The two domain names that are most appropriate for small/medium businesses are .com.au and .net.au, although in some instances a business may simply want a.com domain name (see below).

How do I register a .com.au or.net.au domain name?

The stringent requirements for registering a domain name in the .com.au and .net.au paces which existed prior to 1 July 2002 have been liberalised.

To be eligible for a .com.au or .net.au domain name, you must be:
(a) an Australian registered company; or
(b) trading under a registered business name in any Australian State or Territory; or
(c) an Australian partnership or sole trader; or
(d) a foreign company licensed to trade in Australia; or
(e) an owner of an Australian registered trademark; or
(f) an applicant for an Australian registered trade mark; or
(g) an association incorporated in any Australian State or Territory; or
(h) an Australian commercial statutory body.

Domain names must be an exact match, abbreviation or acronym of the applicant's commercial name or trade mark, or must be otherwise "closely or substantially connected" to the registrant because the domain name refers to:
(a) an product that the registrant manufactures or sells;
(b) a service that the registrant provides;
(c) an event that the registrant sponsors;
(d) an activity that the registrant facilitates, teaches or trains;
(e) a venue that the registrant operates; or
(f) a profession that the employees of the registrant practice.

Australian place names (and their common abbreviations) cannot be licensed for use as .com.au or .net.au domain names. A place name or generic name combined with other words to form more specific words aligned with eligible commercial entities may be registered as domain names. For example, melbourne.com.au would not be licensed but melbournecitycouncil.com.au may be.

Obscene and offensive words and words considered "contrary to public policy" cannot be used in a licensed domain name. The administering body has the discretion to decide which names fall into those categories.

Certain other restrictions apply. See Domain Names fact sheet.

As of 1 July 2002, the following restrictions were lifted:
* the limit of one domain name per eligible commercial entity; and
* the prohibition on generic domain names.

.au Domain Administration Ltd (auDA) is currently considering removing the restriction on geographical names.

The registering authority does not investigate duplicate or similar names in other domains or in the .com.au and .net.au domains. Another business may object to the name you choose. Your domain name may breach the trade mark rights of a a third party where the complaining party has registered their name as a trademark or it may constitute misleading and deceptive conduct under trade practices legislation. See fact sheets on Trade Marks, Domain Names and Passing Off and Domain Names.

Subject to the requirements set out above, .com.au and .net.au domain names are licensed on a "first-come, first-served" basis. Where a domain name is already licensed or there is an application pending for that name, no further application is accepted for that name until the existing licence is revoked or the pending application is refused.

Domain names in the .com.au and .net.au spaces are licensed for a set period of two years, on expiration of which the licence may be renewed. Licence fees vary amongst the different registrars.

Licences for .com.au domain names cannot be sold and may only be transferred under certain specific circumstances. See the auDA website for more details.

For more information visit http://www.melbourneit.com.au/ (Melbourne IT).

.com and .net domain names

Some Australian businesses have chosen to have simply a .com or .net (rather than a .com.au/.net.au) domain name. Registration is simpler in that the only limitation on obtaining a licence to use the domain name is its availability. This may be appropriate if the name you want is already in use in the .com.au or .net.au space.

For a list of registrars through which you can register a .com or .net domain name, click here.

There is now also a new domain name, .biz, that has been created for the use of the business community as a rival to .com. See the Domain Names fact sheet for more information on .biz


Other relevant Articles on this site:
Get a domain name
Get a domain name

Other relevant Fact Sheets:
Domain Names
Misleading and Deceptive Conduct
Trade Marks, Domain Names and Passing Off 

End Notes