! As a Trademark Agent, you have the capability to manage the trademark portfolios of multiple Trademark Holders through a single Clearinghouse account.When will I receive my username and password?
After you have submitted the registration form, the Trademark Clearinghouse performs two checks:
1) Check your VAT number if applicable.
2) Check if you are not on the Specially Designated Nationals list (SDN list).
The SDN list is published by the US Office of Foreign Assets Control and includes individuals and companies owned or controlled by, or acting for or on behalf of, targeted countries, as well as terrorists and narcotics traffickers. Their assets are blocked, and U.S. persons are generally prohibited from dealing with them.
You will receive an email confirmation immediately afterwards along with both the username and the password.How can I reset my password?
To reset your password you only need the e-mail address you used to register your account. Click "I forgot my password" on the Sign In Page and follow the password reset process. For a detailed guide on how to reset your password please read our manual on this topic.How can a Trademark Agent change the contract data of their TMCH account?
Certain fields of the contract data can be edited by Trademark Agents. To edit this data, navigate to "My Account" and click on "Edit Contract Details". For detailed information on how to change the contract data, please refer to our manual on this subject. Please note that changing contract data will result in a revocation and regeneration of all SMD files linked to the account.As a Trademark Agent, do I need written authorisation from the Trademark Holder(s) I represent?
You need to obtain the authorization of the Trademark Holder(s) on behalf of whom you are acting.Who should sign the contract when a company registers as a Trademark Agent?
The contract with the Trademark Clearinghouse should be signed by an individual authorized to represent and sign on behalf of the organization. This signatory does not necessarily need to be the company owner.How can I get listed on the TMCH website as an Official Agent?
We are happy to have you on our Agent Network list!
To get featured, please declare your interest by raising a ticket through our Customer Support system. Click "Get support" on the TMCH interface or email support@trademark-clearinghouse.com and provide the following details:
- Company name
- Company URL
- Contact email
- Contact telephone
- Country of centralised office
- Languages of service
- Logo (.jpeg)
- Description of your activities (max. 300 characters)
If you already have an exisiting listing, and would like to make updates, you can also reach out to us through our ticketing system. Please provide us with your uID and the requested changes.
Note: Listing your name and company logo on our website is a complimentary service, not an obligation.As a Trademark Holder, do I need to use a Trademark Agent to register more than 10 marks?
No, a Trademark Holder can register any number of trademarks directly with the Clearinghouse. The only limit is ten (10) trademark submissions per credit card transaction.Financials
Who is CHIP S.A.?
CHIP S.A. is the financial partner of the Trademark Clearinghouse and all invoices from the Trademark Clearinghouse are issued by CHIP S.A., with registered address at 21, rue Léon Laval, L-3372 Leudelange, Luxembourg (Commercial Registration Number B170388 and VAT LU 25955733). The Clearinghouse does not send any paper invoices. If you receive one, exercise caution as it may be fraudulent.How much do I need to pay to become a Trademark Agent or Trademark Holder?
The initial minimum amount that must be deposited into a Prepaid Account before you will be eligible to submit trademark records depends on the type of account you have selected.
- For a Silver Agent Account, the minimum deposit is 5,000 USD and can be entirely used for registering and renewing trademarks in the Clearinghouse for the entire duration of the contract. The remainder of the initial deposit will be non-refundable upon the termination of your contract.
- For a Gold Agent account, the minimum deposit is 15,000 USD and can be entirely used for registering and renewing trademarks in the Clearinghouse for the entire duration of the contract. The remainder of this initial deposit will be refundable if you terminate your account.
- For Trademark Holders, there is no initial minimum deposit amount needed before you will be eligible to submit trademark records. You will pay the basic fee as you go for registering and renewing trademarks. However, to benefit of our advantageous pricing (Advanced Fee Structure), a minimum deposit of 15,000 USD is required. The remainder of this initial deposit will be refundable if you terminate your account.
Please refer to our Detailed Fee Structure, available in the Manuals section on our website, for more detailed information.How can I register for a Prepaid Account?
You can register for a Prepaid Account by signing up on our website and completing the registration process. It is possible to open a Prepaid Account as a Trademark Agent or Trademark Holder even if you are not yet ready to provide the details of the trademarks you want to submit to the Clearinghouse; you can submit trademark records at a later stage. The deposited funds will remain at your disposal for the entire duration of your contract.
A minimum deposit of 15,000 USD (Gold) or 5,000 USD (Silver) is required via wire transfer, covering trademark registrations. Funds are immediately available, with no limit on the number of trademarks that may be registered as long as the balance is sufficient. Transaction and currency conversion costs are borne by the sender. For more information, please refer to our Detailed Fee Structure, available in the Downloads section on our website.How can I top up my Prepaid Account?
"To top up your Prepaid Account, wire at least 1,000 USD to the bank account below, using your account UID as the reference. The sender covers transaction and currency conversion costs. After receiving the funds, your prepayment balance will be updated, and you can download an invoice directly via the platform.
Bank details: CHIP S.A., 21, rue Léon Laval, 3372 Leudelange, Luxembourg
Bank: ING Luxembourg
Account: LU 36 0141 6441 9360 3010
SWIFT/BIC: CELLLULL
Bank address: 52, route d'Esch, L-2965 Luxembourg
A trademark record will not be accepted for registration if the Prepaid Account does not have sufficient funds to cover the registration fee. You can check your available funds at any time by navigating to ""My account."""Can I terminate my Prepaid Account?
