New domain names (new gTLDs): which protection for acronyms?
Acronyms can be considered by panels dealing with objection procedures, insofar as a likelihood of confusion exists between the concerned acronym, its meaning and the string proposed within the disputed new gTLD application.
To assess the likelihood of confusion, the panel has to compare both signs from the average internet user point of view. Regarding commonly known acronyms, not only the meaning of the acronym itself has to be considered, but also the meaning of the terms to which the acronym usually refers.
For further comments on this issue, seeLe contentieux des nouveaux noms de domaine, para nr. 41 (string confusion objection), para nr. 282 (community objection).
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