auDA publicly stated in the middle of 2019 that “Second level registrations are still scheduled to be implemented in Q4 2019.“
Now that we’re nearly at the end of 2020, it’s clear to see Direct .AU Registrations are still not here, and still have no implementation date in sight.
However, it looks like the new long awaited AU Domain Administration Licensing Rules are about to be implemented.
“What does this mean?”, you all shout in unison?
Good question!
If you scroll to the bottom of auDA’s Policy Page, you’ll see a few links to click on under the title “New Policy Framework”.
There’s the 60-page “au Domain Administration Rules; Licensing” to read… and then there’s also the 40-page “Explanatory Guide” to read, to make some sense of the first document.
We’re currently speaking with many like-minded domain investors and entrepreneurs about what the new rules are going to look like and what it’s going to mean for people who own a bunch of domain names. As we’ve previously reported, there is something like 64,000 people or businesses who can be classed as “Australian Domain Investors”, so these new rules are going to effect many, many people and businesses.
Once we’ve got our head around it all, here at Domainer, we’ll be sure to record a new Domainer Show and discuss what we think it all means… in laymans terms, of course… But, for now, if you’ve got the time and a few spare panadols handy, have a read for yourself, while-you-wait for us to finish scratching our own heads.
Let’s be clear here: Direct registrations are not happening and will never come. Even If Angelo was chair it still would not be possible to push this through.
I wonder how this comment will age?
“.au” would fail just like “.uk” and “.nz”
No eligibility requirements other than Australian presence = “spammers and povo social media based businesses welcome”
With now over 600,000+ still registered com.au .net.au .asn.au .org.au .id.au domain names being registrant ineligible due to expired, cancelled or fake registrant details they remain at risk to be Policy Deleted by auDA or a Registrar at any time.
How easilly will it be to fake registrations of direct .au with no registrant eligibility required? If they already do with with the rules for .com.au it will be even easier! This will hurt Australia, Australian Consumers and hurt the reputation of the .au namespace globally.
“1000 Australian websites taken down after China-based criminal plot revealed”
https://www.afr.com/technology/more-than-1000-australian-websites-taken-down-following-chinaled-criminal-plot-20161007-grxa2o
https://www.smartcompany.com.au/startupsmart/advice/business-planning/over-1000-unauthorised-au-domains-deleted-as-regulatory-body-doubles-down/
https://www.itnews.com.au/news/auda-orders-1025-bogus-au-domains-be-deleted-439035
A lot of registrants eligible businesses who have registered .au domain names may not even exist soon or next year after March 2021.
auDA and the Registrars never disclosed their proposed fees for conflicted names processes during the consultation periods, in the rigged surveys etc. That means a lot of parties have no idea about it and how they will in fact be detrimentally affected.
If you bought a .com.au name from auDA at the auDA auction and paid a lot of money is it fair someone else registered the .id.au or .net.au .org.au etc version years later to try and get into the direct .au eligibility? No its not fair and that has legal issues for auDA.
https://www.smh.com.au/technology/generic-name-auction-a-blooming-success-20021001-gdfofh.html
https://www.auda.org.au/news/auda-generic-domain-names-auction/
https://www.zdnet.com/article/auda-to-auction-rare-au-domain-names/
“When does a Conflict Of Interest Exist”
https://assets.com.au/when-does-a-conflict-of-interest-exist/
Many of the names in auDA “conflicted names” might even be registrant ineligible. No country or namespace in the world has ever charged any conflicted names type of fees or such as crazy proposed process.
auDA wants to change the rules and registrant agreement to ban domain name leasing but it is a protected business activity allowed in every other namespace including Australia already. To beat this ban all you need to do it renew your name for longer with the existing domain name registrant agreement before they change the rules!
Having different rules for direct .au and .com.au creates an unfair anti competitive issue. For example a .com.au registrants have less potential buyers than a .au domain name registrant would have due to the .com.au registrant eligibility limitations and no the same registrant limitations direct .au. This is a major issue and why No country has done that like auDA has proposed.
https://www.accc.gov.au/business/anti-competitive-behaviour
“Section 45 of the Competition and Consumer Act prohibits contracts, arrangements, understandings or concerted practices that have the purpose, effect or likely effect of substantially lessening competition in a market, even if that conduct does not meet the stricter definitions of other anti-competitive conduct such as cartels.”
https://www.accc.gov.au/business/business-rights-protections/unfair-contract-terms
The direct .nz and .uk have failed.
