We use cookies to give you the best online experience. By using our website you agree to our use of cookies in accordance with our cookie policy. Learn more here.Close Me
This fall, an online "red light" district will
commence, with the launch of a new top level domain extension .xxx
intended for use by the pornographic and adult website industry
(the "Sponsored Community").
For trademark owners seeking to prevent the risk of their brands
being registered as, or associated with, .xxx domain names, a
Sunrise "B" Period, expiring October 28,
2011 – allows individuals and business to seek
to block .xxx domain registrations which reference their registered
trade-marks. At the conclusion of the Sunrise Period if no other
applicants for the same domain name have been filed, a blocking
registration will be granted which will not display any content or
host a live website for a period of ten (10) years. If there is a
competing application by a member in the Sponsored Community at the
end of the Sunrise Period, the member of the Sponsored Community
will be given preference with notice of the competing claim.
Trademark owners should consider pursuing a Sunrise B blocking
registration to avoid the risk of having their brand(s) associated
with X-rated or other Adult themed online content. If you are
concerned about the impact of .xxx domain names on your business
and its brands please do not hesitate to contact us for further
information:
The content of this article is intended to provide a general
guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought
about your specific circumstances.
To print this article, all you need is to be registered on Mondaq.com.
Click to Login as an existing user or Register so you can print this article.
In a cautionary tale to be heeded by patent drafters, the Supreme Court of Canada held that Pfizer’s patent directed to sildenafil, better known as Viagra, is invalid.
The recent decision in Overstock v. New York Taxation and Finance paved the way for an interesting conclusion on the taxing power of New York State - and by extension, the sales tax that may be applied to many online sales, including sales by Canadian online business into the US market.
In Pelchat v. Zone 3 Inc., 2013 QCCS 78, a Quebec court decision has addressed the dichotomy between the idea for a TV show, and the "form and expression" of ideas, as embodied in a TV show.
The Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) program has been a phenomenal success in Canada and has positioned the country as a highly cost-effective jurisdiction in which to procure patent protection with speed and efficacy.
The advantages of trade-mark registration are self-evident for both franchisors and their franchisees who are licensees of the mark, and should be considered a mandatory first step on the road to franchising a business.
