Rights protection in new gTLDs: The multi-stakeholder Internet governance model at work

In June 2008, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) embarked upon an ambitious program of expansion at the top-level of the DNS. The policy underpinning expansion is notable for its adoption of new mechanisms that target the unauthorised use in new gTLDs of names the subject of legal ? in particular trademark ? rights. This article examines the rights protection mechanisms which emerged at the end of 2012, and the ICANN organisational structure and operational...