Before leaving Bali, NiceNIC CEO Helen and founder May met with the Trademark Clearinghouse (TMCH) team at ICANN87. The conversation connected two priorities for businesses and domain resellers: finding opportunities in new domain extensions and understanding how to protect the brands behind those names.
For trademark holders, TMCH provides a centralized verification process that supports Sunrise registration opportunities, Trademark Claims notices, and optional Ongoing Notifications. Each service addresses a different stage of a domain launch or a brand’s ongoing monitoring needs.
Businesses exploring their next domain can begin with NiceNIC Domain Search to review available naming options. For a future launch, checking trademark eligibility and the registry's registration schedule early can help a team prepare before public registration opens.
Connecting Domain Opportunities and Brand Protection at ICANN87
ICANN87, held in Bali, Indonesia, from October 17 to 22, 2026, brought the domain community together at the Bali International Convention Centre.
For NiceNIC, meeting the TMCH team provided an opportunity to exchange ideas about trademark protection and the information customers need when evaluating new domain extensions. The discussion also highlighted the value of helping resellers explain launch procedures clearly to the businesses they serve.
A new extension can provide a useful home for a product, campaign, community, or specialized service. A business considering that opportunity also needs to understand whether it qualifies for an earlier registration phase, which documents it needs, and how it will monitor relevant registrations afterward.
Bringing those questions into the planning process helps customers make decisions before a launch deadline creates unnecessary pressure.
What Is the Trademark Clearinghouse?
The Trademark Clearinghouse maintains verified trademark records for use within the new gTLD rights protection framework. A gTLD is a generic top-level domain, such as .COM, .APP, or .SHOP.
As explained in ICANN's Trademark Clearinghouse FAQs, TMCH verifies trademark information from different jurisdictions and maintains records that support Sunrise and Trademark Claims services.
Centralized verification can simplify preparation across multiple launches. An eligible rights holder can use its verified record for relevant services without starting an entirely separate trademark verification process for every new extension.
Trademark verification, domain registration, and trademark ownership remain distinct matters. Recording a trademark in TMCH does not automatically register matching domains. Individual registries determine how domains are allocated under their applicable policies, and more than one party may hold legitimate rights in the same name.
That distinction helps businesses understand what they are purchasing and which additional steps remain necessary.
Sunrise Service: Prepare Before Public Registration Opens
The TMCH Sunrise Service gives eligible trademark holders an opportunity to apply for matching domain names before general registration begins.
Preparation involves submitting trademark information for verification and meeting the relevant proof-of-use requirements. Once the necessary information and documentation are verified, the rights holder can obtain a Signed Mark Data (SMD) file. This file authenticates the verified trademark information for a Sunrise application and can be reused across relevant launches while it remains valid.
The registry's launch rules still matter. ICANN's rights protection requirements FAQ distinguishes between Start-Date Sunrise periods, which last at least 30 days, and End-Date Sunrise periods, which last at least 60 days.
A valid SMD file is required for Sunrise registration. Registries may also apply permitted eligibility requirements and allocation procedures. Competing eligible applications can be handled through the registry’s published process, which may include an auction.
For a brand team, the practical approach is to prepare documents, identify relevant launches, and confirm fees and application requirements in advance. Sunrise eligibility creates an opportunity to apply; it does not guarantee allocation of every requested domain.
Trademark Claims: Information Before and After Registration
The Trademark Claims Service helps prospective registrants and trademark holders become aware of potential conflicts during a new gTLD's Claims period.
According to ICANN's explanation of Claims Services, this period runs for at least the first 90 days of initial general registration. A prospective registrant attempting to register a name that matches a TMCH record receives a Claims Notice.
The process has two sides:
- The prospective registrant receives information about the matching trademark and must acknowledge the notice before proceeding.
- If registration goes ahead, the corresponding trademark holder receives a notification.
A Claims Notice deserves careful attention, but it is not a legal finding that infringement has occurred. TMCH's Claims Notice guidance explains that a matching domain registration may or may not infringe trademark rights, depending on the circumstances.
Likewise, acknowledging a notice does not provide permission to infringe a trademark. Businesses with a potentially conflicting name should seek qualified advice before committing to branding, advertising, or website development.
For resellers, a clear explanation at this stage can prevent customers from treating a Claims Notice as either an automatic rejection or a routine message with no consequences.
Ongoing Notifications: Continue Monitoring After the Launch
Brand monitoring remains relevant after the initial Claims period ends. TMCH's Ongoing Notifications Service allows eligible clients to continue receiving alerts about domain activity matching labels associated with their verified trademark records.
The service is optional and must be activated. It is available during the applicable period of the verified trademark record in TMCH.
TMCH currently describes coverage for new gTLDs and popular legacy extensions including .COM, .NET, and .ORG. Its service also supports accepted variation labels, subject to its variation rules, alongside exact-match labels.
Businesses should check those settings and coverage details against their actual brand portfolio. Notification coverage should not be assumed to include every possible misspelling, every extension, or every form of online misuse.
The operational question is who will review an alert and decide what happens next. Assigning responsibility to a brand, legal, or security contact makes monitoring more useful than leaving notifications in an unattended inbox.
A Practical Domain Launch Plan for Brand Owners
The meeting’s relevance extends beyond the conference itself. Businesses can turn awareness of trademark protection into a manageable preparation process.
