Small business domains protected under revised rules
auDA will protect existing .com.au and .net.au domain holders from new registration rules.
auDA, the body that manages Australian domains, wanted to tighten how businesses register .com.au and .net.au addresses. The change would have scrapped a rule letting companies keep domains loosely linked to their business, like a plumber called Smith Plumbing holding melbourneplumbing.com.au.
Industry experts warned between two million and 2.7 million Australian domains could have been affected. Small business groups pushed back hard.
auDA has now reversed course: existing domains stay protected under the old rules, and only new registrations face the stricter criteria. The revised rules will go to public consultation later this year before a final board decision.
- 2 million to 2.7 million
- Domains potentially affected
- September 6
- auDA announcement date
- close and substantial connection
- Rule affected
Why it mattersAustralian small businesses and sole traders keep their current web addresses without needing to rebrand or renegotiate domain costs.
Open this story in InSnip →
