It’s been 13 years since the Trademark Clearinghouse (TMCH) debuted to support the first round of new generic top-level domains (gTLDs). Since then, we’ve seen more than 1,200 new extensions, including .app, .online, and .pay, enter the market. The TMCH helps trademark holders protect their intellectual property as new gTLDs become available.
New extensions continue to launch, and Verisign plans to introduce the long-anticipated .web later in 2026. Verisign also manages .com and .net, so we expect .web to attract global interest. Preparing now can help you take advantage of priority registration periods and receive notifications of matching domain registrations.
What is TMCH—and what do TMCH records do?
The TMCH is a central database of verified trademarks known as TMCH records. There are two main reasons to apply for a TMCH record.
First, you can apply for domain names before they become public during the Sunrise Period. This restricted domain registration period is a minimum of 30 days and gives eligible trademark holders an opportunity to register matching domain names. (It’s important to note that if you have the same trademark as another company, these periods are conducted on a first-come first-served basis.)
The other benefit is notification of matching domain registrations. For instance, if someone registers a domain name that matches your TMCH record, you’ll receive a notification. The person ordering the domain name will also receive a notice that they are about to register a domain name that matches a trademark and that the owner will be notified.
How do you apply?
To apply for a TMCH record, you need a nationally or regionally registered trademark, such as one registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), or U.K. Intellectual Property Office (UK IPO). You can also apply if you have an unregistered or common law mark that’s been validated by a court ruling. Finally, you can apply if you have a mark protected by statute or treaty, such as a geographical indicator.
Why’s this important?
In the short term, the upcoming launch of .web creates a reason to review your TMCH records. In addition, with the next round of new gTLD launches, we will see more than 1,000 new domain extensions. Preparing now for these upcoming changes in the market can help you protect your trademarks.
What should you do?
First, check whether you currently have any TMCH records or whether any records have lapsed. Additionally, some companies used law firms to apply for their TMCH records when the service launched in 2013. So, you may need to check whether a law firm holds or manages records on your behalf.
If you’ve changed registrars in the last 13 years, confirm who currently manages your TMCH records. Personnel changes in your organization over the same period can make ownership and administration records difficult to track, so it may require some detective work to build a complete inventory.
Next, create an updated list of trademarks, as you may have added new ones to your portfolio since the last round of new gTLDs. Match this list against your existing records, identify any gaps, and decide which additional trademarks to submit to TMCH. This can help you act quickly as new Sunrise Periods open. (Remember, if you have a trademark that another company has rights to, then all launches are on a first-come first-served basis.)
CSC can help you create a full picture of your TMCH landscape. Please contact us for more information.
