Brand Applicants

Information for Potential Brand Applicants

Brand generic top-level domains (gTLDs) may provide an excellent opportunity for corporations, sports teams, and other high-profile entities to secure their online namespace. A Brand gTLD — for example, ".yourcompany" — could potentially provide a means for brand owners to protect their brands and trademarks, enhance brand trust, and create new ways to extend their trusted brand and services to partners, resellers, and customers.

Some applicants may decide that their most expedient, cost-effective, and best route to satisfying these criteria is to outsource to a proven registry provider such as Verisign. To learn more download our whitepaper.

Download Now

Enhanced Internet presence

As the steward of a gTLD, a company may have authority to enforce requirements for second-level domain name registrants. A Brand gTLD could serve as a nucleus around which a company or organization could group second-level domains for individual products and services as well as partners and resellers.

New revenue streams

Registration services for second-level domains and branded email addresses may create opportunities for new revenue streams. Companies may also be able to create and offer new services around their web sites to take advantage of Brand gTLDs.

Enhanced security, control, and trust

Applicants for a Brand gTLD (like other gTLDs) will most likely undergo a rigorous application process that considers an applicant's existing trademarks. A Brand gTLD could help assure Internet users that they are interacting with a legitimate company and an authentic web site. By enforcing registration policies for second-level domains, companies could potentially extend this trust even further.

User convenience

Highly targeted domain names and the ability to create URLs rich with key words may potentially drive user interaction by aiding certain search engine optimization (SEO) and making it easier to browse web content and applications via mobile devices.

Brand protection

ICANN is expected to require verification, reporting, and "take-down" processes for the new gTLDs that would strengthen protections against cybersquatting and other types of brand abuse. These mechanisms would likely help brand owners to further protect their trademarks and promote consumer confidence.

Brand extension

By issuing second-level domain names to valued partners and resellers, companies may be able to extend the prestige and trust associated with their brands, potentially strengthening relationships, creating new joint marketing opportunities, and reaching new audiences.

Consumer and brand affinity

Companies could offer affinity email addresses that may enable consumers to associate with their favorite brands in an entirely new way, potentially expanding marketing opportunities and creating new revenue streams.

Want to learn more or speak with a Verisign New gTLD Services expert?

Register Now