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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=FR link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><a href="http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-06feb12-en.htm">http://www.icann.org/en/announcements/announcement-06feb12-en.htm</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Defensive Applications for New gTLDs </span><strong><span lang=EN-US style='font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"'><o:p></o:p></span></strong></p><p class=MsoNormal><strong><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></strong></p><p class=MsoNormal><strong><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Announcement:</span></strong><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> Comment Period Opens on <strong><span style='font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Date:</span></strong> 6 February 2012 </span><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><strong><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Categories/Tags:</span></strong><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> Top-Level Domains <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><strong><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Purpose (Brief):</span></strong><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> The New gTLD Program features carefully crafted, new protections for trademark owners and consumers. When considering applications for new top-level names, the process is designed to protect these important interests through independent objection and dispute resolution processes (and other processes). However, as the time of the opening of the new gTLD application window drew near, parties stated their perception that they will need to submit "defensive" gTLD applications as a means to protect their trademarks. ICANN is seeking public comment on the sources of this perception and how it can be addressed<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-US style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><strong><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'>Public Comment Box Link:</span></strong><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> <a href="http://www.icann.org/en/public-comment/newgtlds-defensive-applications-06feb12-en.htm">http://www.icann.org/en/public-comment/newgtlds-defensive-applications-06feb12-en.htm</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>Glen de Saint Géry<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'>GNSO Secretariat<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><a href="mailto:gnso.secretariat@gnso.icann.org">gnso.secretariat@gnso.icann.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:#1F497D'><a href="http://gnso.icann.org">http://gnso.icann.org</a><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>