Are You Ready for Asia?

.asia is a new top level domain name for the Pan Asia and Asia Pacific region. Applications based upon trade mark rights will be accepted from 9 October 2007. Here, we set out the eligibility requirements and how to register your interest in a .asia domain name.

Sunrise Periods, Rights and Availability
Here are the important dates for lodging your .asia domain name:

Sunrise Period: Government 1
Type of Right: Government reserved names
Availability: Available now

Sunrise Period: Early Bird SR2a
Type of Right: Trade marks registered with a filing date before 16 March 2004 and demonstrable use as a trade mark.
Availability: 9 October 2007 to 30 October 2007

Sunrise Period: General - SR2b
Type of Right: Trade marks registered with a filing date before 6 December 2004 or trade marks which have not yet been used
Availability: 13 November 2007 to 15 January 2008

Sunrise Period: Extended - SR2c
Type of Right: Trade marks registered with a filing date before 6 December 2006, and together with a word appearing specifications of goods or services
Availability: 13 November 2007 to January 2008

Sunrise Period: Registered Names - SR3
Type of Right: Entities in the .asia Community may apply for their corporate entity names
Availability: 13 November 2007 to 15 January 2008

Who is Eligible to Register .asia Domain Names?
One domain name contact (registrant, administrative, technical or billing) must be a legal entity within the .asia Community. A legal entity includes a natural person, corporation, company, co operate, partnership or collective or government body. Over seventy (70) countries comprise the .asia Community including Australia, most Asian countries, India and several Middle Eastern countries.

Registries are accepting "pre order" for .asia domain names. Identify your domain names of interest and compile a list of qualifying trade marks. Domain names of interest may include your important house marks, brand trademarks, singular and plurals of these trade marks, common misspellings, your trade marks and words that appear in the specification of goods or services covered by your trade mark registrations. For example, if you have a trade mark registration for ABC covering class 1 goods of "chemicals" you may apply for during SunRise phase SR2c.

Davies Collison Cave is a multi-disciplinary intellectual property practice providing information on domain name disputes and infringement.