Domain Protected Marks List FAQs

Brand owners can add their trademark-related terms into the DPML and have them blocked from registration at the second level in all Donuts-top-level domains (Donuts TLDs). The second level domain is the address directly left of the TLD - for example, in the domain name yahoo.com, yahoo is the second level domain (SLD). DPML protects trademark holders against cybersquatting at a fraction of what it would cost to defensively register the terms in Donuts TLDs.

Brand owners must submit an exact match of their mark(s) to DPML, or a term that contains their exact match mark(s). Once a term is accepted to DPML, that term is blocked from registration in all Donuts TLDs for an initial period of 5-to-10 years. A DPML subscription then can be renewed in increments of 1-to-10 years. A domain blocked by DPML is not functional, meaning it may not be used for a website URL, e-mail address or other type of domain-related functionality.

In order to buy DPML, you must be an owner of a trademark. The trademark holder must have the trademarked string registered with the Trademark Clearinghouse (TMCH). The mark must be registered according to the “use” standard, which is the same standard for registration during a Sunrise period.

DPML is a service offered by a registry - they are the originating source for domains and can block domains from leaving their system.

The number of new TLDs a DPML can protect varies based upon the registry offering the DPML. Each registry has its own offerings. When you purchase a single subscription of DPML it will automatically block all the domains for that registry, even if a new TLD isn’t available yet.