Registering your trademark with the Trademark Clearinghouse (TMCH) protects that trademark in two distinct ways: through Sunrise Period access and Claims Services.
Sunrise Period access allows you to take part in every new extension's Sunrise Period - a block of time at least 30 days before a domain extension is released for public registration during which trademark holders can register domain names containing their trademark. That means you will enjoy early access to the domain names that are rightfully yours, without having to worry about domain squatters snatching them up.
The Trademark Claims period follows the Sunrise period and runs for at least the first 90 days of an initial operating period of general registration. During the Trademark Claims period, anyone attempting to register a domain name matching a mark that is recorded in the Trademark Clearinghouse will receive a notification displaying the relevant mark information.
If the notified party goes ahead and registers the domain name, the Trademark Clearinghouse will send a notice to those trademark holders with matching records in the Clearinghouse, informing them that someone has registered the domain name.