You can terminate your Prepaid Account when all trademark records that are linked to the account have expired, have been assigned the "invalid" or "deactivated" status or have been transferred out. To initiate the termination process, you need to log into the TMCH web interface, go to the "My account" tab and deactivate your account. If you opted for a Gold Trademark Agent account, the Trademark Clearinghouse will issue a credit note to the Trademark Agent for the funds that are still available on its Prepaid Account after which the funds will be transferred back to the Trademark Agent's bank account. All transaction and potential currency conversion costs will be borne by the Trademark Agent. The credit notes issued, will comply with the Luxembourg VAT requirements (a.o. refer to the initial invoice) and credit the VAT treatment applied on the initial invoice.I have multiple Prepaid Accounts. Can I cover all invoices for those accounts in one payment?
TMCH will provide one pro-forma invoice per Prepaid Account, and is expecting a payment that matches the amount of the pro-forma invoice. Hence you need to pay for each account individually.Do I have to pay VAT?
"All prices are listed in USD and do not include any Value Added Tax (VAT). Since CHIP S.A. is subject to the Luxembourg VAT regulations, we have to charge an additional 17% VAT when:
- the Trademark Holder or Trademark Agent registered country of residence is within the European Union and the Trademark Holder or Trademark Agent has indicated that it is not VAT-liable, i.e. did not provide a valid VAT-number; or
- the Trademark Holder or Trademark Agent registered country of residence is Luxembourg.
Please refer to our Detailed Fee Structure, for more information about VAT."How are currency and transaction costs handled?
All transaction and potential currency conversion costs associated with a wire transfer will be borne by the Trademark Agent or Holder, as applicable. In case the amount received by Trademark Clearinghouse is different from the amount specified on the pro-forma invoice, i.e. because of transaction costs (e.g. all costs related to any transaction, meaning wire transfer costs and/or costs related to the conversion from another currency to USD) charged to the Trademark Clearinghouse, the advance payment invoice will mention the amount that was actually received by Trademark Clearinghouse. The invoice will mention the transaction costs that were applied on the wire transfer. Please refer to our Detailed Fee Structure, for more detailed information.Which currencies are accepted by TMCH?
All prices are in USD. All payments, either by credit card or wire transfer, should be done in USD. In case wire transfers are sent to our bank account in another currency, the transfers will be converted to USD at the expense of the sender.Which payment methods are accepted by TMCH?
Trademark Agents or Trademark Holders who have registered for a Prepaid Account, can pay by wire transfer. Trademark Holders without Prepaid Account can pay by VISA, Mastercard or American Express.Why is my credit card declined?
"Your credit card may be declined by our credit card processing system for several reasons. Only your credit card issuer or financial institution can confirm the specific reason for a declined credit card. Possible reasons include:
- Not having sufficient available credit on the card.
- The card has expired.
- The credit card information including the billing address was not entered accurately.
- The CVV number was not entered correctly.
- As a security measure, some credit card companies reject transactions when a large number of online purchases are attempted within a short time.
Technical issues originating with your bank or credit card company, or with TMCH or our credit card processing services, can occasionally result in a declined card. If your credit card has been declined, you should verify that the card is still valid and that the information entered is accurate. Please enter your billing address exactly as it appears on your credit card statement. You may also choose to use a different credit card. Please contact the credit card issuing company or your bank for questions relating to your credit card or to investigate reasons of refusal."How secure is my credit card payment?
All customer data is handled and stored on an SSL platform, secured by encryption and authentication technology. The platform is Card Industry Compliant (PCI DSS compliant), awarded by Visa, MasterCard and TDC by American Express, which demand the strictest control of financial data being held, processed and transferred. SHA-1 encryption secures the shopping data you transfer to our platform.Why can't I see my trademark on the Mark overview after paying by credit card?
After paying by credit card, Ogone needs to process this payment which usually takes less than one minute. After the Clearinghouse has received the payment confirmation from Ogone, the trademark will be added to your Mark overview.How many trademarks can I register at a time when paying by credit card?
For security purposes, Trademark Holders paying by credit card can register up to 10 trademarks (including multiple domain name labels) per payment transaction. For more details, please refer to our Detailed Fee Structure in the Downloads section on our website.
Please refer to our Detailed Fee Structure, available in the Downloads section on our website, for more detailed information.Why didn’t I receive any confirmation or invoice after paying?
Invoices are generated automatically and can be downloaded at any time by clicking on "My account" > "List of Invoices" in the TMCH interface. The Clearinghouse does not send any paper invoices or paper copies. If you receive one, exercise caution as it may be fraudulent.I have received a paper invoice from the Clearinghouse, what should I do?
The Trademark Clearinghouse does not send any paper invoices. If you receive one, exercise caution as it may be fraudulent.Is it possible to divide my bill into several payments?
The TMCH interface enables you to register up to 10 trademarks in one transaction, with each transaction generating its own invoice. If you wish to split registrations across multiple transactions, you will need to adjust the number of registrations within each transaction accordingly. Please refer to our Detailed Fee Structure, for more detailed information.How do Status Points work?
"The Advanced Fee Structure provides discounted pricing for Trademark Agents and Holders with a Prepaid Account through the accumulation of Status Points earned through registering or renewing trademark records. Status Points are accumulated based on the volume and number of years the trademark is registered for. More Status Points result in lower registration and renewal prices. For more details, refer to our Detailed Fee Structure.
You can track your Status Points in the Clearinghouse User Interface under the 'My Account' page, more specifically under 'Current Financials'.
Note that Status Points expire at the end of the Registration Period, resetting to zero. The Registration Period is defined as follows:
- Trademark Holder or Trademark Agent who registered one or more trademarks in the Trademark Clearinghouse during the Early Bird Registration Period: The initial Registration Period will begin when they registered the first trademark in the Trademark Clearinghouse and ends on the first anniversary of the closing date of the Early Bird Registration Period.
