On Thu, 2007-03-08 at 07:37 +1100, Sam Lawrance wrote: > On 08/03/2007, at 7:21 AM, Richard Hayes wrote: > > >> It used to be that to get a .com.au domain name you had to have a > >> company or business name. > >> Is this still the case as I've heard different responses. > > > > Yes, almost you need to 'prove' that you are entitled to register > > the name. > >
My experience is that once you have a name, it's unlikely to be taken from you. I have some legacy names that haven't been registered business names for years. OTOH, I wouldn't rely on that! If I registered a business name and then found that someone was illegally sitting on that domain name without authority, I would definitely take action and I'm sure any business person would. You have to quote some form of authority (ABN, business name registration etc) but I'm pretty sure it isn't checked. I may be wrong. Personally, I think it's silly to register a name you aren't entitled to. It's a recipe for trouble. I've even gone to the trouble of trademarking .com names in the USA if I thought it was really going to matter down the track. As I'm sure most of you know, the .com tld is set up specifically to maximise income for registrars. The Australian system is nominally better in my not so humble opinion. > > To quote the auDA policy: > > > > 1. To be eligible for a domain name in the com.au 2LD, registrants > > must be: > > > > a) an Australian registered company; or > > > > b) trading under a registered business name in any Australian State > > or Territory; or > > > > c) an Australian partnership or sole trader; > > > > d) a foreign company licensed to trade in Australia; or > > > > e) an owner of an Australian Registered Trade Mark; or > > > > f) an applicant for an Australian Registered Trade Mark ; or > > > > g) an association incorporated in any Australian State or > > Territory; or > > > > h) an Australian commercial statutory body. > > > > 2. Domain names in the com.au 2LD must: > > > > a) exactly match, acronym or abbreviation of the registrant’s > > company or trading name, organization or association name or > > trademark; or: > > > > b) be otherwise closely and substantially connected to the registrant. > > > > > > > >> Also what if you have .com.au domain name and you close your > >> company or business related to the domain name, do you lose > >> the .com.au domain > > name? > >> Or is it once you have the domain name, it's yours forever? (so > >> long as you pay the yearly fee). > > > > Yes, for all practical purposes. There is no need to 'prove' > > continuing substantially connected to the registrant. > > Don't rely on it. If the registrant eligibility is based on the > company or business, and the company or business no longer exists, > there is no eligibility to use the domain. > -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html
