Further to our article from last year, the highly anticipated .au direct namespace will officially launch on 24 March 2022.
What exactly is a domain name?
Every destination on the Internet – whether it be a news site, blog, online store or business portal – has a unique address, and that address falls under a domain name. When it comes to protecting your brand identity and the intellectual property (IP) published on a website, domain registrations are an essential tool in securing an exclusive online presence. Ownership of different, competing domains can also help put a stop to unauthorised third parties from capitalising on your reputation.
A domain name ending in .au signifies that the person or organisation using it has business presence or other a connection with Australia. You may be aware of some of the different third level domains (3LD) options available for domains in Australia – including .net.au, .com.au or .org.au. However, we will shortly have a new, snappier namespace available at the second level (2LD). This will allow Australian users of the Internet to register a name directly before the dot in <.au>. For example, www.sladen.com.au could apply for www.sladen.au and www.domain.net.au could apply for www.domain.au.
Are you eligible for priority access to the.au domain?
A six month priority allocation period will commence on 24 March 2022 to allow eligible candidates to secure a .au domain. Under the priority process, the exact matches to existing .au 3LD extensions in Australia will be held on reserve. This means that eligible registrants (i.e. those parties who already have with an identical .net.au, .com.au or .org.au domain) can apply for the 2LD .au equivalent before anyone else. These applications would occur via the same Registrar as the existing domains.
If no one applies for priority status during that period, the name can be registered through an accredited registrar on a first-come-first-served basis when the priority allocation period ends on 24 September 2022. It will be open to anyone with a presence in Australia.
Do you require assistance?
Sladen Legal can consider your domain portfolio and provide strategic advice on your eligibility status for a .au domain. We can assist in ensuring all existing domain name registration contact details are up to date and in the name of the correct owner entity for asset protection purposes. Our team can also identify the process through which you can apply for a .au domain with your chosen Registrar, and facilitate this transaction for you. Also, don’t forget that if you have a domain name registered, you are also likely to need to register a trade mark in order to obtain exclusive rights in the name.
To discuss further or for more information please contact:
Michelle Dowdle
Principal Lawyer
M +61 408 674 256 | T +61 3 9611 0114
E: mdowdle@sladen.com.au
Laura Bentley
Associate
T +61 3 9611 0120
E: lbentley@sladen.com.au