- Trademark Holder or Trademark Agent who did not register a trademark during the Early Bird Registration Period: The initial Registration Period will begin when they registered the first trademark in the Trademark Clearinghouse and ends on the first anniversary of such date.
Thereafter, in either of the above two cases, each subsequent Registration Period shall consist of a 12 month period beginning on the date of termination of the previous Registration Period and ending on the first anniversary of such date."Trademark Record
How can I successfully submit trademarks to the Clearinghouse? Is there a deadline for submission?
To submit a trademark within the Clearinghouse you need to enter here, click "Sign In" and login with your credentials (user ID and password) . Once loged in, you can click on ""Submit Mark"" button on the "Mark Overview" page. Afterwards, you will be able to provide the details for the trademark(s) you wish to register. For further guidance you can visit the following link.
Once you have finished the submission and received a payment confirmation, the trademark record will receive the status "New". Please ensure that you have reviewed your order and selected the correct duration term before submitting.
There is no time limit as to when you can submit your trademark record in the Clearinghouse. Nevertheless, in order to benefit from our Sunrise Service, you will need to submit a trademark record before the launch of the TLD in which you want to register your domain name during the Sunrise period.How can I submit documentary evidence to my trademark record, which is not Proof of Use documentation?
You can submit documentary evidence by using the TMCH interface or Automated interface. Upload the documentation by logging into your TMCH account, navigating to the trademark record and clicking on "Edit" next to the indication of the "incorrect" status. Afterwards, please select the type of document you wish to submit, click on "Choose File" to upload the necessary documents and click on "Finalize and submit". All documentary evidence can only be submitted in JPEG or PDF format, with a maximum file size of 10 MB per document. The documents must be human-readable.Which details need to be provided when submitting my trademark in the Clearinghouse?
The mandatory fields are marked by an asterisk (*):
— Name of the mark: the name of your trademark as shown on the trademark certificate.
— Mark type: Three trademark types can be registered:
• Registered trademarks
• Court validated trademarks
• Trademarks protected by statute or treaty
You can find more details on these types in our TMCH Guidelines
— Registration number: the registration number included on the trademark certificate.
— Registration date: the date on which the trademark was registered in the corresponding jurisdiction, as shown on its trademark certificate.
— Jurisdiction: the jurisdiction from which the trademark was registered, and the certificate issued.
• If your jurisdiction is not listed as one with an online trademark database, you can still submit your trademark by uploading a copy of the paper trademark certificate and, if relevant, a renewal certificate showing that the registration remains valid. A list of jurisdictions can be found here (https://trademark-clearinghouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/list_of_online_databases_0.pdf).
— Description of goods and services class: the Nice classes for which your trademark is registered, as included in your trademark certificate.
• Should the corresponding jurisdiction not follow Nice Classification, you can include 'N/A' instead.
— Detailed description of goods and services: the description of the goods and services for which your trademark is registered, as included in your trademark certificate.
• Should the jurisdiction of your trademark registration not follow Nice Classification, we ask you to still include the goods and services description as shown on the trademark certificate.
• The description should be provided in the language of the trademark certificate. If you wish to provide it in another language, please include a certified English translation.
• Only list goods and services that are still protected by your trademark. Omit any that have been cancelled.
— Organization: the name of the trademark owner as per the trademark certificate (or assignee/licensee declaration).
• If the name of your organization has changed but the trademark certificate has not yet been updated, submit the new name together with documentary evidence confirming the change.
— E-mail: e-mail of the trademark owner.
— Street, postal code, city, country: address of the trademark owner.
• If any part of the address is missing on the trademark certificate, please enter the complete and correct information and provide supporting documentation (e.g., company registry extract). If such evidence is unavailable, indicate “N/A.”
Note:
- In case of a TMCH Holder account, the trademark owner and address information in the record is directly copied from your account details, and cannot be adjusted in the record submission itself. We kindly refer to our manual on how to update TMCH Holder account information.
- Date format: All dates should be entered in the YYYY-MM-DD format.
How are domain name labels generated from my trademark name?
If your trademark record has the status "New", it means that is still in the verification process. This process involves checks against online databases or an in-depth analysis based on the type and country of the trademark. The duration of the process can take up to 15 days for trademark verification and another 10 days for Proof of Use.
Once the process has been completed, your record will receive one of the following statuses:
• "Verified": No further action will be requested from you (unless the Proof of Use is on "Incorrect");
• "Incorrect": You will be able to correct the trademark record;
• "Invalid": You have already used your chance to correct the trademark record and any additional correction can be only completed by buying an additional correction (only available to Prepaid Accounts) or alternatively you can submit the trademark record again as a new submission.
Trademark records are re-verified yearly for 3- or 5-year registrations, with alerts sent if info is incorrect or outdated. See the Trademark Clearinghouse Guidelines for details.In which format should I enter dates into the Clearinghouse?
The dates should be entered in YYYY-MM-DD format.I have received a message saying my trademark record is "incorrect". What should I do?
Log in to the TMCH interface, navigate to the "Marks overview" tab and find the trademark record with the "incorrect" status. Detailed comments from our verification agents are in the "Comment" field. For instructions on correcting your trademark record, please refer to our manuals for Trademark Agents or Trademark Holders.
How many times can I correct my trademark record and how much time do I have to make corrections?
You can correct your trademark record once. If a correction is requested by TMCH, you have 35 calendar days to make the necessary changes. If the correction is not made, your trademark will be assigned the "invalid" status by our verification agents.
