Australian domain name policy under review
Posted on 23/05/2007
The auDA is calling for submissions on the policy framework for .au domain names by Friday 15 June 2007.
The auDA is reviewing the framework governing the allocation and use of Australian (.au) domain names. It released an Issues Paper in May 2007. Public submissions on that paper are due by Friday 15 June 2007.
Three issues are under discussion:
- Whether domain names of the format www.yourname.au should become registrable (eg www.baldwins.au). At present Australian domain names, like New Zealand domain names, must be registered within a particular Second Level, such as .com.au or .net.au.
- Whether the policy rules for the main Second Level domains (eg .com.au) are appropriate or whether they should be changed. These domain names are currently subject to registration criteria and rules. auDA is particularly interested in hearing about situations where the rules have prevented a party registering a domain name that they should reasonably have been able to register, and situations where, despite the rules, a party has been able to register a domain name for an improper or unfair purpose.
- Whether registrants should be allowed to sell their Australian domain names. In an attempt to minimise cybersquatting, transfers of domain names are currently only permitted in certain, narrow, situations, such as where a business has been sold, or intellectual property rights transferred from one party to another. auDA invites comments on whether this position should be relaxed. The Issues Paper provides further details of the current position on each of these three issues and arguments for and against changing those positions. It can be accessed on the auDA's website (http://www.auda.org.au/2007npp/2007npp-index/).
If you would like a copy of the Issues Paper, would like Baldwins to prepare submissions on your behalf, or have any other questions about this review, please do not hesitate to contact your usual advisor at Baldwins.