Why is the Trademark Clearinghouse Certificate Authority being renewed?

The Trademark Clearinghouse Certificate Authority (TMCH-CA), and related Trademark Validator (TMV) certificate used for the SMD file, needs to be renewed to ensure standard security best practices. These best practices require to change the Certificate Authority from time to time and make sure that the encryption level is up the current standards. More specially is the TMCH-CA renewed every ten years and the renewal of the related TMV occurs every five years.

As the SMD file is a versatile instrument that will allow you to register domain names during the sunrise period of new gTLDs and request other services, it is important to protect the authenticity and trustworthiness of this document.

FAQ

API (Automated Interface)

billing

correction process

documentary evidence

general

invoicing

Mark Record Transfer

mark record verification

New gTLD program

Notifications

official agents

online payment

OT&E

prepayment account

pricing

proof of use

Registrars

Registries

Renewal

Signed Mark Data (SMD)

Strawman Model - Abused Labels

Sunrise Services

support

trademark claims services

Trademark Eligibility Requirements

trademark submission

TREx Service

user registration