Once your trademark record has been set to "invalid", you can no longer correct the trademark record. However, the Trademark Clearinghouse allows Trademark Agents and Holders with a Prepaid Account to purchase an additional correction through the TMCH interface. This allows Prepaid Accounts to correct invalidated trademark records (either because errors are still present or because the correction time of 35 days has elapsed). You can purchase the additional correction chance by navigating to the invalidated trademark record from the "Mark overview" page and clicking on button "Additional correction" below the status. Prepaid Accounts will be able to modify either the trademark name or the trademark registration number, not both. For this service a fixed amount of 75 USD per correction will be deducted directly from the prepaid account. The additional correction is only available until 30 days before the trademark record expiry.
For further details on the additional correction, please refer to our one pager on extra corrections.
If you fail to correct your trademark record, please note that no refunds are provided.
The information currently displayed in the trademark certificate is not correct. How should I proceed?
In this case, you should submit the current and correct information in the trademark record in TMCH, along with additional documentary evidence, to enable the Clearinghouse to verify this information.
Note that documentary evidence can only be submitted in JPEG or PDF format using the TMCH interface or Automated interface. The size of each document can be up to 10 MB. Documents should be human-readable.How can I change the trademark owner information in my record, if I have a Trademark Holder TMCH account?
As a Trademark Holder, your contract information is automatically copied to all your trademark records. Therefore, TMCH has to change the status of all your verified trademark records to "incorrect" and your invalid trademark records to "deactivated", to enable you to change the name or address of the Trademark Holder. You can request these status changes by creating a ticket in our dedicated Customer Support System, either by clicking on "Get support" on the TMCH interface or by sending an email to support@trademark-clearinghouse.com.
Once these changes in status have been executed, you can change the contract information within a maximum of 35 days via "My account" > "Edit Contract Details". Then, please re-submit all trademark records for verification once you have made the necessary updates in your account. Note that this action will lead to the revocation of your current SMD files. Once the process has been completed as indicated above, and the records have the "verified" status, the SMD files will be automatically regenerated. You can find an overview of these steps in our manual.How do I manage trademark record renewal?
All TMCH trademark records require annual reverification. Trademark Agents or Holders receive email reminders 60 days before, 30 days before, and 10 days after the mark expiration in TMCH. This applies regardless of registration method (web application or automated interface).
When renewing, Trademark Agents or Holders can adjust the registration period for trademark records. The Prepaid Account balance is checked to see if sufficient funds are available to renew the selected trademark records. In case no sufficient funds are available to renew all selected trademark records, trademark records are renewed serially until the Prepaid Account no longer has sufficient funds to renew the next trademark records. If this is the case, the Trademark Agent or Holder is advised to increase its Prepaid Account.
For 3- or 5-year registrations, records renew automatically each year. You only need to resubmit information if it is incomplete or inaccurate, or if requested by the verification agent during annual reverification.
In case you fail to renew your record before the mark expiration date, your record receives the status "expired", meaning you will no longer be able to register in any Sunrise period nor receive any notifications. To keep the benefit from these services, you will need to start the registration process again, meaning that you will need to resubmit your trademark information.Is there additional Proof of Use documentation required when I want to renew my trademark record?
If the information in the trademark record has not changed since registration or previous renewal, you don't need to provide additional Proof of Use documentation.How can I transfer a trademark record to another TMCH account?
"t is possible to transfer an active trademark record from a Trademark Holder or Agent to another Trademark Agent.
We kindly refer to our manual for detailed information.
If you are a Trademark Holder or Agent and have an SMD file, you can transfer a trademark record to a Trademark Agent by executing the following steps:
• Download the SMD file linked to the trademark record you wish to transfer;
• Navigate to the TMCH interface
and click on "Transfer Record";
• Click on "Choose File" to upload your SMD file and then click "Initiate Transfer";
• The email address linked to the trademark record will receive the transfer code, which you will need to provide to the Trademark Agent you are transferring the record to.
In case you don't have an SMD file, a transfer of a trademark record can only take place if the record has the status "Verified" at that time. You can execute the transfer to a Trademark Agent by following the steps:
• The Trademark Holder or Agent currently holding the trademark record needs to navigate to the TMCH interface, and login with their credentials;
• In the "Mark overview" page, they need to click the "Verified" record you wish to transfer;
• Under the "Status" field, click on the "Send Transfer Code" button;
• A pop-up message appears, showing them the transfer code. Copy the code and click "OK";
• After clicking “OK”, an e-mail with the transfer code will be sent to the email address included in the trademark record;
• After you have received the transfer code, you can provide it to the new Trademark Agent you are transfering the record to.
The new Trademark Agent needs to execute the transfer via the following steps:
• Navigate to the TMCH interface, login with their credentials and click on "Execute Transfer" in the right bottom corner of the page
• Enter the transfer code received and click on "Complete Transfer" in order to transfer the trademark record to their account.
Please note that in both cases, the transfer code will be active for 14 days, after this period you can request a new transfer code.
The fee for transferring a trademark record is set at 30 USD per trademark record per transfer - taken from the Prepaid Balance of the Trademark Agent account doing the transfer-in of the trademark record.What is an Abused Domain Name Label (ADNL) and how is this handled in the TMCH?
An Abused Domain Name Label (ADNL) is a domain-name string that a brand owner has successfully recovered or prevailed against in a formal dispute (UDRP or court case), and which can now be added to their TMCH record for ongoing protection. This addition will trigger a Trademark Claims Notice when someone tries to register the same name under a new gTLD, and will generate claims notifications accordingly.
Up to 50 ADNLs can be added per trademark record, provided they meet all eligibility requirements outlined on the Clearinghouse website. Labels can come from different court decisions or UDRP cases, but the court must be a national court and UDRP cases must have been rendered by an ICANN-approved service provider.
