Trademark Clearinghouse (Sunrise)

The Trademark Clearinghouse (TMCH) is ICANN's centralized database of verified trademark records, and it serves as the engine behind two brand-protection mechanisms in new gTLD launches: the Sunrise period and Claims notifications. During a Sunrise period — which every new gTLD must offer before opening general registration — only trademark holders whose marks are recorded in the TMCH may register the matching domain, giving brands a head start ahead of the public rush. After Sunrise opens to Claims, the TMCH triggers an alert whenever anyone attempts to register a domain that matches a recorded mark, warning the registrant that a trademark exists. The TMCH is operated by IBM and Deloitte under ICANN contract, and trademark owners must submit authenticated documentation to have their marks listed. For domain investors and brand teams operating in the broader registry ecosystem, TMCH participation is the primary lever for defending a brand during the critical early window of a new extension's life. Namefi's infrastructure is built to interoperate with this layer, ensuring that tokenized registrations in new gTLDs respect the same Sunrise and Claims workflows that govern traditional registrations. Source: ICANN New gTLD Program, Trademark Clearinghouse.