Brand Protection

Domain Name Lessons From iTunes

What do iTunes and a cooperative domain-name Intellectual Property (IP) regime have in common? They are market solutions to illegal activity: free downloading of music and free use of brands in domain names, respectively. The music industry tried to fight the free downloading of copyright-protected music by taking legal action against free downloaders under the pretext that their activity siphons industry revenue... more

Google, Viacom, Privacy and Copyright Meet the Social Web

In all the recent uproar (New York Times, "Google Told to Turn Over User Data of YouTube," Michael Helft, 4 July 2008) about the fact that Google has been forced to turn over a large pile of personally-identifiable information to Viacom as part of a copyright dispute (Opinion), there is a really interesting angle pointed out by Dan Brickley (co-creator of FOAF and general Semantic Web troublemaker)... more

Online Critics and Unlawful Harassment from Trademark Holders

The following is based on my experience and interpretation of the UDRP and the relevant laws of the United Kingdom and European Union. This is not legal advice but just my own experience and interpretation. How does a UK citizen create a non-commercial trademark.tld parody criticism website and avoid harassment from the trademark holder? Here are the steps... more

What Third-Party Domain Registrations Reveal About World Cup 2026 Risks

Third-party domain registrations tied to FIFA are surging ahead of the 2026 World Cup, revealing how major events fuel brand abuse, customer confusion, and fraud, from fake ticket sites to sophisticated scams timed to exploit peak fan interest. more

UDRP Review Is a Test of the MSM

As ICANN confronts a harsher geopolitical era, its long-delayed review of the UDRP has become a defining test of whether the multistakeholder model can still deliver legitimate, effective Internet governance and sustain confidence in its future. more

From Uptime to Trust: The Domain Security Strategy Behind Business Continuity

Domains and DNS underpin modern business operations, yet security gaps remain widespread. CSC's latest research shows why stronger domain protections are essential to resilience, helping companies reduce disruption, safeguard trust, and maintain continuity when attacks strike. more

dotBrand Domains as Trust Infrastructure in the Age of AI

As AI agents automate phishing, impersonation and domain abuse at machine scale, the Brand Registry Group argues that dotBrand domains are evolving from marketing assets into trust infrastructure underpinning cybersecurity, identity and interactions across the internet. more

UDRP Domain Disputes Surge on Back of Mega-Cases

A surge in massive cybersquatting disputes pushed UDRP domain-name cases sharply higher in early 2026, with two complaints alone accounting for more than a quarter of all disputed domains, according to a new report released by GigaLaw. more

The Domain Universe in 2026: AI, Security, Market Maturity, and the New gTLD Frontier

Domains enter a mature phase as AI reshapes discovery, security sharpens, and new gTLDs expand. Once simple addresses, they are becoming critical infrastructure for identity, trust, and automated commerce in the evolving web. more

Competing Trademarks, One .BRAND: Making the Right Call in 2026

As ICANN opens its 2026 round, firms sharing trademarks must weigh applying for a .BRAND domain against legal risks and competitive loss, with evidence suggesting first movers gain advantage while objections rarely prevail. more

The AI Effect: Why Brand Impersonation Is Becoming Industrialised

Generative AI has turned brand impersonation from a nuisance into an industrial-scale threat, eroding trust. As ICANN's 2026 round approaches, DotBrand domains promise a structural fix to spoofing that strategies failed to deliver in 2012. more

Domain Security Report: Are Global 2000 Companies Doing Enough on Domain Security?

A six year study of Global 2000 firms finds progress on email authentication but worrying gaps elsewhere. Despite rising DMARC adoption, falling DNS redundancy and uneven regional uptake leave companies exposed to domain based attacks. more

ICANN Announces Deadline for 2026 New Top-Level Domain Applications

ICANN will open applications for new top-level domains in April 2026, offering brands a rare chance to secure custom domain names to enhance trust, marketing flexibility, and long-term online security. more

How the Growth of AI May Drive a Fundamental Step-Change in the Domain Name Landscape

As artificial intelligence reshapes how users navigate the web, domain names may undergo explosive growth, potentially reaching tens of billions. A new infrastructure of trusted digital identities could become essential for AI agents. more

The Commonest Domain Features: Constructing Look-Up Tables for Use as Part of a Domain Risk Scoring System

Many previous pieces of research have focused on the desirability of a comprehensive scoring system, to be used for ranking results identified as part of a brand-protection solution, according to their potential level of threat. Such scoring systems offer the capability for identifying prioritised targets for further analysis, content tracking or enforcement actions. more