Note that these ADNLs are not included in the SMD file.What are the requirements for submitting ADNLs via UDRP or court cases to the Clearinghouse?
To submit a UDRP or court case to the Clearinghouse, specific information must be provided, including:
• name of the court or UDRP provider;
• reference number;
• language of the case;
• copy of the case decision;
• and the abused labels.
For UDRP cases, the decision must come from an ICANN-approved provider.
For court cases, the court must be a national court.
The Clearinghouse verification agents will check that:
• The trademark name in the record matches the trademark name in the case;
• The registration/reference number aligns;
• The jurisdiction/country of protection is the same;
• The abused labels submitted match those mentioned in the case.
If the case does not contain all required details (e.g. trademark registration number), you may upload supporting documents as annexes.
Pricing differs for submitting UDRP vs. court cases. We kindly refer to our Detailed Fee Structure for more information.
Proof of Use
When do I need to provide Proof of Use?
If you wish to opt-in for the Sunrise Service, a Proof of Use for your trademark is required. The verification of Proof of Use (POU) by the Trademark Clearinghouse is required to qualify for participation in the Sunrise domain name registration processes.
You don't need to provide POU documentation at the time of your initial trademark submission. If you chose not to upload it then, you can add it later on, after your trademark record has been verified. To do so, simply log into your TMCH account, select the trademark from the "Mark overview" page, find the "Proof Of Use" field, and click "Add proof of use".What is a Proof of Use?
"If a Trademark Holder opts to benefit from the Sunrise service, the Proof of Use submitted will be verified. Proof of Use must show the trademark distinguishes products or services to consumers. Acceptable evidence includes:
1. Labels, tags, or containers from a product with the name of the trademark.
2. Advertising and marketing materials (including brochures, pamphlets, catalogues, product pictures, product manuals, displays or signage, press releases, screenshots (of a website), or social media marketing materials).
Samples that do not show the use of the trademark, like website links, are not accepted.
Please check the Trademark Clearinghouse Guidelines for a more detailed overview of the accepted samples.
The Proof of Use can be uploaded in 2 seperate files:
- The actual sample of Proof of Use, as described above.
- The declaration of Proof of Use, which is a signed statement by the Trademark Holder, confirming that a trademark is actively used and the submitted information is accurate.
Templates for this file can be found
- here/a> for Trademark Holders, and
- here/a> for Trademark Agents.
An uploaded and verified Proof Of Use is valid for 5 years. After these 5 years the Proof of Use needs to be revalidated. Please visit this link/a> for instructions on how to revalidate your POU. "Do I need to submit Proof of Use for the Sunrise service if my trademark is already based on usage?
Yes, if you submit a registered trademark in the Trademark Clearinghouse and wish to benefit from the Sunrise service, you will have to submit a single sample of Proof of Use as well as a signed declaration of Proof of Use. You can find more information concerning the Proof of Use in FAQ "What is a Proof of Use?".How many samples of Proof of Use do I have to submit?
As stated in the Trademark Clearinghouse Guidelines, one sample of Proof of Use is sufficient per trademark record.Does a Proof of Use have an expiration date?
"As per ICANN requirements, Proof of Use (POU) documentation must be updated every five years. Upon expiry, the SMD file can no longer be used for the Sunrise service. Therefore, the signed declaration and sample of POU must be resubmitted to maintain validity.
If your Proof of Use (POU) documents are approaching five years old, you must re-verify their validity. You can choose to revalidate the initially uploaded documents if they are still relevant, or invalidate them if they are outdated.
To revalidate, use the ""bulk validate POU"" page on the TMCH web interface. Access this by navigating to your TMCH account and clicking ""bulk validate POU"" at the bottom right of the ""Mark overview"" page. This option is available once your POU documents are within 120 days of expiry.
If the POU documentation is no longer valid, invalidate the POU documentation on the designated page and upload new POU documentation via the record itself (standard procedure). Afterwards, please resubmit the POU documentation for verification.
If no action is taken within 60 days after the POU expiry date, the POU status will automatically change to ""expired"", the expiry warning message will be removed, and the associated SMD file will be revoked. This means that you no longer have a valid SMD file for this trademark.
For detailed steps on revalidating your POU documents, we kindly refer to our manual."What can I do in case I did not renew my POU on time?
"If the POU expiry date is reached, and the 60-day grace period during which you can still renew it is past, the POU status will change to ""expired,"" and the SMD file will be revoked.
If you did not renew your POU documents in time, you will need to revalidate your POU documents to be eligible for Sunrise Service. To do so, simply go to the ""bulk validate POU"" page in your TMCH account. For detailed instructions, please refer to our manual."TMCH Services
Can I try the TMCH services before ordering?
As a registered user, you have access to the full web interface and can explore all pages and features. Once you submit a trademark registration and have paid for it, the order is considered final.
As a registered Agent, you will also have access to the API OT&E environment. Please refer to the OT&E documentation OT&E documentation for more details.Are there multiple Clearinghouses?
The Trademark Clearinghouse (TMCH) is the only ICANN-developed clearinghouse offering these unique services. If another provider claims to offer the same, please raise a ticket via the “Get support” button on the TMCH interface or email support@trademark-clearinghouse.com.How does registering trademarks within the TMCH protect companies' brands?
Registering trademarks in the Clearinghouse protects brands through two proactive services:
1. Sunrise Service: A minimum 30-day pre-registration period allowing trademark owners to register domain names matching their trademarks before it is offered to the general public. A Sunrise Period is mandatory for all new gTLDs and having a validated trademark entry in the Clearinghouse is the minimum requirement to participate in this limited pre-registration period.
