.CV Brand Protection Program
Secure Your Digital Identity on the .CV Domain
OlaCV, the official registry for the .CV domain, is launching the .CV Brand Protection Program - an initiative to give brands a fair and proactive way to claim their digital identity on .CV.
Unlike gTLDs, ccTLDs like .CV are not bound by ICANN’s Sunrise requirements. However, as .CV evolves to support global professional and identity use cases, we are voluntarily implementing a protective window that mirrors Sunrise principles, giving verified brands a priority opportunity to claim their .CV domains.
Why we are doing this - the curious case of apple.cv
When .cv launched globally, apple.cv was registered by someone claiming it was for an apple orchard. Because the use was legitimate and a website was set up, Apple couldn't reclaim the domain immediately. Eventually, the domain returned to Apple—likely through a private negotiation.
We want to prevent situations like this. The .CV Brand Protection Program ensures that legitimate brands can secure their names early, avoid disputes or inflated buybacks, and preserve the credibility and security of the .cv space.
How It Works
Open Registration.
All .CV domains are publicly available for registration through our retail partners at standard prices. OlaCV does not pre-reserve all brand names — the global trademark landscape is too vast. Instead, we provide a Brand Safety Framework that helps verified brands protect their identity within .CV.
Brand Claim (Optional).
Verified brands can officially claim their .CV name for a one-time Brand Claim Fee of $150. This covers verification, brand flagging, and proactive protection of up to 20 confusingly similar variants (misspellings, character swaps, and common lookalikes) for 12 months.
Verification.
Brand claims are verified via the Trademark Clearinghouse (TMCH), accredited Trademark Agents, or proof of ownership of an official brand domain (e.g., via company email or website).
Protected Variants.
Once verified, your main .CV domain and up to 20 related variants (e.g., “n1ke.cv,” “nik3.cv,” “nikee.cv”) are flagged in the registry as protected under your brand name, preventing impersonation and typo-squatting.
Reclamation Process.
If your brand’s name is already registered by someone else, you can file a Reclamation Request by sending a mail to support@ola.cv. After verification, OlaCV will facilitate a fair recovery process. A Reclamation Fee of $400 applies to cover review and administrative costs.
Why Participate?
- Protect your brand from impersonation, typo-squatting, and third-party misuse.
- Secure your namespace across up to 20 similar or confusing variants.
- Own your identity on a rising domain trusted by professionals and creators worldwide.
- Future-proof your presence for future Web3 (cryptoverse), personal, professional or corporate (CV databases, etc) use cases.
- Save future costs by acting early — disputes and reclamations are far more expensive later.
FAQs
Q: Why didn’t OlaCV run a traditional Sunrise Period?
A: .CV is originally a country-code TLD (ccTLD), not a generic TLD (gTLD), so ICANN’s Sunrise requirements do not apply. However, OlaCV, the .cv domain extension market operator voluntarily offers a Brand Safety Framework to give brands an early, verified path to secure their domains.
Q: Are domains reserved for brands?
A: No. All .CV domains are publicly open. However, verified brands can still claim their matching names through the Brand Claim process and have up to 20 related variants protected.
Q: How are domains priced under this program?
A: Standard retail pricing applies for all public registrations. The $150 Brand Claim Fee is an optional service that includes brand verification and protection for up to 20 lookalike domains. This is distinct from premium .CV names, which typically range from $500 to $10,000.
Q: What’s included in the $150 Brand Claim Fee?
A:
- Verification of brand ownership
- Registration of your main .CV domain (if available)
- Protection of up to 20 similar or confusing variants for 12 months
- Early dispute priority
Q: Is this cybersquatting or extortion?
A: No. In fact, it’s the opposite. The Brand Safety Framework exists to prevent cybersquatting by giving legitimate brands a verified pathway to secure their names before disputes occur. Reactive protection is far more expensive for both brands and registries.
Q: What if my brand’s .CV name is already registered?
