Frogans technology: Opening of the priority registration periods for the new Dedicated Networks.

From April 15 to June 15, a priority registration period had been opened for trademark holders wishing to register their dedicated Frogans networks and to create Frogans addresses capable of containing their trademark.

Since June 15, the entrepreneurs now have the possibility, for a period of 4 months, to register their Frogans networks and addresses in priority.

OP3FT, a non-profit organisation, launched a new type of website under Frogans Technology, called Frogans Sites.
Those sites are based on a new software layer, which is very simple to use, in the form of a platform for the publishing of content on the Internet.

This software layer is secured by the preliminary allocation of a “.frogans” TLD which allows servers to be renamed. The “.frogans” TLD is a “Dot Brand” with the sole purpose of securing the technical infrastructure of the addressing system of Frogans sites.
Only OP3FT is the holder of domain names in the “.frogans” extension and their registration is closed to third parties.
The “.frogans” should therefore not be confused with the classic top-level domains.

Access to Frogans Sites is given via a Frogans network composed of Frogans addresses, which are easy to remember and comparable to web domain names.
Those addresses comprise the Network Name and the Site Name, separated by an asterisk character (*) in the following form: NetworkName*SiteName.

Each Frogans address thus refers to a Frogans network, which can be of three types:
– Dedicated Frogans Networks: used on the Internet beginning with a customised network name.
– Public Frogans Networks: used on the Internet beginning with the network name “Frogans”.
– Internal Frogans Network: used on the intranet beginning with the network name “Intranet”.

For example, a Frogans address could be in the form “Dreyfus*Contact”, referring to a site dedicated to getting in touch with Dreyfus law firm (telephone numbers, address, email…).

The Frogans sites are accessible via a free software, called Frogans Player, which is similar to a web browser. Their form is not predefined and they are small enough to be loaded with a slow connection or on cheap devices.

This feature helps to reduce costs both for the customer and the website developers because the Frogans sites will be available in a single and unique version irrespective of the platform or device.

The Frogans sites are also multilingual, since the Frogans addresses may contain international characters and therefore write in over 170 languages, using the writing orientation that we prefer (right to left or left to right). This feature was vital for developers who particularly wanted to open the Frogans technology to the Asian market.

The aim of Frogans technology is to make Internet sites easier for the average customer and the future developers to use and to develop, but also to allow them to express their creativity through those sites. Those new sites will also allow their creators to have a total control on their content through its unique display version, and thus guarantee them a better security.

On 15 April 2015, the priority registration period for registering addresses which are part of the dedicated Frogans networks was opened to trademark holders for a period of 2 months, that is, until June 15, 2015.

The allocation of addresses is based on the “first-come, first-served” principle, and the duration of the registration period can be between 1 and 10 years.

To be accepted in the process, the trademarks need to be registered either:
– With a national office, as NIIP or USPTO for the United States
– With a regional office, as OHIM or OAPI
– With an international office of WIPO

These can also include non-registered marks provided that they are validated by a court decision, or that they are protected by a statute or a treaty.

The following types of trademarks are however not eligible to Frogans Addresses:
– figurative or sound trademarks
– unregistered trademarks
– trademarks registered with offices of federated states or with local offices
– cancelled, invalidated, opposed or rectified trademarks
– trademarks which have not been definitively registered

The availability of Frogans Addresses can be verified in the Whois database which can provide information relating to FCR (Frogans Core Registry) operators or to holders of Frogans networks.

This system thus blocks the access to reserved names, and a list of all registered Frogans addresses can be downloaded on the Operator’s site.

A specific UDRP procedure (UDRP-F) has also been made available to all trademark holders wishing to institute proceedings against potential cybersquatters.

Aggrieved third parties can equally trigger an “abusive report” capable of resulting in the annulation of dedicated Frogans Network, if they succeed to produce proof of their ownership of the reproduced mark.

The priority period for the trademark holders having ended on 15 June, the latter have now given priority to entrepreneurs for a period of 4 months, that is, until October 15, 2015.

Any person, individual or organisation, irrespective of his initiative, his country or his occupation, and who wishes to develop an initiative based on the publication of Frogans Sites, can then register Dedicated Frogans Networks with the name of their choice: generic term, geographical name, a community name, trademark, etc.

Following the priority period for the entrepreneurs, developers will be the next ones to benefit from it, before the opening of the Frogans technology to the general public.

Dreyfus offers to assist you during this priority registration period by taking into account the best strategy for promoting and protecting your rights with respect to this technology.