Recently we alerted you to the formation of a new .xxx top-level domain (TLD) for the adult industry and how trademark owners could take steps to prevent the registration of .xxx domain names that include their registered marks.

ICM Registry, the group that will operate the new .xxx TLD, has announced its final launch plans and has clarified some procedures for trademark owners outside the adult industry. The "Sunrise Period" will be open from September 7, 2011 to October 28, 2011. During the Sunrise Period, registered trademark owners may apply to reserve the names of their registered marks as a second-level domain to ensure their marks are not registered as part of a .xxx TLD by others. In our prior alert, we recommended that clients pre-register their marks through their current domain registry or at domains.icmregistry.com. If you have done this, you should receive a notice of the Sunrise Period from ICM.