The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) has been urged to enhance trademark protection measures when issuing the next set of domains.
A number of global brands, including Lego, Nike and Bacardi, have come together to argue for the implementation of a reliable block on fraudulent and imitative domain name registrations.
In September the group sent a letter to Lawrence Strickling, assistant secretary for communication and information at the U.S. Department of Commerce, outlining its concerns about the present system.
According to the letter, the parties feel the new generic top-level domains (gTLDs) will have a significant impact on the Internet landscape.
Up to 1,409 unique strings are expected to be added, creating a number of new challenges for companies in terms of policing their brand.
“In particular, brands will have to concern themselves with how to approach defensive registrations in open generic gTLDs,” the letter states.