1 milion direct .uk UK expire not renewed after FREE .uk period
https://www.theregister.com/2020/09/03/nominet_million_dot_uk_domains/
https://www.theregister.com/2017/09/14/123reg_customers_outraged_at_automatic_uk_domain_registration/
“Whose side you on, Nominet? Registry floods .co.uk owners with begging emails to renew unwanted .uk domains. Quick! You need to pay for that web address you never asked for so we can make more money” https://www.theregister.com/2020/06/16/nominet_dot_uk_renewals/
“Two years ago, 123-Reg and NamesCo decided to register millions of .uk domains for customers without asking them. They just got the renewal reminders AND DON’T WANT THEM…” https://www.theregister.com/2019/09/16/123reg_namesco_uk_domains/
The bigger issues remain and the new auDA Management and Board must not blindly continue on with the failed auDA 2.0 failed chaos plans. That is why they all got sacked. ex CEO Boardman, full auDA Board, hopeless expensive rigged Consultants, Paid PR stooges Ian Hanke,” squad consulting” etc completely removed.
auDA’s own $1 million current advertising campaign even promotes .com.au finally!
http://www.getyour.com.au
“”A local home for your local business
Now more than ever, Australians are looking to buy local when they shop online. With a COM.AU domain name, customers can be sure your business has a local presence.”
“WHY .COM.AU IS THE DOMAIN NAME YOUR BUSINESS DESERVES”
Confused? Yes 99% of people and .au registrant consumers will be by years of auDA Chaos and mixed messages including attacks on the .com.au namespace and it’s biggest promoters and funders domain name investors, brand owners and even ex Board members who have spoken out exposing the shambles. https://www.itwire.com/strategy/auda-director-quits-over-mass-recruitment-of-members.html
Still having a Registrar on the auDA Board who engaged in stacking auDA membership and rigged surveys is a disgrace and obvious major conflict of interest.
https://www.dntrade.com.au/threads/auda-what-is-the-effect-of-a-tainted-board-vote.10868/
All the debates on this have been done to death. It’s time just to get on with it now.
They are good arguments to have nonetheless. Many of us warned that the new TLDs would fail and they have, dismally.
The warning is clear: .au will fail. Not without convincing 30,000 to 50,000 rookie business owners or wannabes and not without taking some cream from defensive registrations. But it will fail.
Pretty funny actually and thanks auDA for making my .com.au domains more valuable.
Extend the urban boundary and guess what the inner suburbs go up in value.
.com.au is the inner suburbs. .net.au the outer suburbs.
.au will be the crap new estate 70-90km from the CBD with the only people wanting go there being those who live there already.
To extend the analogy for Snoopy, .com is the New York penthouse or Tuscan villa we’d all like to have but don’t actually have a use for in Australia. Yes you’ll have a few friends visit but most people would rather kick back on the deck of your 4 bedder in Sydney’s northern beaches (.com.au), which is about as good as it gets or needs to be in Australia.
Aussies have always marched to their own beat so I wouldn’t be surprised if things work out differently here. More than happy for those who think it’s going to fail not to participate in the priority allocation process.
Sure, you can queue up for best block of land in the crap subdivision.
I’ll be focusing on .com.au as no idiot would dare go it alone with a .au without having the .com.au also.
But wait a minute if one has both, the answer is .com.au every time as it is recognised, not only by internet users but by search engines.
Google has Google.uk and Google.nz but neither of them even resolve, and Google rarely gives any page rank to .uk and .nz sites.
Only new and foolish operators will go with .au, those who lack the means to acquire the .com.au or even .net.au, which at least is recognised.
Because 60% of businesses fail within the first 3 years, and because .au registrants will predominantly NEW businesses, the .au namespace will be for social media mums, basket case traders and fly-by-nighters.
https://www.bemedia.com.au/97-percent-businesses-fail-why/
If you think it’s crap don’t complain about it and try to justify or judge why other people should or shouldn’t take up the opportunity, just don’t bother taking up your offer for priority allocation.
I’m not complaining, just warning of what will happen so that those with less experience or acumen can benefit. New TLDs and new ccTLDs have been done to death and all have failed. It is still .com, .com.au, .co.uk, .de and .nl.
I advised a top Sydney digital agency to refrain from registering their own branded TLD and have saved others from flushing money down the drain on new TLDs. Sounds like you are the one complaining.
*That is, all have failed to supplant, rival or even approach the status quo, which is .com, .com.au, .co.uk, .de, .nl
All comments are my honest opinion