Notice of Changes to .INFO Sunrise Challenge Policy

20 November, 2001 -- Afilias, the .INFO registry, today issued a formal notice of changes to its Sunrise Challenge rules and policies.

Last week in Marina del Rey, at ICANN's quarterly meeting, Afilias discussed with registrars and ICANN the creation of a process that will enable registrars to make corrections to data that they may have incorrectly submitted during the Sunrise registration period. Several registrars failed to correctly submit vital trademark data given to them by trademark owners.

This correction process includes the creation of a database that will parallel the existing .INFO WHOIS. Since the WHOIS records for Sunrise names are currently locked and cannot be changed in the registry, the registrars will submit corrected data to this parallel database. Afilias will make a bulk challenge of many invalid Sunrise registrations at the close of the Sunrise Challenge period on December 26, 2001. The correction process is therefore designed to protect valid registrations and prevent Sunrise squatters from submitting updates that could shield them from challenges.

Additionally, Afilias' revised Sunrise Challenge rules and policies will require all successful Sunrise Challengers who wish to register a disputed name will be required to produce proof of trademark ownership prior to transfer of the name. This step will help ensure that only a valid trademark holder has the opportunity to register a disputed Sunrise name.

All names not registered by valid trademark holders are subject to Afilias' bulk challenge with WIPO. Names successfully challenged as a result of this process will be equitably redistributed to the general public in early 2002 using a method to be announced at a later date.

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