Start with commercial priorities. Identify the names that matter most: the company brand, flagship products, major services, and planned campaigns. Decide which extensions fit actual customers, markets, and business plans.
Check launch dates and eligibility. Use the TMCH New gTLD Calendar as a starting point, then confirm the applicable schedule and registration requirements with the registry or participating registrar. A general domain search alone does not establish Sunrise eligibility.
Separate the costs. Review trademark verification fees, any agent fees, launch-phase registration charges, premium pricing where applicable, and renewal costs. The NiceNIC Domain Pricing page provides a starting point for comparing published registration and renewal prices for supported extensions. Confirm launch-specific terms separately.
Plan ownership and access. Decide which entity will be the registrant, who can authorize purchases, who manages renewals, and who receives operational notices. Document these responsibilities before several agencies or departments become involved.
Keep the portfolio purposeful. Each additional registration creates an ongoing management and renewal obligation. Prioritize names with a clear business or brand-protection purpose and review that purpose periodically.
How Domain Resellers Can Help Their Customers Prepare
For resellers, trademark awareness can improve the quality of a domain proposal. A useful recommendation explains why an extension fits the client’s business, which registration phase is relevant, and what the client needs to provide.
For example, a reseller working with a business on a new product launch could coordinate a shortlist of names, expected registration dates, available pricing, and the customer’s document-preparation responsibilities. Trademark verification and any legal assessment should be handled through the appropriate qualified providers.
This approach also gives customers a clearer view of the reseller’s role. Domain registration support, TMCH verification, and legal advice involve different services and responsibilities. Defining those roles early reduces confusion when an application or notification requires follow-up.
Partners can review the NiceNIC Reseller Program for account options and pricing across a catalog of 2,500+ domain extensions. This breadth gives agencies and resellers a starting point for comparing naming options across industries and markets.
For portfolio automation, the NiceNIC Domain API offers free API access to active Market and Reseller Accounts for documented domain operations. The NiceNIC WHMCS Registrar Module connects supported availability checks, registrations, renewals, transfers, and domain management to an existing WHMCS workflow. These tools can reduce repetitive work when managing multiple client portfolios.
For a particular extension or launch phase, contact NiceNIC to confirm participation, the supported registration process, any SMD submission requirements, and applicable fees. Standard API or WHMCS functionality should not be assumed to cover every Sunrise launch.
NiceNIC's Commitment to Informed Domain Decisions
With 20 years of domain industry experience, NiceNIC continues to engage with registries and industry organizations to better understand the opportunities and responsibilities facing its customers.
NiceNIC's ICANN-accredited registrar entity is NICENIC INTERNATIONAL GROUP CO., LIMITED, listed under IANA Registrar ID 3765 in the IANA Registrar IDs registry. Customers can review verification information and relevant policies through the NiceNIC Trust Center.
International teams can also review the NiceNIC Payment Options page for ways to fund their accounts. Supported online crypto options include USDT, USDC, BTC, and ETH, with 0% NiceNIC processing fee. The online payment provider currently charges a 1.5% service fee, and wallet or network fees may also apply. Review the final total before payment.
The conversation with TMCH at ICANN87 supports that commitment to informed decisions. Understanding launch procedures and trademark protections helps customers evaluate a domain in the context of their wider brand strategy.
NiceNIC thanks the Trademark Clearinghouse team for the valuable exchange in Bali and its contribution to trademark rights protection within the domain community.
Explore available names through NiceNIC Domain Search, and bring your target extensions and launch requirements to the NiceNIC team when planning your next registration.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a TMCH record automatically reserve my brand across new extensions?
No. TMCH verification supports relevant services, including Sunrise eligibility, but domain applications and allocations remain subject to each registry’s rules.
Does a Trademark Claims Notice stop someone from registering a domain?
The notice requires acknowledgment before the registration can proceed. It alerts the prospective registrant to a matching trademark record; it does not itself decide whether the proposed use is lawful.
Can trademark owners receive notifications after the Claims period?
Yes. Eligible TMCH clients can activate Ongoing Notifications during the applicable period of their verified record. They should review the service’s current coverage, matching rules, and account settings.
Can NiceNIC confirm support for a particular Sunrise launch?
Contact NiceNIC (IANA Registrar ID 3765) with the specific extension and launch phase you are considering. NiceNIC’s catalog includes 2,500+ domain extensions, but Sunrise participation must be confirmed for each launch. Ask about the supported process, any required SMD documentation, deadlines, and fees before placing an order or committing to a client.
Primary Sources
- ICANN87 Annual General Meeting
- ICANN: Trademark Clearinghouse FAQs
- ICANN: Rights Protection Mechanism Requirements FAQ
- ICANN: About Claims Services
- TMCH: Sunrise Service
- TMCH: Trademark Claims Service
- TMCH: Claims Notice Guidance
- TMCH: Ongoing Notifications Service
- TMCH: New gTLD Calendar
- IANA: Registrar IDs
- NiceNIC Trust Center
- NiceNIC Domain Search
- NiceNIC Domain Price List
- NiceNIC Reseller Program
- NiceNIC Domain API
- NiceNIC WHMCS Registrar Module
- NiceNIC Payment Options
