New domain names to be launched

Two new domain names are to be launched in New Zealand because most meaningful dot com names have already been used.

The shortage of dot com names has meant many New Zealand companies have not been able to secure a dot com registration for their major brands.

Intellectual property law firm A J Park says there is a short window of opportunity for trademark owners to express interest in their trademarks under these new domain addresses, .biz and .info, before potential cybersquatters get there first.

Trademark lawyer Andrew Collins says a process has been agreed to allow trademark owners to claim a prior right for a .biz and/or a .info before registration is opened up to anyone.

Mr Collins says for a .biz registration, trademark owners must submit an intellectual property (IP) claim between 21 May 2001-9 July 2001 to the registry, providing information about the trade marks they want to prevent others using as .biz domain names.

From 10 July there is an opportunity to make an application for the domain name before the .biz registry goes live.

From 1 October, applications will be processed on a "first come first served" basis, so the window of opportunity to protect a trademark has passed.

The .info domain names are available to the general public. But if a company has a registered trademark, there is a application period from late June to late July in which the .info domain name corresponding to their trademark can be registered.

From mid August, .info domain names will be allocated to the general public on application.