Domain names or URLs are often as important as trademarks to many businesses. Domain names may be registered on a first come basis through a variety of private registrars. Because the scheme for domain name registration differs from trademarks, often there are often conflicts between a trademark owner and a domain owner. A trademark owner can file an international action with ICANN to dispute the registration of a domain name if the use infringes upon a preexisting trademark. So, it is important to conduct a trademark clearance search before investing a lot of resources building a website domains. We counsel our clients regarding the intersection of domain names and trademarks. We can also assist you with ICANN procedures and disputes.