A: You can email support@ola.cv to file a Reclamation Request. Our team will review trademark ownership and, if valid, help you recover the domain through our registry-level transfer process. If ownership is unclear, arbitration may be recommended.
Q: Can I apply if I’m not listed in TMCH?
A: Yes. TMCH-listed trademarks are prioritized, but you can still apply using your verified company email, domain, or documentation via a recognized trademark agent.
Q: What rights do I gain after registering my brand domain?
A: You gain full control of the domain name, including the right to use, redirect, or hold it for brand protection — just like any regular domain registrant.
Q: What happens after 12 months?
A: Your brand protection can be renewed annually by renewing the domain names. If not renewed, your primary domain remains yours (as long as you renew it normally), but the variant protection flags expire and those names may become available again.
Q: What happens if my domain is fewer than 6 characters and classified as a premium .CV domain?
A: Short names (under 6 characters) are automatically categorized as premium, regardless of brand ownership or trademark status. In such cases, the premium price applies for both the main domain and any protected variants under the Brand Safety Framework. Premium renewal pricing also applies to renewals for these names.
Q: When does the 12-month protection period begin, and what is the launch date?
A: The .CV Brand Protection Program officially launched in October 2025. Each brand’s 12-month protection period begins from the date its claim is verified and activated, not from a fixed global start date.
Q: Is there a list of brands already reserved under the program?
A: Yes. OlaCV maintains a pre-reserved list of well-known global brands to prevent misuse and impersonation.
This list is not exhaustive, as new brands are continuously added through the Brand Claim process.
A reference document containing some of the currently reserved brands can be shared upon request.
Q: What is the cost of joining and renewing the Brand Protection Program?
A: The $150 Brand Claim Fee is a one-time charge covering brand verification and protection of up to 20 confusingly similar variants for 12 months. Renewals follow standard .CV pricing, depending on whether the main domain is regular or premium. No extra renewal fee applies for protection itself. As long as the main domain is renewed, brand protection continues automatically. If the main domain is not renewed, protection flags expire, though the primary domain remains active if renewed later.
Q: What is the ongoing renewal cost after the first year?
A: Renewals are billed at standard .CV rates, except for premium domains which follow their specific renewal pricing. A current list of premium domains is available for reference.
Q: Can a registrant know how many variants will be included before proceeding?
A: Yes. The “up to 20 variants” means protection can include as many as 20 variants, based on the registrant’s preference.
We provide the exact list of proposed variants for review and approval before activation.
Q: How are the variant domains protected? What does the protection flag do?
A: Once a brand claim is approved, the associated variants are automatically blocked at the registry level, preventing third parties from registering them.
This protection does not affect domains that were already registered before the brand claim was created.
The protection flag serves as a registry-level safeguard, marking variants as unavailable for general registration.
Q: What types of variants are covered, and can the brand choose which ones to include?
A: Variants usually cover misspellings, letter swaps, lookalikes, and similar brand forms.
The registrant can review and select which variants to include (up to 20) during the verification process.
Q: How can brands register or claim their domains under the program?
A: Registrations are made through the standard registrar portal.
For Brand Protection entries, the following verification evidence is required:
- SMD file from the Trademark Clearinghouse (TMCH)
- Documentation from an accredited trademark agent
- Proof of brand control, such as a verified company email, website, or existing brand domain
Once verified, the main .CV domain and its variants are flagged in the registry database to prevent impersonation or typo-squatting.
Q. Is the Brand Protection renewal included in the main domain renewal, or is there an additional cost after the first year?
A: There is no additional ongoing cost for maintaining Brand Protection after the first year.
At renewal, the registrant can choose to:
- Renew only the main domain, or
- Renew the main domain along with one or more selected variants at the standard registry renewal rate for each domain.
If the registrant prefers to renew only the main domain without continuing Brand Protection, that is perfectly acceptable.
Apply Now
If you are a brand owner or trademark holder, apply below to secure your .CV domain before it becomes publicly available.[Claim Your Brand Domain →]