String Confusion Objection : Similarity and Acronyms

In the framework of string confusion objections, several panels had to decide on the level of similarity existing between a string composed of a word and another string composed of an acrony. In such a case, the panel has to assess the similarity between both signs from the average internet user view. In other words, it shall depend on the meaning that the average internet user associates with the disputed acronym. If this meaning is similar to the meaning of the word composing the other string, both strings should be considered as similar from a semantic point of view. In this way, a panel judged that “.com” and “.company” strings are not similar since the “com” acronym would not have any meaning at all from the point of view of the average internet user. For further comments on this issue, see Le contentieux des nouveaux noms de domaine (par. nr. 41).”