2. Trademark Claims Service: Following the Sunrise Period, a notification service during the general registration phase. Registrants attempting to register a domain name that matches a TMCH trademark receive a warning. If they proceed, the corresponding trademark holder is notified so they can take action if desired.What is the Sunrise Service?
The Sunrise service is offered during the Sunrise period, a pre-launch phase for new gTLDs allowing trademark owners with verified TMCH records to register matching domain names before the general public.
There is no deadline for registering your brands in the TMCH, but only verified records generate an SMD file, which is required to participate in Sunrise.
If two or more identical trademarks are registered, both can participate; the Registry Operator decides how to allocate the identical domain (e.g., first-come-first-served or auction).
Trademarks not registered in the TMCH cannot benefit from Sunrise priority registration.What is the Trademark Claims Service?
This service is offered during the Claims period, which starts right after the Sunrise period and lasts at least 90 days after a TLD’s launch. During this period:
- Domain name registrants receive a Claims Notice when attempting to register a domain matching a TMCH trademark.
- If the registrant proceeds, the TMCH notifies the corresponding trademark holder or agent.
This notification enables the trademark holder or agent to determine the next steps according to their intellectual property strategy. This can involve contacting a lawyer to verify potential infringement and consider filing a UDRP or URS case. WIPO provides an overview of all Rights Protection Mechanisms linked to the New gTLD Program.
Notifications are only sent when a domain name matching your trademark is registered (i.e. when a domain name registrant accepted the Claims Notice and proceeded with the registration), not when an application is submitted.What is the Ongoing Notification Service?
"After the mandatory 90-day Claims period, the TMCH offers an Ongoing Notification Service.
- Trademark holders are notified whenever someone activates a domain name matching their verified mark.
- Notifications continue indefinitely for the full duration of the TMCH registration (1, 3, or 5 years).
- The service covers all new gTLDs and most legacy TLDs (.COM, .NET, .ORG) at no extra cost.
- The service is non-mandatory, leaving each Trademark Holder or Agent to decide whether they wish to activate it.
“Domain name activation” means a domain name that has been added to the zone file and nameservers have been linked to it, though not necessarily in use.
Note the difference with the Trademark Claims Service: domain name registrants attempting to register a domain name no longer receive Claims Notice, but the trademark holder or agent is still notified of the domain name activation."What is the chronological order of our services?
Chronologically, the Sunrise period (30-60 days) comes first during which Sunrise Service is offered. This is prior to the effective TLD launch. Upon TLD launch, the Claims period (90 days) starts during which Trademark Claims Service is offered. After this period, the Ongoing Notifications Service is in place.How are notifications sent and who receives them?
Notifications are sent to the email address provided during your account registration within the Trademark Clearinghouse.
By default, Agents receive all notifications on behalf of their Holders. However, the TMCH can forward Notices of Registered Names (NORNs) and ongoing notifications directly to Holders for a one-time fee of $10 per trademark record.
- This can be activated during or after trademark submission via the “Marks” tab → “Services” section.
- The service can be reactivated or disabled anytime at no added cost.
- It cannot be used with API-enabled accounts (API must be disabled first).
- These notifications are sent to the Trademark Agent and Holder simultaneously.
For detailed steps on how to activate this service, refer to our dedicated manual or contact support@trademark-clearinghouse.com.
Note that all non-NORN notifications are only sent to the email address in the TMCH account. However, Trademark Agents do have the possibility to list multiple email addresses for different kinds of notifications (see “My Account”).Does the TMCH send notifications to its user?
In order to keep its users updated, the TMCH provides different types of notifications:
1. Service-related notifications:
- Sunrise Notifications: Alerts trademark owners when a domain name matching their trademark is registered before public launch.
- Claims Notifications: Notifies owners if someone registers a matching domain name during the first 90 days of a new TLD.
- Ongoing Notifications: Optional alerts for activity identified on matching domain names after the Claims period.
If identical trademarks are registered by different Holders or Agents, each will only be notified when another party registers a matching domain name during a Sunrise or Claims period (if those services are activated).
2. Status notifications on your record submission:
- Verified: No further action required (unless Proof of Use is “incorrect”).
- Incorrect: You may correct the trademark record. Comments from our validators are available to clarify the discrepancy identified.
- Invalid: You can no longer correct it unless you buy an additional correction (for prepaid accounts) or resubmit a new trademark record.
If your record is registered for 3 or 5 years, you will only be contacted if additional verification is needed.
3. Other types of notifications related to:
- Proof of Use
- SMD file (re)generation/revocation
- Balance on Prepaid Account
- Upcoming TMCH renewals
- ...What is an SMD file?
"A Signed Mark Data (SMD) file is a digital file issued by the Trademark Clearinghouse once your trademark record and Proof of Use have been verified. It confirms that your trademark meets the eligibility requirements for Sunrise participation and allows you to request other services (e.g. initiate a URS process).
The SMD file acts like a credential that proves TMCH validation and identifies which labels (e.g., exampleone, example-one) can be registered as domain names during Sunrise.
It contains:
- The trademark name, unique ID, permitted labels, and validity dates.
- Encoded contact information (Holder or Agent) and, if applicable, Nice classification details.
You can view your SMD file with a text editor., but between the SMD file boundaries (-----BEGIN ENCODED SMD----- and -----END ENCODED SMD-----) the actual SMD file is encoded. Do not modify it, as you may render it invalid.
The possession of your SMD is sufficient to request services based on your SMD, therefore it is important that you keep your SMD secure and you only share your SMD with a trusted person/entity (e.g. ICANN-approved URS providers).
