auDA publishes updated Domain Name Policy Rules and Guidelines

Posted by Jo Lim on 18 December 2012

auDA has published two updated policies:

• Domain Name Eligibility and Allocation Policy Rules for Open 2LDs (2012-04) – replaces Domain Name Eligibility and Allocation Policy Rules for Open 2LDs (2008-05) and Domain Monetisation Policy (2008-10)
• Guidelines on the Interpretation of Policy Rules for Open 2LDs (2012-05) – replaces Guidelines for Accredited Registrars on the Interpretation of Policy Rules for Open 2LDs (2008-06)

These policies have been updated following the recommendations of the 2010 Names Policy Panel.

There are two main changes:

1. Policy rules regarding domain monetisation in com.au and net.au.

There is no substantive change to the way that domain monetisation is handled under auDA policy – ie. it is permissible to register domain names under the close and substantial connection rule for the purpose of domain monetisation, with two conditions of use:

a) the content on the website to which the domain name resolves must be related specifically and predominantly to subject matter denoted by the domain name; and

b) the domain name must not be, or incorporate, an entity name, personal name or brand name in existence at the time the domain name was registered.

The difference is that these policy rules used to be contained in the Domain Monetisation Policy, but they have now been incorporated into the Domain Name Eligibility and Allocation Policy Rules for Open 2LDs at Schedules C (com.au) and E (net.au).

In addition, the Guidelines on the Interpretation of Policy Rules for Open 2LDs includes further detail on what auDA considers to be “domain monetisation”. Refer to Section 11.

2. Policy rules regarding id.au.

The close and substantial connection rule for id.au has been expanded to include domain names that refer to a personal interest or hobby of the registrant, but the domain name must not be, or incorporate, an entity name, personal name or brand name in existence at the time the domain name was registered. Refer to the Domain Name Eligibility and Allocation Policy Rules for Open 2LDs at Schedule D.