Dotasia organisation announces sunrise period- Need-to-know e-news issue #10

DOTASIA ORGANISATION ANNOUNCES SUNRISE PERIOD

It will soon be possible to register domain names ending in .asia.  Dotasia Organisation is the sponsoring registry for the .asia top level domain. 

It is expected that the general public will be able to commence registering .asia domain names from March 2008 on the usual first come first served basis.  However, trade mark owners and owners of registered entity names will be given preference in what is called a Sunrise Period.  During the Sunrise Period, trade mark owners and owners of registered entity names will be able to register their .asia domain names if certain eligibility criteria are met.  The trade marks and entities on which the domain name applications are based must be registered in the Asian region, which includes Australia.

However, the domain name applicants need not reside in the Asian region.  For example a French company that is the registered owner of an Australian trade mark registration for ABC, may apply for the domain name ABC.asia, provided that it is also able to nominate an individual or entity in the Asian region (for example in Australia) as one of the domain name contacts.  Dotasia Organisation has made provision for 3 separate Sunrise Periods.  The eligibility criteria vary depending on the particular Sunrise Period.

Sunrise Period 1 – From 9 October 2007 governments and related bodies may register domain names from a reserved list.

Sunrise Period 2 – Between 9 October 2007 and 30 October 2007 owners of registered trade marks that were filed before 16 March 2007 may apply for .asia domain names that consist of the registered trade mark.  However, this Sunrise Period applies only where the registered trade marks are in use.  Whilst evidence of use is not required for the registration process, registrars may request that applicants provide such evidence.

Sunrise Period 3 – Between 13 November 2007 to 13 January 2007 owners of registered trade marks that were filed before 6 December 2007 may apply not only for .asia domain names consisting of the registered trade mark but also for domain names containing an additional descriptor taken from the list of goods/services of the registered trade mark.  For example, if the domain name is based on a registered trade mark for the mark ABC in relation to “clothing” in class 25, the applicant would be entitled to register the domain name ABCclothing.asia.  Within the same period ending 13 January 2007, owners of registered entity names may apply for corresponding .asia domain names if the entity was registered before 6 December 2007.

NeedToKnow: TAKEAWAY
Trade mark owners and owners of registered entity names will have preference to register their corresponding domain names ending in .asia during one of the Sunrise Periods, the first of which commences on 9 October 2007.  The general public is expected to be able to register .asia domain names from March 2008.

For further information, contact:
Jürgen Bebber
Associate
jurgen.bebber@griffithhack.com.au

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