Push back on Australian domain name changes — Domain registrars

Ten registrars ask auDA board to reverse course on change that could impact majority of .com.au and .net.au domain registrations.

A group of ten domain name registrars has written to the auDA board (pdf), asking the group to reverse a decision that would severely limit eligibility to register .com.au and .net.au domain names.

The board recently approved a Policy Advisor Panel’s recommendation that removes the “close and substantial connection” test for registering third-level .au domain names.

Under the fresh rules, businesses and individuals can register .com.au and .net.au domain names only if they match their registered business name, trademark, or personal name.

In DNW Podcast #603, a panel member who voted against this change explained how this happened and what it means for registrants.

In the letter, the registrars say the fresh rules may eliminate 50% to 80% of the 3.5 million existing registered domains.

The letter also states:

The modified rules also do not reflect how businesses use domain names. Businesses register domains to launch campaigns, direct investors or clients to specific products or documentation, run a platform apart from their main website, and offer a short, memorable email address. They use fictitious names never registered as a trademark that they are nonetheless widely known by. They also register misspellings and synonyms of their brand so clients are not sent to the wrong website. None of these uses depends on a literal match to a legal name and all of these valid use cases help Australian businesses reach clients and grow online.

The registrars also note that many businesses that have invested years of marketing, SEO, etc. into their existing domains will be severely impacted.

Given their experience, the registrars argue that when registries add complexity to ccTLD registrations, people typically opt for a gTLD instead.

Tucows is one signatory to the letter; the others have not been identified.