Effective online trademark protection extends beyond formally registering a mark with the relevant trademark office. Trademark holders must also remain informed when third parties register domain names that correspond to their trademarks, as these may require further review or action. This is exactly what the Ongoing Notifications do, they inform brand owners in case of domain name registrations. That’s why it is crucial to keep your trademark record verified in the Trademark Clearinghouse.
Over the years, the TMCH could have issued more than 500,000 additional notifications if all submitted trademark records had remained successfully verified. This would represent approximately 50% more notifications, and significantly more opportunities for trademark holders to identify potentially concerning domain name registrations, assess possible infringement or reputational risks, and take timely action to protect their brands.
The effectiveness of the TMCH notification service for a specific trademark record depends on the trademark record being active and verified. Since notifications are only sent for verified trademark records, nearly one in three matching domain name registrations went unreported to trademark holders, often due to records being expired, deactivated, or otherwise invalid at the time of domain name registration. As a result, trademark holders may have been unable to review potentially infringing registrations and take timely action to protect their trademarks.
Maintaining accurate, verified and active TMCH records is therefore essential to receiving the full benefit of the notification service. By keeping trademark records valid and up to date, trademark holders maintain greater visibility into potentially concerning domain name registrations and strengthen their ability to identify risks and protect their brands online.
If you are curious to learn more about the ongoing notification statistics, the TMCH in general or if you want to discuss how we can strengthen your brand protection strategy, our team is here to assist you. Contact us to explore the best approach for safeguarding your trademark.
