In anticipation of the upcoming launch of the ICM Registry's new top level domain .xxx, which will roll out this fall, Blank Rome LLP is available to assist owners of registered trademarks with the ".xxx blocking program" designed to block registered trademarks from becoming used as .xxx domain names.
The "blocking program" allows trademark owners outside the adult entertainment industry to pay a one-time fee to block registration of domain names matching their verifiable trademarks. The block will remain for a ten year period.
There are two sunrise periods for .xxx domains. Sunrise A will be for parties within the adult entertainment industry, and Sunrise B will be for brand owners outside of the adult entertainment industry. Both Sunrises will run concurrently for 50 days, beginning on Wednesday, September 7, 2011.
We are working in concert with one of our key vendors and are assisting clients with placing preliminary orders for names to be added to the "block list" when the Sunrise period opens this Fall. The fee per domain is $225 for 10 years of protection, and is inclusive of the ICM Registry's service charge. In the event that there is more than one qualified applicant under Sunrise B, the domain name will be reserved in exactly the same way as if there were only a single applicant and there will be no refund or apportionment of fees among such applicants. Further, if both Sunrise A and Sunrise B applicants want the same domain name, priority will be given to the qualified Sunrise A applicant to register the domain name.
If you are interested in having Blank Rome assist you with the .xxx blocking process, please feel free to forward us a list of the trademarks you would like to protect. We can then assist you in fulfilling the registration requirements and further update you regarding future details as they are announced.
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