Changes

The '''Trademark Clearinghouse''' ('''TMC''' or '''TMCH''') is a database of trademarks that will be established by [[ICANN]] in order to enhance the protection of [[Intellectual Property|intellectual property]] on the Internet.<ref>[http://techdailydose.nationaljournal.com/2010/03/icann-to-create-trademark-clea.php techdailydose.nationaljournal.com]</ref> The main role of TMC is to serve as a central repository for the information related to the rights of trademark owners to be stored, authenticated and distributed.<ref>[http://www.v3.co.uk/v3-uk/news/1971874/icann-creates-trademark-clearinghouse v3.co.uk]</ref><ref>[http://www.infolawgroup.com/tags/trademark-clearinghouse/ infolawgroup.com]</ref> When a customer attempts to register a new domain and the domain matches up with a trademark existing in the TMC, the customer will receive a warning that the creation of the domain may be considered [[cybersquatting]].<ref>[http://domainincite.com/trademark-clearinghouse-coming-in-october/ Trademark Clearinghouse coming in October, domainincite.com]</ref> Use of the TMC is required for all new [[gTLD]] [[Registry|registries]].<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/topics/new-gtlds/draft-rfp-clean-12nov10-en.pdf Draft Applicant Guidebook, November 12, 2010; Retrieved June 1, 2011]</ref>

The '''Trademark Clearinghouse''' ('''TMC''' or '''TMCH''') is a database of trademarks that will be established by [[ICANN]] in order to enhance the protection of [[Intellectual Property|intellectual property]] on the Internet.<ref>[http://techdailydose.nationaljournal.com/2010/03/icann-to-create-trademark-clea.php techdailydose.nationaljournal.com]</ref> The main role of TMCH is to serve as a central repository for the information related to the rights of trademark owners to be stored, authenticated and distributed.<ref>[http://www.v3.co.uk/v3-uk/news/1971874/icann-creates-trademark-clearinghouse v3.co.uk]</ref><ref>[http://www.infolawgroup.com/tags/trademark-clearinghouse/ infolawgroup.com]</ref> When a customer attempts to register a new domain and the domain matches up with a trademark existing in the TMCH, the customer will receive a warning that the creation of the domain may be considered [[cybersquatting]].<ref>[http://domainincite.com/trademark-clearinghouse-coming-in-october/ Trademark Clearinghouse coming in October, domainincite.com]</ref> Use of the TMCH is required for all new [[gTLD]] [[Registry|registries]].<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/topics/new-gtlds/draft-rfp-clean-12nov10-en.pdf Draft Applicant Guidebook, November 12, 2010; Retrieved June 1, 2011]</ref>

ICANN estimates that the TMC will become operational in October 2012. Currently there are five companies out of nine original applicants in the running for TMC operator; ICANN expects to make its final decision in February.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/minutes/board-briefing-materials-4-05jan12-en.pdf New gTLDs: Trademark Clearinghouse Implementation, ICANN Board minutes, 1/5/12]</ref>

ICANN estimates that the TMCH will become operational in October 2012. Currently there are five companies out of nine original applicants in the running for TMCH operator; ICANN expects to make its final decision in February.<ref>[http://www.icann.org/en/minutes/board-briefing-materials-4-05jan12-en.pdf New gTLDs: Trademark Clearinghouse Implementation, ICANN Board minutes, 1/5/12]</ref> On June 8, ICANN announced that it had selected [[Deloitte]] and [[IBM]] to serve as the managers of the TMCH. Deloitte Enterprise Risk Services will serve as provider of the Trademark Clearinghouse’s authenticator/validator services. IBM will provide technical database administration services. Both companies are expected to subcontract [[IPClearingHouse]] in order to facilitate theses services.<ref>[http://www.natlawreview.com/article/icann-s-trademark-clearinghouse-update ICANN’s Trademark Clearinghouse: An Update, natlawreview.com]</ref>

== Structure ==

== Structure ==

====Validation Centre====

====Validation Centre====

The Trademark Clearinghouse's Validation Centre authenticates intellectual property rights (IPR) claims through research. The TMC also helps applicants to rectify mistakes made in their IPR validation request. Each IPR validation request is assigned with a unique case number. Cases may be awarded with the status of "Verified," in which case the case is transferred to the Data Centre using EPP/XML. The validation centre also periodically revalidates already-verified cases stored in the data centre.  

The Trademark Clearinghouse's Validation Centre authenticates intellectual property rights (IPR) claims through research. The TMCH also helps applicants to rectify mistakes made in their IPR validation request. Each IPR validation request is assigned with a unique case number. Cases may be awarded with the status of "Verified," in which case the case is transferred to the Data Centre using EPP/XML. The validation centre also periodically revalidates already-verified cases stored in the data centre.  

The TMC is unbiased in its researching, and does not reject IPR validation requests simply on the basis that the same term is already owned in their system by another party.<ref>[http://www.ecta.org/IMG/pdf/Trademark_Clearinghouse_-_comments_from_ECTA_and_MARQUES.pdf ecta.org]</ref>

The TMCH is unbiased in its researching, and does not reject IPR validation requests simply on the basis that the same term is already owned in their system by another party.<ref>[http://www.ecta.org/IMG/pdf/Trademark_Clearinghouse_-_comments_from_ECTA_and_MARQUES.pdf ecta.org]</ref>

====Data Centre====

====Data Centre====