For your information, the contents of an SMD file are similar to this:
Marks: Example One
smdID: 1-2
U-labels: example-one, exampleone
notBefore: 2011-08-16 09:00
notAfter: 2012-08-16 09:00
-----BEGIN ENCODED SMD-----
PD94bWwgdmVyc2lvbj0iMS4wIiBlbmNvZGluZz0iVVRGLTgiPz4KPHNtZDpzaWdu
ZWRNYXJrIHhtbG5zOnNtZD0idXJuOmlldGY6cGFyYW1zOnhtbDpuczpzaWduZWRN
[...]
cnRpZmljYXRlPgo8L1g1MDlEYXRhPgogICAgPC9LZXlJbmZvPgogIDwvU2lnbmF0
dXJlPgo8L3NtZDpzaWduZWRNYXJrPgo=
-----END ENCODED SMD-----"How can I download my SMD file?
Once your trademark record and Proof of Use are verified, your SMD file will be available within one hour. A new SMD is automatically generated whenever trademark data changes; old ones become invalid.
To download your SMD file:
1. Sign in to your TMCH account.
2. Go to the "Services" tab.
3. Locate your verified mark.
4. Click the file icon in the SMD column.
5. Your browser will download the SMD file automatically.
For detailed steps, see the TMCH manual or contact support@trademark-clearinghouse.com.When does an SMD file expire or get revoked?
A new SMD file is issued each time a record is renewed or updated. It remains valid until the trademark record expires in the TMCH.
If an SMD is compromised or the trademark record is removed, the Trademark Validator (TMV) will revoke it. Once revoked, the file can no longer be used.Troubleshooting SMD file issues
If your trademark record status is “verified” and Proof of Use is “valid” but your SMD file is unavailable:
- Verify that labels are attached to your trademark record.
- If not, follow the guidance provided by support@trademark-clearinghouse.com.
If your trademark appears under the “Marks” tab but not under “Services,” you may have changed the trademark name without re-adding labels. Contact Support via the “Get support” button or email support@trademark-clearinghouse.com for assistance.Who can use the SMD file to register domain names?
By agreeing to TMCH Terms and Conditions, the Trademark Agent is deemed authorized to download and use the SMD files on behalf of the Holder. It is then up to the Agent and Holder to determine who will register the domain name.How do Registry Operators verify SMD file validity?
Registry Operators can confirm validity because each SMD file is digitally signed by the ICANN-approved Trademark Validator (TMV).What happens if I do not renew my trademark record in time?
If you fail to renew your trademark record before the expiration date, your record will be marked "expired". You will no longer be eligible for Sunrise registrations, nor receive TMCH notifications.
To continue using TMCH services, you must re-submit your trademark information as a new registration.API (Automated Interface)
What is API, and what is it used for?
The API (Application Programming Interface) is a web-based interface provided by the Trademark Clearinghouse, to allow users to interact in an automated way with the data stored in the Clearinghouse database. It enables two applications to communicate and exchange data with each other, making it possible to link the data in the Clearinghouse database with own applications. The API can only be used by Trademark Agents with a verified account. You can find the latest documentation on API here.How can I connect to the TMCH API?
The TMCH API can only be accessed by Trademark Agents. After registering with the Trademark Clearinghouse, use your production credentials to request OT&E (test) access through a support ticket. The support team will then provide your test credentials and the URLs for the API and web interface.
You can connect to API v2 via port ""api.trademark-clearinghouse.com:"" for the PRODUCTION environment and ""ote-api.trademark-clearinghouse.com: 7701"" for OT&E.
For full details, please refer to the TMCH API2 Documentation & XSD.Can I test the TMCH API before registering?
You can test the TMCH API only after registering as a Trademark Clearinghouse Agent. Once registered, request OT&E credentials via Support (click "Get support" on the TMCH interface or email support@trademark-clearinghouse.com). You will receive your OT&E credentials and access URLs. For more information about testing the commands and other API functions, please refer to the official API command documentation.How do I configure my account for API access (PROD and OT&E)?
After your Agent account is verified and you receive your production credentials, request OT&E credentials via Support (click ""Get support"" on the portal or email support@trademark-clearinghouse.com). To whitelist your IP address for access:
1. Sign in to the relevant environment
2. Go to ""My Account"" → ""API settings""
3. Enter your IPv4 address to whitelist and click ""Update API Settings""
Please note it may take up to 30 minutes before the IP address is whitelisted. Perform this process separately for both production and OT&E.
Both environments allow 2 connections per whitelisted IP.How can I POLL for changes via the API?
"The actual code for the polling commands can be found in the API documentation available here.
Polling will allow you to receive and acknowledge messages regarding the following events:
- Notifications on changes.
- Notifications on claims.
- Notifications on SMD creation.
- Additional: watermark messages.
Notifications contain the following elements:
- A counter that shows how many poll messages are in your queue.
- The ID of the current message (the message that is displayed).
- The POLL messages, each preceded by the message type unique identifier (see details: add link).
- The ID of the Trademark Record the poll message is referring to.
- The name of the Mark Record the poll message is referring to.
To remove a processed message, send an acknowledgement command using the ID of the current message. Watermark messages are triggered when your prepaid balance goes below $1000.
Poll messages are automatically removed and sent via e-mail under these conditions:
- At 12pm UTC for standard poll messages older than 12 hours.
- Hourly for watermark-level messages older than 12 hours.
- Every 4 hours for Claims or Sunrise notifications (NORNs) older than 1 hour.
This is a safety mechanism to ensure our API users are kept informed of changes to their trademark records and notifications, should there be an issue with connecting to the API interface.
