The sunrise period began yesterday for trademark and service mark holders who have a nationally registered trademark issued prior to September 30, 2002. This will allow holders to submit registrations that exactly match their trademarks in the .pro domain.

The anticipated live launch date for all professionals who want to register their .pro domain name is July 2003. The .pro live launch is for U.S. licensed professionals who self-certify that they meet the eligibility requirements of the .pro domain.

?RegistryPro is excited to be offering professionals a unique and exclusive space on the Internet for secure online communications,? said Timothy Gelman, CEO of RegistryPro. ?RegistryPro?s Sunrise Period will provide registered trademark holders worldwide with the opportunity to protect their brand name across current and potential future profession-specific domain strings within the .pro domain extension. This protection is of value because it defends a trademark name now and into the future. Registered trademark holders and IP attorneys all around the world can take advantage of this period to stake their claim in the .pro name space. By taking this step now, registered trademark holders can avoid potential trademark disputes and costly litigation down the road.?

RegistryPro, Inc. is the operator of the .pro top-level domain. The .pro extension is intended exclusively for professionals who certify that they meet the eligibility requirements for the domain name and undergo a cross-verification process. All .pro names are issued with a digital certificate and an online passport that facilitates secure communications and transactions.