NetNames To Protect Unilever Brands Online; Over 6,300 Domain Names to Be Consolidated and Centrally Protected

January 25, 2007; 08:12 AM
NetNames, the UK’s leading domain name management specialist, has been appointed to help protect Unilever’s iconic brands online including Dove, Surf, Cif, Knorr and Vaseline.

As part of a contract awarded to Baker & McKenzie to manage Unilever’s global trademark portfolio, NetNames’ Platinum Service has been selected to manage and protect Unilever’s domain name portfolio which includes addresses for vital web sites used to support and market its many brands. NetNames Platinum Service partners with organizations to protect their identity online by removing the burden of managing domain registrations and renewals.

Jonathan Robinson, Chief Operating Officer for NetNames, commented: “Large corporations such as Unilever, which control some of the most valuable global brands, clearly understand the importance of protecting those brands online. By taking advantage of the Platinum Service to consolidate its vast domain name portfolio, Unilever will have greater visibility of threats to its online brands and greater flexibility to adapt its online brand protection strategy as its business needs change.”

A dedicated NetNames senior account manager has been assigned to proactively manage the domain name portfolio and assist Unilever in the implementation of their comprehensive domain name strategy.

Katrina Burchell, Head of Trademarks at Unilever, commented, "Our brands and trademarks are some of Unilever’s most precious assets and it’s important for us that they are in safe hands. Working with a specialist such as NetNames ensures our brands are well protected online and will enable us to focus more time and resource within the legal group on core competencies.”

Paul Rawlinson, Head of the Global IP Practice Group at Baker & McKenzie, added, "NetNames shares our philosophy of how to deliver portfolio management services for international clients. We wanted to engage a specialist provider and their domain name Platinum Service is a particularly good fit with our global IP services."

About NetNames

NetNames is part of London listed Group NBT plc (LSE: NBT). Through its industry leading domain name management service, NetNames Platinum Service, the company is responsible for managing and protecting online brands for international corporates, including in excess of 30% of the FTSE 100. The company provides domain names, website hosting and email services for a range of customers – from the home user up to enterprise level. NetNames is an ICANN Accredited Registrar with the ability to register domain names in all available suffixes worldwide. The company is headquartered in London, with offices in New York, Nice, Frankfurt and Madrid. For further information, visit www.netnames.com.

Hotwire for NetNames, Ivan Ristic, +44 20 7608 4647, Email: [email protected]