Draft amendments to the Registry Agreement for dot-brand gTLDs were published by ICANN for public comment. These amendments were prepared by Brand Registry Group (BRG) – a coalition of companies that lay up claim for dot-brand TLDs to the delegated to them. As members of BRG point out, it is necessary to pass amendments because there is a great difference between dot-brand gTLDs and other top-level domains, which requires corresponding changes in the Registry Agreement.
In particular, the Registry Agreement provides the possibility of a free market competition between registries for certain top-level domains. However it is obvious that in the case of dot-brand gTLDs, which are trademarks, protected by the law and belonging to particular owners, this approach is impossible.
Another paragraph of Registry Agreement that needs change according to BRG is the one that states that domains removed from the delegation can be re-delegated by ICANN to other registries. BRG members fear that this practice can seriously harm companies’ interests, that for some reason renounced domain-brands but kept the brands themselves. They offer a two-year moratorium for delegation of dot-brands.
A public discussion of the amendments to the Registry Agreement, concerning dot-brands, that was announced by ICANN, will last until January 31 of the following year.
