The US Trade Representative (USTR) has, for the first time, included domain name registrars in its list of “Notorious Markets” for online trademark counterfeiting.

The Notorious Markets list identifies markets that, due to the scale of infringing activity, cause economic harm to US IP rights holders.

The most recent list includes domain name registrars, including Tucows.com, that are said to refuse requests to lock or suspend domain names that are being used to sell suspected counterfeit pharmaceuticals to consumers worldwide.