New generic Top Level Domain (gTLD) applications will be able to offer Sunrise registrations on a first come first serve basis, differing from the usual model which sees all registrations pushed through at the end of the Sunrise period.
Our Domain Resellers should always be keeping up to date with the latest information regarding the new gTLD process to ensure they can help their clients as much as possible.
According to the Trademark Clearinghouse Rights Protection Mechanism Requirements:
2.1 Notice of Registration Periods.
2.1.1 If registry Operator’s Sunrise policies permit Registry Operator to allocate, assign, designate or otherwise earmark (referred to herein as “Allocate”, “Allocated” and “Allocation”) or register any Sunrise Registration prior to the end of the sunrise period (i.e., Registry Operator MAY offer Sunrise Registrations (as defined in section 2.2.1) on a “first-come, first-served” basis or any other time based Allocation or registration process) (a “Start-Date Sunrise”), Registry Operator MUST provide the following information (collectively, the “TLD Startup Information”) to ICANN and the TMCH Sunrise and Claims Operator at least thirty (30) calendar days in advance of the date the Sunrise Period for the TLD is scheduled to start. If Registry Operator’s Sunrise registration policies do not permit Registry Operator to Allocate or register any Sunrise Registrations prior to the end of the Sunrise Period (i.e., Registry Operator MUST NOT offer Sunrise Registrations on a “first-come, first-served” basis or any other time-based Allocation or registration process), Registry Operator MAY provide its TLD Startup Information to ICANN and the TMCH Sunrise Claims Operator at any time following the date of first delegation of the TLD to nameservers designated by Registry Operator into the root-zone (an “End-Date Sunrise”).
New gTLD Operators will be required to give the 30 day notice of Sunrise if they want to offer “first-come, first-served” registrations during sunrise.
Other important aspects of this document include the confirmation of the ability for New gTLD Operators to register 100 domain names themselves for promotional activity.
New gTLD Operators now have a decision to make in terms of how they want to operate their Sunrise process. The 30 day notice before the Sunrise Period starts gives your clients the opportunity to prepare for the launch of the TLD and ensure that they have the necessary Trademark Clearinghouse applications in place.
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