Trademark holders can get domains, but general availability is delayed.
Top Level Design, the company launching the .gay domain name, has postponed the general availability of the domain name.
Today, the company launched its “Sunrise II” phase for registration. Companies that have trademarks can register matching domains during this phase. The trademarks do not have to be in the Trademark Clearinghouse.
.Gay was originally slated to go into early access on May 11 and general availability on May 20. Now, the Sunrise II phase will continue until new early access and general availability dates are selected.
In a message on its blog, the company said that it would like to work with the community to help while traditional events such as Pride Festivals are canceled and LGBTQ centers are closed. It can provide a limited number of .gay domains to groups working to foster digital Pride.
Observer says
So the TMCH is not being referenced for .GAY?
So then why do people need to pay to be in the TMCH if it’s not a mandatory reference for registries?
Andrew Merriam, VP Top Level Design says
We completed .gay’s Sunrise phase as mandated by ICANN and the Trademark Clearinghouse. Now, we have opened an innovative “Sunrise II” phase. The goal with this new phase is to open .gay sunrise registrations to any verifiable trademark holder, rather than just the small subset that have and continue to be active in ICANN’s TMCH. So, current trademarks registered with national and international bodies such as USPTO, WIPO, etc. are eligible to secure their corresponding .gay domains.