Overview

Our Sunrise Service is a proactive solution designed to protect intellectual property rights in the ever-expanding digital landscape. As part of this service, Trademark Clearinghouse (TMCH) clients benefit from a unique advantage, gaining priority access to register trademarks during the Sunrise Period of every new generic top-level domain (new gTLD).

These new gTLDs, such as .LINK, .APP, .MUSIC, offer businesses diverse and industry-specific options to better reflect their identities and offerings, departing from the traditional .COM or .NET domains.

What is the Sunrise Period?

Every new gTLD must conduct a Sunrise Period of at least 30 days before domain names become available to the general public. This exclusive period grants trademark owners the opportunity to secure domain names matching their trademarks before they are accessible to others.

How it Works

To register your preferred domain name during the Sunrise period of a new gTLD, it is essential to submit your registered trademarks to the TMCH for verification. The process is straightforward and efficient, consisting of three simple steps.

STEP 1: Validate Your Trademarks

Ensure your trademark information is validated by the Trademark Clearinghouse for exclusive access to the Sunrise Period. Here’s what you need to do:

• Fill out a form with your trademark details, including registration date and number.
• Provide proof of trademark usage, such as a brochure or website screenshot.
• Sign and upload a declaration confirming your trademark usage.

If assistance is required during this process, our dedicated TMCH Support team is available to provide personalized and expert support with this process. Additionally, over 190 official Trademark Clearinghouse Agents are at your disposal. Agents can be found by location of centralized office or by language of service they provide via: www.trademark-clearinghouse.com/agents.

STEP 2: Obtain Your Authentication Key (= SMD File)

Once your trademark information and Proof of Use documents are verified, download the Signed Mark Data file (SMD-file) from the secure Clearinghouse web-portal. A Signed Mark Data (SMD) file is similar to a password in the sense that it allows you to identify yourself and request an action that requires privileges to be executed. This unique key authenticates your trademark information during priority registration in a Sunrise Period. The SMD file remains reusable, valid for each Sunrise period across all new gTLDs as long as you have a verified record in the TMCH.

STEP 3: Register Your Preferred Domain Name

When a new gTLD of interest launches its Sunrise period, use your SMD file to register your preferred domain name before it becomes available to the public. Simply provide your preferred domain name registrar with your SMD file for seamless domain name registration.

Stay updated on all active Sunrise Periods for new gTLDs via the New gTLD Calendar.

For any assistance throughout these steps, explore our resources:

• Refer to our HOW-TO manuals for detailed guidance.
• Consult the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for common queries.
• Contact an official Clearinghouse Agent for specialized support.
• Get in touch with our TMCH support team at support@trademark-clearinghouse.com for expert guidance.

One-Time Registration, Endless Protection

As long as your trademark record is registered and verified, you gain perpetual eligibility to participate in any Sunrise Period across various new gTLDs. This streamlined process saves you time and effort while ensuring continuous brand protection.

Discover Your Opportunities

Easily identify which new gTLDs will become available for domain registration during Sunrise. Our New gTLD Calendar provides comprehensive insights into available opportunities, empowering you to make informed decisions.

In addition to the Sunrise Service, our services extend to include the Trademark Claims Service and Ongoing Notifications Service. These supplementary offerings further fortify your brand by providing comprehensive protection against potential infringements.