[CCG] Fwd: Worldwide Trademark Watches for IETF and IANA

[Portia Wenze-Danley <[e-mail]>]

All,

I have been contacted by our counsel, Thompson Hine, advising the Trust to consider registering IANA in the EUIPO (European Union Intellectual Property Office).  

(The background and details prompting the advise are below.)

I have shared this request with the Trustees who suggested I reach out to the CCG for your input before final consensus is met.

Thanks very much in advance and please let me know if you have questions.  I look forward to your comments.
________________________________
Portia Wenze-Danley
IETF Administration LLC Executive Director (Interim)
(Formerly IETF Administrative Director (IAD)	
Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF)
[e-mail]







> Begin forwarded message:
> 
> From: "Lienesch, Ted" <[e-mail]>
> Subject: Worldwide Trademark Watches for IETF and IANA
> Date: December 5, 2018 at 2:45:32 PM EST
> To: "[e-mail]" <[e-mail]>
> Cc: "Wilson, David" <[e-mail]>
> 
> Dear Portia:
>  
> As you may be aware, we have in place worldwide trademark watches for third-party attempts to register trademarks confusingly similar to IETF and IANA. These were commissioned by Ray. While there is a cost for the agency that develops the raw data that we pass through to you, I do not charge for reviewing the results unless they report a problematic trademark application.
>  
> Recently that search found a published trademark application for “iONA,” owned by Innogy SE of Essen, Germany, for goods including “data processing programs; computer software applications; software.” That mark is similar in appearance to IANA because it differs from IANA in only one letter. Further, the aforementioned items are broad enough to at least relate to your IANA services that include monitoring and of domain names and addresses. However, when viewing the entirety of the goods and services listing for iONA, it becomes clear that the services provided under that mark relate to monitoring and managing energy consumption. Accordingly, it is my opinion that IETF does not need to take action to oppose or otherwise challenge registration of iONA.
>  
> I bring this to your attention because IETF at present does not have a registration for IANA in the EUIPO (European Union Intellectual Property Office) that we are aware of. This lack of a registration in the EU makes it extremely difficult to challenge registration of any third-party mark in the EU. This situation raises the question of whether IETF should consider obtaining registrations for IANA in the EU and elsewhere. Accordingly, please let me know if IETF is interested in pursuing trademark protection for IANA as it has for its IETF trademark.
>  
> Best regards,
>  
> Ted
> THEODORE D. LIENESCH | Partner | Thompson Hine LLP | 10050 Innovation Drive | Suite 400 | Miamisburg | OH | 45342-4934
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