Australian businesses worried about losing their .com.au or .net.au web address can breathe a little easier. The domain regulator auDA has revised a controversial plan to overhaul its registration rules.
Under the new approach, existing domain holders will keep operating under the current rules. Only people applying for new domains would face the tighter requirements.
The original proposal, announced on 6 September, would have scrapped the “close and substantial connection” rule. That rule lets a business register a name tied to its products or services even if it differs from its registered business name, such as a plumber holding melbourneplumbing.com.au.
Industry estimates cited in the report suggested between two million and 2.7 million domain names could have been affected. The Council of Small Business Organisations Australia had called for existing registrations to be protected. The revised rules will go to public consultation later this year before auDA’s board makes a final call.
What it means for your money
If your business relies on a descriptive domain, you can stop worrying about an expensive rebrand for now. Keep your registration details current and watch for the consultation, because new domains could still be harder to secure.
Source: SmartCompany