CHRONICLE COLUMN – 9 AUGUST 2022 – .AU DOMAIN
As a small business owner, I received an email last week about Australia’s newest domain namespace – the .au domain.
The email goes on to say that the new namespace provides eligible registrants the option to register domain names directly before the .au for the first time (e.g., forexample.au). Registrants with an existing .au domain name license are eligible to apply for a direct match of their .au direct domain name through the Priority Allocation Process (e.g. if you hold forexample.com.au, you can apply for Priority Status to register forexample.au).
Importantly, the email further states that a priority allocation process for us with an existing domain is now open but will close on 20 Sept 2022.
Significantly, is the registration is not completed by 20 September 2022, it will become available to other eligible persons from that date.
Are you aware of this change? Is it important?
According to Small Business Ombudsman Bruce Billson action on this, it is extremely important. So important that because of the change he urged the small business community to act immediately. Mr. Billson’s concern is that small business operators face a potential ambush by online competitors due to low awareness of Australia’s new shortened internet domain names. He argues, your brand is at risk.
In an online article by Tom McIlroy of the financial review Mr. Billson, implored small business owners to take the time and spend some bucks to register their .au domain.
He argues it is about the small business community safeguarding themselves from a third party who may potentially grab your domain, using it to digitally ambush your business, demand big dollars later to surrender it to you, or misuse it to masquerade as you or to help them engage in cybercrime.
The Toowoomba Chamber urges you to seek advice on this matter and share this information with the small business community.
.au Domains?
One thing is for sure, I will be following Mr Billson calls, and my small business will be securing the new .au domain.
For further information about the domain and changes is available at https://whois.auda.org.au/.
