As we revisit the topic of Closed Generics, I would like to share
a few thoughts as a reminder on how this issue (of "generic
words") has been dealt with in other forums. This is a
long-established issue...
1) Trademark Manual of Examining Procedure, US Trademark Office:
"Generic terms are incapable of functioning as marks denoting source, and are not registrable on the Principal Register under §2(f) or on the Supplemental Register." 807.14(e)(ii)
2) Our own Community Objection process reviewed and raised the
same deep concerns for gTLDs in which the applicant (a competitor
in a field)
ICC New gTLD Community Objections determination: "The establishment of unrestricted, exclusive rights to a gTLD that is strongly associated with a certain community or communities, particularly where those communities are, or are likely to be, active in the Internet sphere seems to me inherently detrimental to those communities' interests." [Note: the "communities" being referred to here are commercial communities. The issue of a closed .MOBILE was raised by the CTIA which represents the US mobile wireless industry. 1-1316-6133
Best, Kathy