The expansion of generic top-level domains recently authorized by ICANN is likely to be very disruptive in terms of trademark protection.

Question

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The expansion of generic top-level domains (gTLDs) by ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers) has led to the creation of numerous new domain extensions, such as .app, .blog, .shop, .tech, etc. This has opened up new opportunities for website owners, but it has also made it more challenging for brand owners to protect their trademarks. With so many new domains being launched, there is a risk of domain squatting and cyber-squatting, where third parties may register domain names that contain trademarked terms, leading to confusion among consumers and dilution of the brand value. In this way, the expansion of gTLDs is likely to be very disruptive in terms of trademark protection.

The Expansion of Generic Top-Level Domains Recently Authorized by ICANN