Brand owners should take note of the launch of .ke, the internet country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for Kenya on 23 July 2017.
Anyone concerned about the use of their trade mark with the .ke domain name or who has an interest in expanding their domain name protection to Kenya, which is one of the largest economies in East Africa, we recommend applying for the registration of the corresponding .ke domain name.
The dates for each launch phase are as follows:
- sunrise phase, 23 July 2017 to 22 October 2017: during this period, any party who has a registered Kenyan trade mark may secure domain names matching their trade mark.
- landrush phase, 23 October 2017 to 22 November 2017: domain names are available at a premium price.
- cooling-off period, 23 November 2017 to 7 December 2017: sunrise and landrush applications will be reviewed.
- general availability phase 8 December 2017: the .ke domain name will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
Reviewed by Ilse du Plessis, a director in ENSafrica's IP department.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
