The IP Claim Service is designed to help registered and common law trademark and service mark owners protect their valuable intellectual property (IP) rights against potential infringement and cyber squatters. Entry into the .biz IP Claim Service runs from May 21, 2001 to October 6th, 2001. Users of this service will be notified of .biz domain name applications that may be in conflict with their existing, pending or common law trademarks or service marks. Once notified, IP holders have the option to seek resolution of the conflict.

By submitting your .biz IP Claim now, you'll be giving yourself a leg up on any issues that may arise if infringing cyber squatters attempt to register your .biz domain before you do. While there is no guarantee you'll get your domain name, it gives you a tremendous advantage in expediently resolving potential domain name disputes. The money spent now to file your .biz IP Claim is a tiny fraction of what it would cost to defend your trademark in court if a dispute arises! Read on to learn more about the .biz IP Claim Service.

How it works -  Holders of trademarks (registered, pending and common law) or their agents, will have the opportunity to provide information about their trademarks to NeuLevel. -  NeuLevel will assemble these trademark claims into an IP Claim database that will be used during the subsequent phases of the .biz launch process to help protect these names from potential infringements. -  The claim filing will not guarantee the Claimant their domain name, but it does help warn of so called cyber squatters and others who might unknowingly infringe on another business' intellectual property. -  Please Note: that entering a name into the IP claim database does NOT automatically create a Domain Name Application. Users of the IP Claim Service must file a separate application if they want an opportunity to register the domain name. Benefits of the .biz IP Claim Service    1. Only Claimants (a trademark or service mark owner that files an IP Claim) have entry into the .biz Start Up Trademark opposition Policy should any IP conflict occur during the launch of .biz.    2. Filing an IP Claim notifies prospective .biz registrants of potential infringement of a Claimant's IP rights. This notification warns the applicant that someone believes they have intellectual property claims against the domain name the applicant is applying for. The process protects both Claimants and applicants by reducing the risk that a business or individual may unknowingly infringe on another's trademark rights and by warning off so-called cyber squatters. Pricing    The established price to file a .biz IP Claim is set by NeuLevel at $90.00 per name. Users of the IP Claim Service must file a separate application if they want an opportunity to register the .biz domain name. (Not available until July 2001) All IP Claim information is available at the Neulevel website. All sales are final. Background Information    .biz is the world's first Internet-based environment dedicated exclusively to the business community. NeuLevel has been chosen by the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) to become the Registry operator for .biz.

Need to know more? See our .biz IP Claim FAQs.