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INTA Shares US Congress’s Concerns about New gTLD Program

09-Aug-2012 | Source : | Visits : 11002
NEW YORK, NY - The International Trademark Association (INTA) supports the leaders of the Judiciary Committees of the United States Senate and House of Representatives in their call for the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to seek additional public comment concerning its new generic top level domains (gTLDs) program and to take further steps to assure a secure and stable online experience, a press release by the Association stated.

In a letter sent to ICANN’s Interim CEO and President Akram Atallah, Senators Patrick Leahy and Charles Grassley and Representatives Lamar Smith and John Conyers, Jr. expressed concern that the general public was relatively unaware of the new gTLD program and its potential risk to Internet users. In addition, the letter urged ICANN to improve its trademark and consumer protection mechanisms to thwart cybersquatters and other nefarious actors from taking advantage of new gTLDs.

INTA agrees that ICANN must implement stronger trademark protection mechanisms. Without them, brand owners will be forced to devote a substantial amount of resources to defending their trademarks and protecting their customers, since there will be more opportunities for criminals to harm consumers, which includes misleading online shoppers into purchasing dangerous counterfeit products.

During the last decade, INTA has served as a leading voice for trademark owners in the development of cyberspace and is a founding member of ICANN’s Intellectual Property Constituency (IPC). INTA has been active in the new gTLD program debate, offering numerous comments and suggestions during the development and review process. For more information on INTA’s position on ICANN’s new gTLD program, visit our website.


The International Trademark Association (INTA) is a worldwide association of member companies and firms that support and advance trademarks and intellectual property as elements of fair and effective global commerce.



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