The business domain name usually includes the
business or product name in order to make it easily identifiable
to potential customers. However, domain names are more than just
a name.
A domain name includes a core name plus a
domain name level that often indicates where the domain name is
registered.
www.yourbusiness.com says that the files are located in the
World Wide Web (www), it has the core name ‘your business’ and
is registered at the .com level while
www.yourbusiness.com.au, though similar it includes the .au.
This indicates that the domain name is registered on the
registry for Australian domain names.
A domain name does not necessarily indicate
where the website associated with that domain name is hosted.
Same core
name, but different domain names
Domain names can include the same core name
but not be the same domain name or even belong to the same
business
Example
Business A
sells coffee wholesale and is called Coffee Express.
Business B
specialises in fast delivery coffee and is called
Coffee-Express.
Business A
has the domain name
www.coffee-express.com.au registered while Business B
has
www.coffee-express.net.au registered.
Even though
the core name in the domain name is the same
‘coffee-express’ the two are not interchangeable - one
is .net.au while the other is .com.au.
Many businesses choose to register many
different levels of their name in order to ensure that all
versions lead to their website.
It is this aspect of the domain name system
that is exploited in some of the letters being sent out
soliciting domain name registrations.
***It is important to note that a registered
business name does not guarantee that the business name can be
used for a domain name.
The main players in the domain name arena
Australian .au domain name - key groups
auDA has been
delegated authority by the Australian government to manage the
.au domain. auDA accredits and licenses Registrars. For more
information go to
http://www.auda.org.au.
Registry
operators are licensed by auDA to manage and maintain the
database that contains the domain names registered by registrars
on behalf of registrants. Currently Ausregistry is the only
licensed registry for .au domain names. For details go to
http://www.ausregistry.com.au.
Registrars for
.au domain names are accredited by auDA. They sell domain name
licences to registrants. The registrar is responsible for
checking that the registrant is eligible for the domain name and
for updating information on the Registry database on behalf of
the registrant. Registrars can use the services of a reseller.
For a list of auDA accredited Registrars for .au domain names go
to
http://www.ausregistry.com.au/registrars.php
Resellers
operate through an agreement with a Registrar. Resellers are
not accredited but often have a contractual relationship with a
registrar. They offer domain name registration and related
services and deal directly with the registrant but do not have
access to the registry.
Registrant is
an individual, company or organisation that is granted a licence
for a domain name.
*** It is important to note domain names are
leased and not owned. If not renewed a domain name can be
registered by another eligible party.
Non .au domain names
The Internet Corporation
for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) is the not for profit
corporation responsible for coordinating the management of the
technical elements of the Domain Name System (DNS) to ensure
that all users of the internet can find all valid addresses. It
does this by overseeing the distribution of unique technical
identifiers used in the internet's operations, and delegation of
Top-Level Domain names (such as .com, .info, etc.).
ICANN also has web links to the major
international domain name registries at
http://www.icann.org (Links page). These usually include a
Whois function for domain names held by that registry.
For more
information on the domain name industry
http://www.auda.org.au.
http://www.ausregistry.com.au
http://www.icann.org
Where to
go if there are problems
If you feel
that you have been misled contact the Office of Fair Trading
in your State or Territory or the ACCC Infocentre on 1300 302 502
