Think geographic name protection in new gTLDs won’t impact your brand? Think again

The issue of geographic names took centre stage at the ICANN meeting yesterday, with a GAC session focused on its recent document ‘The protection of geographic names in the new gTLDs process’. Conflict over geographic name protection has already impacted gTLD applications from Amazon and US clothing company Patagonia. Should protection of geographic names be strengthened as per the GAC proposals, the net will be significantly widened and could have a major impact on future applicants – including those who have not yet even considered running a ‘.brand’.