New registration rules for .com.au domains could cause chaos.
The board of auDA, the organization responsible for managing the .au namespace, has voted to adopt a significant change to the registration rules for .com.au domains. This decision, announced recently, could render a substantial number of existing domain names ineligible under the updated criteria. With roughly 3.3 million domains in the .au namespace, the proposed changes may affect upwards of a million registrations, introducing uncertainty for many registrants and businesses that rely on these domains.
On today’s show, Erhan Karabardak, a former auDA board member and intellectual property attorney, joined to discuss the decision in detail. Erhan was one of seven members on the panel that drafted the recommended rule change and was one of three board members who voted against the final motion. In his account, he explains the deliberations, the rationale behind the dissenting votes, and the practical consequences for domain holders.
Erhan details why the rule change was proposed, the concerns raised during the internal consultations, and how the modified eligibility criteria differ from current practice. He emphasizes the potential for widespread disruption: registrants who believed their domains complied with existing rules may suddenly find their names noncompliant, which could affect branding, email delivery, business continuity, and online presence. While the change aims to tighten or clarify eligibility, the effect on legacy registrations and the administrative burden of revalidation could be substantial.
The conversation also explores possible next steps for affected registrants. Erhan advises domain owners to review their registrations and supporting documentation to confirm eligibility under the new rules. He recommends consulting with domain registrars or legal counsel experienced in Australian domain policy to understand the specific impact on individual domains and any remediation options that may be available. For organizations with large portfolios, proactive audits of domain records and registrant details can reduce the risk of unexpected loss of rights or service interruptions.
Beyond the auDA decision, the episode covers several related industry developments. These include a continuing lawsuit over Verisign’s pricing practices, new top-level domain initiatives from registries such as Aruba and ShortDot, recent workforce reductions at major hosting provider IONOS, and changes to drop time schedules that affect how expired domains are released and re-registered. Each of these topics has implications for domain investors, registrars, and businesses that depend on domain stability and predictable policy environments.
The podcast is sponsored by Namecheap. The episode runs approximately 33 minutes and provides practical commentary on the auDA decision and its wider context in the domain industry.
Listen to the episode: Play in new window (MP3) | Download MP3 (Duration: 33:17 — 26.7MB)
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For domain registrants concerned about the auDA changes: start by checking your domain’s eligibility status and the documentation that supports your registration. Reach out to your registrar for clarification and consider seeking advice from specialists if you manage multiple domains or rely on a domain for critical business operations. Staying informed and taking early action will help minimize disruption if the new rules result in stricter enforcement or the need to revalidate registrations.