Company that provides alt-root domain names filed trademark applications for new extensions.
Unstoppable Domains, a company that sells alt-root domain names that use blockchain technology, recently filed trademark applications with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) for future namespaces.
The company filed applications for .nft, .doge, .web3, .dao, .bch, .blockchain, .go, .x, .888 and .coin.
Unstoppable’s applications show goods and services of “Domain name registration services” and are filed on an intent-to-use basis.
The USPTO does not approve trademark applications for which the mark is for a top level domain name. This is one of the refusal reasons for Unstoppable Domains’ application for .crypto, which was filed in January 2019.
Unstoppable domains currently offers alt-root domains ending in .crypto and .zil. Users need to install a browser plugin or use the Brave browser to access these sites.
The applications foreshadow future name collisions. At some point, ICANN will open another round of new TLDs. You can expect that companies will apply for .crypto, .NFT, .blockchain and .coin during that round. Once these domains are on the traditional DNS, major browsers are likely to resolve the real DNS versions instead of Unstoppable’s domains.
(Andrew Rosener and I discuss Unstoppable Domains and these future name collisions on today’s podcast.)
Some companies attempted to trademark top level domain names before the 2012 round of new TLDs in an effort to get a leg up on the competition. ICANN rejected all of these claims.
Not quite all. They let one through.
Actually – that one, based on a “community priority” designation, was rejected…
USPTO indicated –
The applicant [Big Room Inc.] has applied to register .ECO in stylized form for:
Domain registry operator services, in Class 42.
Section 2(d) Refusal – Likelihood of Confusion
Registration of the applied-for mark is refused because of a likelihood of confusion with the marks in U.S. Registration Nos. 3716170, 5813887, and 5851826. Trademark Act Section 2(d), 15 U.S.C. §1052(d); see TMEP §§1207.01 et seq. See the enclosed registrations. These include an updated copy of Registration No. 3716170, which has been renewed since the initial refusal was issued.
The registered marks, all owned by the same entity, are the following:
Registration No. 3716170 is .ECO in standard-character form for “Design, creation, hosting and maintenance of internet sites for third parties; Hosting of digital content on the Internet; Providing specific information as requested by customers via the Internet, in Class 42.
Registration No. 5813887 is .ECO and design for “Computerized database management,” in Class 35.
Registration No. 5851826 is .ECO in standard-character form for “Advertisement for others on the Internet; advertising and marketing services, namely, promoting the goods and services of others; compilation of advertisements for use as web pages on the Internet; providing and rental of advertising space on the Internet,” in Class 35.
Yup that’s the one.
That “one” failed – believing it’s Root Zone Change to sell “.eco” made it legitimate enough to become truly legitimate.
https://tsdr.uspto.gov/documentviewer?caseId=sn87327563&docId=OOA20190904152931#docIndex=1&page=1
Anyone can have any extension they want if they can get others to use special software, extensions, or DNS settings.
ICANN won’t care about these. They will delegate the real extensions on the actual root just like they did with New.net in the past.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/New.net
The adoption of hns or handshake names will happen so quickly. People keep thinking it will take 10 years. Snapchat, tiktok, discord, these type platforms get popular inside 12 months.
The days of adoption and time are different today. You can download a new browser on your phone or desktop is 2 minutes. What is so special about chrome, firefox etc. I mean the first page is just basically digital yellow page ads. aka adwords filling up 5 positions on top and 3 at the bottom. That is called paid digital yellow pages not search. You are the product.
People are tired of ai on browsers retargeting you and following your search. It is like someone looking through your window watching your every move.
Gen Z will lead this course. No one cares about the feelings of what the current generations on new tech. I,m older and I can see what is going to happen. Don’t worry .com is not going anywhere. But to discount this tech is just naive.
Let me guess Don, you just spent thousands of dollars registering this rubbish.
The blockchain-alt-root folks are simply going to replicate the same history as the traditional alt-root folks did more than 20 years ago – right down to the boneheaded notion that filing trademark applications will give them some kind of hedge against future collisions in the legacy root.
It. Doesn’t. Work.
Look at the bones:
https://www.wipo.int/amc/en/domains/lro/
BlockChain can’t be censored or altered. So, those who will want to use it, will, regardless of Icann. Or am I missing something?
Having the privilege to co-create a “Community Priority”, claiming it received a root zone change “AUTHORIZATION” may temporarily bamboozle the public but not the U.S. government’s Trademark Office. Nice try – See these bones —
https://tsdr.uspto.gov/documentviewer?caseId=sn87327563&docId=OOA20190904152931#docIndex=1&page=1
Assuming there was a .crypto collision, would browser like Opera/Firefox be obligated to follow ICANN’s ‘orders’ to redirect users to the ‘proper’ DNS
Could browsers be held to account?
Would Unstoppable have a case for its many users’ .crypto use as in ‘common law rights’ account for appeal against ICANN intent on opening up a .crypto equivalent?
Fascinating times ahead..
No. This issue has been litigated in the past.
Having some “extension” that requires special software, browser extension, DNS servers, etc. doesn’t mean anything. Anyone can replicate the same thing.
ICANN will just delegate the actual extension on the actual root servers. It has happened in the past.
Popular software will keep using the normal root DNS servers.
The vast majority of people don’t have a problem with the system as is. This is just trying to re-invent the wheel.
This is nothing new really. It is basically the same thing that happened in the past, wrapped in a shiny new package with trendy buzzwords attached.
Brad
It is more than reinventing the wheel, much more! It takes away undue centralization from the hands of a few corporations and entity, which are inflicting their fees and rent to the consumer what blockchain makes of the consumer. Very revolutionary and an opportunity for anyone who believes it to be unjust paying a registrar yearly to have a domain name, or monthly to keep a website.
Applying for TM .888 is going to start a lawsuit from 888.com soon it’s brave her ridiculous to think they can TM 888 in any form shape or manner shows how little business awareness these crypto people have and the audacity soon they’ll probably file one for .yahoo and .ggl too ♂️