Polling is available on both the production and OT&E environment. API v2 also automatically includes the number of poll messages pending in responses.What you I consider when submitting/updating a record via API?
You can update a trademark record only if its status is ""incorrect"" (except for adding Proof of Use or labels).
To see validator comments on your record, use the INFO command.
When changing the trademark’s name, first update the name (this will remove existing labels), then add up to 10 labels again.
Ensure your trademark record ID follows the correct format:
- on OT&E, it starts with a 6-digit zero-padded unique ID followed by up to 54 digits, ending with ""-1"";
- on Production, it starts with your User ID formatted the same way.
If your trademark doesn’t follow the Nice classification, use class 46 to indicate “Not Applicable” for goods and services. For details on submitting documents like Proof of Use via the API, please refer to the official API documentation.How can I retrieve the SMD file for a trademark record via the API?
You can retrieve SMD files with the special INFO command as described in the API Documentaton available on our website.How can I manage labels, including IDN and Abused Domain Name Labels, and update smd Inclusion flags via the API?
To add labels, use the aLabel(s) field in the CREATE command.
The uLabel is not allowed and will be generated automatically.
For IDN labels, first convert them to punycode before adding them as aLabel(s).
To check which labels qualify as identical matches, use:
• Registered trademarks:
https://secure.trademark-clearinghouse.com/tmch/public/labels?name=&jurisdiction=
• Statute/treaty or court-validated marks:
https://secure.trademark-clearinghouse.com/tmch/public/labels?name=&country=
To update SMD Inclusion flags:
• Remove the label(s).
• Add them again with the flag enabled or disabled.
(In API v2, this can be done in a single update.)
You can also submit Abused Domain Name Labels via the API.
For full details and examples, please refer to the API documentation available in the Downloads section.Registries
How can I, as a Registry Operator, connect to the TMDB?
For more information, please visit the following link.
What restrictions can a Registry Operator impose during the Sunrise Period?
All registrations during a Sunrise Period must include a valid SMD file. Additionally, a Registry Operator may (i) apply restrictions related to the underlying rights of a trademark related to the purpose of the TLD, (ii) specify requirements that are not related to the scope of mark rights, (iii) require the SMD file information to match the applicable Whois record, and (iv) impose reasonable date restrictions related to the date on which the trademark was registered, validated or protected in order to prevent gaming of the Sunrise Period. Any other registration restrictions must be imposed consistently throughout any Limited Registration Period and General Registration.What is the difference between a Start-Date Sunrise and an End-Date Sunrise?
In a Start-Date Sunrise, Registry Operators may allocate or register domain names on a first-come, first-served basis or by any other time-based process. In an End-Date Sunrise, Registry Operators must not allocate or register domain names before the end of the Sunrise Period, and may not use a first-come, first-served or other time-based allocation. Auctions held amongst Sunrise-Eligible Rights Holders to resolve contention are compliant with Section 3.2.4 of the TMCH Requirements if the domain name is withheld until the ultimate allocation to one of the eligible holders.Do Registry Operators have to offer dispute resolution policies for Sunrise registrations?
Yes. All Registry Operators must offer a Sunrise Dispute Resolution Policy (SDRP) that allows challenges to Sunrise Registrations related to allocation and registration policies. This includes cases where domain names do not match the trademark record used for the Sunrise Registration. Each Registry Operator has discretion when designing its SDRP, which must be included in the TLD Startup Information.How does the 120-day no-activation period affect Sunrise?
Under the New gTLD Collision Occurrence Management Plan, no domain names may be activated in a TLD until 120 days after the Registry Agreement is signed. A Sunrise Period may start before this period expires, but domain names cannot be activated until the 120 days have passed. The same rule applies to any Qualified or Approved Launch Program.Can domain names be allocated before or during Sunrise to non-Sunrise-Eligible Rights Holders?
During the Sunrise Period, domain names may only be registered to Sunrise-Eligible Rights Holders with valid SMD files. Registry Operators may not allocate domain names to non-Sunrise-Eligible Rights Holders before the Sunrise Period unless ICANN has approved an Approved Launch Program or implemented a Qualified Launch Program. Allocations include any allocation, designation, assignment, or other form of earmarking of a domain name to a potential registrant.What are Approved Launch Programs and how do they work?
A Registry Operator may apply to ICANN for an Approved Launch Program to allocate or register domain names to a third party before the Sunrise Period. ICANN’s process for reviewing such applications may include public comment. All Registry Operators, including those of geographic TLDs, must apply for and receive approval before offering an Approved Launch Program. If a Registry Operator described a launch plan in its original TLD application, there is a presumption that such a plan will be approved if it aligns with the submitted application. However, ICANN may reject any plan that could cause consumer confusion or infringe intellectual property rights. For further information we suggest you visit ICANN's website.Can a Registry Operator offer a landrush period at the start of General Availability?
General Availability begins when domain names are open to all qualified registrants. A landrush period meeting this description would be onsidered General Availability. If eligibility requirements apply that limit domain name availability to registrants, it is considered a Limited Registration Period and cannot overlap with the Claims Period or General Availability.Can a Registry Operator release reserved domain names later for registration?
Yes. If a domain name reserved under the Registry Agreement is released for allocation or registration before the Claims Period, it must follow all Sunrise and Claims requirements. If released after the Claims Period begins, it must be subject to the Claims Service for 90 days after its release, even if the scheduled Claims Period has ended.Can Registry Operators query the CNIS?
No. Only registrars may query the CNIS.How can a Registry Operator post Sunrise information on the TMCH website or social channels?
Registry Operators wishing to post Sunrise information on the TMCH website or social channels should send an email to marketing@trademark-clearinghouse.com with the details they wish to publish.