.TM domain back on the market - News - Business

To print: Select File and then Print from your browser's menu

--------------------------------------------------------------
This story was printed from ZDNet Australia.
--------------------------------------------------------------

.TM domain back on the market

By James Pearce, ZDNet Australia
March 12, 2003
URL: http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/business/soa/-TM-domain-back-on-the-market/0,139023166,120272805,00.htm

The .TM country-code top-level domain space is back in action after a four-year hiatus, bringing an additional source of funds to Turkmenistan.

.TM, the country-code top-level domain (ccTLD) for Turkmenistan, stopped receiving applications when demand overwhelmed the former registry, Netnames. A new registry, TM Domain Registry, was formed and has worked with Netnames and the Internet Society of Turkmenistan to reopen the domain.

With an obvious attraction to trademark owners, the registry has taken the step of retaining the World Intellectual Property Organisation Arbitration and Mediation Centre to rule on any disputes that may arise within the space.

"While it's worth noting that .TM is not a trademark registry, we want trademark holders to be able to register and use their intellectual asset as a .TM domain name with strong protections against cyber-squatting," said Paul Kane, general manager of the .TM Registry. WIPO will develop a dispute resolution service based on the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy.

.TM domain names will cost US$1,000 for 10 years, and proceeds will help improve the quality of life and Internet use in Turkmenistan.

The registry is headquartered in London, and runs on six servers around the world, including one in Melbourne.