WE GOT
DOTS FOR
AFRICA
.AFRICA
Launch Information
www.lexsynergy.com
.AFRICA OVERVIEW
.AFRICA is a new domain extension covering 54 countries that comprise
the second largest continent on earth. Lexsynergy considers .AFRICA as an
essential extension for all African and international businesses, both small
and large. .AFRICA is an essential registration for:
African corporates and small business
African organizations, charities and schools
Citizens of any African country
Any global corporation that does business in/with Africa
Holders of African trademarks
Due to .AFRICA’s importance, country coverage and anticipated demand it is recommended to
establish a strategy to secure core trademarks during the Sunrise and Landrush phases. Get in
touch with the Lexsynergy team to discuss your .AFRICA strategy.
Estimated Launch Timing
SUNRISE
4 April 2017 - 2 June 2017
PHASE 1: 5 June 2017 - 9 June 2017
PHASE 2: 12 June 2017 - 16 June 2017
LANDRUSH
PHASE 3: 19 June 2017 - 23 June 2017
PHASE 4: 26 June 2017 - 30 June 2017
GENERAL AVAILABILITY
4 July 2017 - Onward
All phases begin at 00:00 CAT and end at 23:59 CAT
Our Domain is DomainsTM | www.lexsynergy.com
01
Sunrise
The Sunrise is a priority phase for trademark owners. In order to register a domain during the
Sunrise phase, marks must be validated with either the Trademark Clearinghouse (TMCH) or the
Mark Validation System (MVS). Domains are allocated at the end of the Sunrise period.
TMCH
MVS
• Applies to all new domain
extensions
• Applies only to .africa, .durban,
.joburg and .capetown
TMCH
has priority
over the MVS
• Up to 20 variants of a validated
mark
• Provides 2 services
(see the priority
ranking on page 3)
- Validating a mark for Sunrise
• Up to 10 variants of a validated
mark
• Provides 2 services
- Validating a mark for Sunrise
- Claims Services (notification if
a 3rd party registers a domain
that matches a mark or variant)
- Claims Services (notification if
a 3rd party registers a domain
that matches a mark or variant)
• Only validates registered
trademarks
YES
• Possible to validate company
names and unregistered marks
DO YOU HAVE
A TRADEMARK?
NO
(Rights must have existed 1-year before launch)
Do you have another right?
TMCH
MVS
YES
Types
• Registered Trademark
• Court Validated Mark
• Mark Protected by
Statute or Treaty
Types
• Registered Trademark
• Court Validated Mark
• Mark Protected by
Statute or Treaty
Documents
• Registration Certificate
• Proof of Renewal
• Proof of Use
Documents
• Registration Certificate
• Proof of Declaration
• Proof of Use
NO
MVS
Company or Trust Name
Documents
• Copy of document
• Proof of Use
• Signed Declaration
Common Law Mark
Documents
• 2 forms of proof of use
• Signed Declaration
LANDRUSH
OR
GA PHASE
SUNRISE
Our Domain is DomainsTM | www.lexsynergy.com
02
Priority Ranking
If more than one application is submitted for the same domain; the applicant with the highest
priority ranking will be successful. If there are two or more applicants for the same domain with
the same ranking they will participate in an auction, allocated to the highest bidder.
African Registered Mark
1st Priority
TMCH
Court Validated (Africa)
Statute Mark (Anywhere)
Registered Mark (Outside of Africa)
2nd Priority
TMCH
Court Validated (Outside of Africa)
African Registered Mark
3rd Priority
MVS
Court Validated (Africa)
Statute Mark (Anywhere)
Registered Mark (Outside of Africa)
4th Priority
MVS
Court Validated (Outside of Africa)
Companies, Trust (Africa)
5th Priority
MVS
Common Law (Africa)
Companies, Trust (Outside Africa)
6th Priority
MVS
Common Law (Outside Africa)
Landrush
Open without restriction but at a higher cost. The domain will be allocated at the end of each
of the four landrush phases. If there are two or more applicants for the same domain they will
participate in an auction.
Our Domain is DomainsTM | www.lexsynergy.com
03
General Availability
Open without restriction on a ‘first come, first served basis’. Price reductions are scheduled for
2 August 2017 (Price Reduction 1) and 1 July 2018 (Price Reduction 2).
Costs:
SUNRISE
Registration $180
PHASE 1: Registration $6,000
PHASE 2: Registration $2,750
LANDRUSH
PHASE 3: Registration $1,500
PHASE 4: Registration $750
Registration $180
GENERAL
AVAILABILITY
Price Reduction 1: Registration $25
Price Reduction 2: Registration $19
All renewals are charged at $19
TMCH validation for 1 year $225
MVS validation for 1 year $88
About Lexsynergy
Lexsynergy is an International ICANN accredited registrar with offices in UK, US, South Africa,
Kenya, Tanzania, and Australia. We specialize in managing corporate domain portfolios
and monitoring our client’s brands online to protect them from trademark infringement,
cybersquatting and various online scams.
We offer a range of corporate domain name services, including domain name registration,
auditing, monitoring and recovery, allowing our clients to efficiently and cost-effectively
manage and protect their online trademarks.
FOR MORE INFORMATION,
CONTACT US:
T (US)+1 858 225 1318
T (UK)+44 20 313 70459
T (ZA)+27 10 500 3913
www.lexsynergy.com
[email protected]