Primary Question about .com.au domain name trading
as long as you have honestly reg'd the domain for yourself/your business
tim
Hi Tim,
This aligns with a fundamental question I have about securing .com.au names, and I was wondering if you could answer it for me?
I've read the published regulations under auDA policies and have seen it said elsewhere that an exact or similar match to a sole trader's name or a registered business name are not the only possible prerequisites for legitimately registering a .com.au extension.
I've read that domains can still be registered with this extension if they 'have a close and substantial connection' with your business type (and name), but that examples of Close and Substantial Connections actually include:
a product that your business manufactures or sells; or
a service that your business provides; or
an event that your business organises or sponsors; or
an activity that your business facilitates, teaches or trains; or
a venue that your business operates; or
a profession that your business'' employees practise.
So does this mean I could have a registered business name of, say, businesscents.com.au but because I also provide a consultancy service, I could legitimately register businessconsultancy.com.au instead or as well? This would seem to be suggested by the examples presented above. Similarly if the business sold a product called, 'tidybiz' would it be acceptable to auDA to register tidybiz.com.au under the current regulations? Or if my employees practice salesseminars, would that allow for legitimate registration of sales.com.au (as if, but you probably get the point and then some)?
What I'm trying to ultimately discern is, are business owners allowed to register multiple domain names that are often - due to the principles provided in the examples set out above - not exact or similar matches to the business or sole trader name registered?
If not, this would mean that the only people able to trade .com.au names are those who have actually run a business utilising an exact or similar domain name, and have decided to cut their losses and sell off the one or two, they have been allowed to register. Is this correct?
Or do business owners have the latitudes, suggested above to register more, and more varied .com.au domain names, for trading, on sites like netfleet?
Sorry for the long message, but I need this info sorted in my head prior to being able to move forward at all with .com.au name trading.
Thanks a heap, if you have the time to help me understand this aspect of the process. I don't want to ever engage in any action that might be deemed inappropriate under the auDA guidelines.
Kind regards,
Zach