DOMAIN NAMES

What is a domain name?

Just as we need an address to locate a place in the real world, we also need an address to locate a place in the virtual world of cyberspace. In virtual reality, computer servers replace the real-world houses, shops and offices, and a domain name functions essentially as an internet address.

Your goodwill and reputation

It is important to note that a domain name is not merely an address. Its very nature makes it a useful and important corporate identifier - it is where a company's presence on the internet first commences. Beyond being the name under which a company sends and receives mail, a domain name (in common with trade marks or names) is a symbol of the company's goodwill and reputation in the borderless, global, internet market.

Internet users tend to guess at website locations by using variations of the relevant company's name or trade marks followed by ".com". As such, the adoption of an intuitive domain name is also a valuable means for customer outreach, in particular the registration of trade marks as domain names.

However, the exclusive scope of a trade mark registration and that of a domain name are very different. For example, a trade mark can be registered as a domain name by anyone so long as it has not been previously registered. It is therefore very important to identify and register your important trade marks as domain names to prevent others from registering your trade marks as domain names.

Anatomy of a Domain Name

Take the domain name abc.com. The portion "abc" is usually referred to as the domain name. The .com is a Top Level Domain (TLD). There are 2 types of TLDs:

Getting that Domain Name

Domain names are registered with the relevant registration authority before they can be used as an internet address. Registration needs constant renewing as it is valid only for a certain period of time.

It is vital to remember that domain names are obtained on a "first come, first served" basis. As cybersquatters target valuable trade marks at various domain levels in many jurisdictions, the old adage "prevention is better than cure" holds true in the cyber-arena.

---