CADNA Voices Brand Owner Concerns About New gTLD Program

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• Publié par: coalition-against-domain-name-abuse
• Nombre de lectures: 18
• Langue: English

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CADNA Voices Brand Owner Concerns About

New gTLD Program

PR Newswire

WASHINGTON, June 13, 2012

WASHINGTON

,

June 13, 2012

/PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Internet Corporation

for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) released the much-anticipated list of

new generic top-level domain (gTLD) applications. The New gTLD Program is

set to dramatically change the Internet and the way we navigate it, by bringing

thousands of new gTLDs into the marketplace. While such change brings with it

the possibility of innovation, it also carries with it the risk of increased

cybersquatting and other cybercriminal activity. The Coalition Against Domain

Name Abuse (CADNA), a representative and voice for brand owners, continues

its efforts to address these future challenges as part of its mission to end the

systematic domain name abuses that plague the Internet today.

CADNA has long been an advocate for brand owners who are concerned about

protecting their brands and customers when it comes to cybersquatting, online

fraud, and other cybercriminal activity. CADNA has been especially vocal about

many aspects of ICANN's New gTLD Program and critical of the measures in

place to protect brand owners. In fact, recommendations CADNA made to

ICANN in its December letter have begun to make their way into ICANN's

policymaking community. "While we applaud ICANN for being responsive to

brand owners' concerns," remarked CADNA President Josh Bourne, "the

establishment of better trademark protection mechanisms will be essential as

ICANN ushers in this new era of gTLDs and we believe that there is still much

improvement that can be made to the Program."

In addition to working to shape ICANN policy, CADNA is working with members

of the U.S. Congress to make much-needed improvements to the Anti-

Cybersquatting Consumer Protection Act (ACPA), a law enacted in 1999

designed to decrease instances of cybersquatting and domain name abuse. In

order to adapt to the changing Internet landscape, ACPA must be revised to

create stronger deterrents for cybercriminals and prevent malicious activity

online. These amendments will better protect brand owners and Internet users

alike.

Given the dramatic changes to the Internet that are set to take place in the

coming years, CADNA believes that it is more important than ever for brand

owners to protect their brands and customers online. Cybersquatting is both a

business and a consumer interest issue that affects millions of Internet users

around the world. A crucial step for new gTLD applicants will be to remain

active within ICANN's multi-stakeholder process. By making their concerns

heard, brands will be better able to facilitate change and protect their brands in

the changing Internet landscape.