Easy “proof” of using a .tld for domain registration services.
A lot of companies have tried to “frontrun” the new top level domain name process by filing trademark applications for .whatever.
Many of these applications start out as “intent to use”, but ultimately the applicant comes back saying it’s using the term in commerce. Their proof? Usually a screenshot of a Wild West Domains reseller account using .whatever.
Wild West Domains is GoDaddy’s reseller program. It costs as little as $8.99 a month to get a domain sales site with the company.
The latest example: ad network Scoop Interactive and its request for a .cpm trademark. (CPM is a popular advertising term, but I’m not sure of the company’s exact intent.)
Scoop Interactive filed its trademark application as 1A, meaning it claims to be using the term in commerce right now. Here’s its proof:
This proof will look very similar to the specimens provided by Asif, LLC for .secure. And .bank. I’ve seen it used many times in an effort to trick USPTO examiners.
Jack says
I think VeriSign and/or ICANN would object to this based on string contention.
.CPM is obviously a typo of .COM (QWERTY).
If you are going to spend around $500K – $1MM and the frontier is wide open why would you choose a .COM typo as your TLD?
Andrew Allemann says
@ Jack – hadn’t noticed that. A couple other filings for similar .com-like domains have been made as well.
John Berryhill says
@Jack – bang on.
DomainersChoice says
I believe typos of existing TLDs will not be allowed.
Sb cooper says
Why choose a typo of .com? Ask the man who used to own the Internet. Kevin Ham
Jack says
@Sb
At the time, Kevin Hamm didn’t have a wide open frontier as we have now with the new gTLDs. If so, I think he would have skipped .CM and gone with a generic.
I can say that the .cm domains I manage do not perform well compared to other typos and they have been trending down over the last few years. Second, why invest in something that would only make money from infringement? Its a doomed bix plan from the start IMO.