• Review on the gTLD program enacted in 2012
• Update from applicants who applied for a gTLD and what this process entailed
• Identify the complications and roadblocks that this program presented to applicants

A cross-industry panel of experts will discuss next steps for gTLDs and the future of the internet. This interactive discussion provides insight on how new gTLDs will impact brands, communities, consumers and the domain industry. Topics covered in this discussion include how to:

• Remain abreast of important ICANN announcements, deadlines and timelines to protect your trademark brand from potential infringing applicants
• Examine how the first proposed environmental gTLD application, for both the internet and environmental communities, impacts plans for their future use of gTLD
• Understand how Google intends to operate and manage gTLDs they applied for
• Gain insight on how these cross-industry panelists plan on working on the future of the domain industry to enhance their companies' market share

• Understand how to police international domains with variations on spellings to maintain control over your brand and business
• Uncover the opportunities and risk of gTLDs in multiple languages and scripts to enhance brand reputation in developing countries
• Discover how an International Domain Name (IDN) could increase your audience and reduce cultural barriers, specifically in non-English speaking countries

The ideal online brand protection program should be a coordinated, cross-departmental and automated approach that goes beyond just the legal department and involving brand management, marketing, loss prevention, risk and supply chain. A company needs to set up a solid domain name protection strategy to address abuse before it occurs to trim both costs and resources. This session provides examples how to develop a brand protection strategy that consists of both technological and organizational aspects, including answers to the following questions:

• Assess whether it is a mistake for a company to not apply in the first round
• Identify the business models needed in place to protect ourselves since gTLDs start coming live
• Implement a watch service to maintain regulation to obtain quality control mechanisms

The Trademark Clearinghouse (TMCH) is recognized by ICANN as the sole database for verified trademarks. TMCH will defend trademarks, acting as the "cornerstone" of IP protection under the new gTLD expansion and this session will provide an in-depth look into how it works, with a focus on how to:

• Understand the benefits and requirements of registering in the TMCH to protect your brand amid gTLD expansion
  • Learn how to record yourself in the TMCH
  • Understand ways people are notified when conflicting domain names are registered
• Develop strategies to determine which brands to register to stay within budget and maintain control
• Identify the different types of the TMCH Cyber Squatter protection to enforce your company's IP

New gTLDs provide both challenges and opportunities for trademark owners and community interests. While additional resources will be needed due to the significant increase in domain activity, a host of new enforcement procedures are now available. This session will provide an overview of how to leverage new (and a few old) tools to help your organization mitigate cost and complexity in the New gTLD landscape.

• Make sense of new ICANN-mandated post-delegation enforcement procedures like the PDDRP, RRDRP, PICDRP and URS
• Examine the separate approaches some New gTLD registries are taking that go beyond ICANN minimums
• Integrate what we learned from the pre-delegation ICANN New gTLD objection process
• Use BPO-style techniques to maximize existing enforcement mechanisms such as the UDRP and traditional litigation

• Understand the cost associated with owning and operating a gTLD while working within a limited budget
• Identify what departments will allocate money towards gTLD programs and determine company-wide impact
• Develop an appropriate non-applicant budget for 2014 and beyond and consider scale of budget

New gTLDs pose significant operational challenges for companies that had previously never operated a domain name registry. This session will cover the logistical and technical issues that applicants will need to navigate on the path from initial evaluation to delegation. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in an open Q&A; forum and discuss the future of working gTLDs. New gTLDs pose significant operational challenges for companies that had previously never operated a domain name registry. This session will cover the logistical and technical issues that applicants will need to navigate on the path from initial evaluation to delegation. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in an open Q&A; forum and discuss the future of working gTLDs.