From: Steven Baxt 
Sent: Tuesday, 28 March 2006 1:59 PM
To: jo.lim@auda.org.au
Subject: Comments - Domain Monetisation Issue

.au domain monetisation should continue to fall under the existing "close and substantial" 
rule because domain monetisation benefits the Australian public, Australian businesses, 
the Australian Internet industry and the Australian namespace.

The Australian public benefits from domain monetisation because if by chance they land at 
a domain name containing sponsored links and a search field they will certainly find 
businesses offering exactly what they're looking for, bidding against each other for their 
business.

Domain monetisation encourages competition. Competition leads to innovation thus improving 
Australia's economy.
 
Traditionally a single business is visible on a domain name such that only their products 
and services are advertised there. Domain monetisation opens up domain names benefiting all 
businesses as it offers them another playing field as they can compete side-by-side offering 
their respective products and services to the public.

Domain monetisation enables multiple businesses to share the targeted leads a single domain 
can offer.

The Australian Internet industry benefits because many businesses play a role in domain 
monetisation. From graphic designers and programmers who develop the domain landing pages to 
Australian registrars and auDA who both receive revenue per registration. Australian hosting 
companies benefit from the need of domainers to host their domain names. Australian registrars 
further benefit from revenue of additional services purchased by domainers such as URL forwarding. 
Parking providers benefit as they retain a revenue percentage. Yahoo, Google and the Australian 
Internet industry benefits as they get more business.

The Australian namespace clearly benefits from domain monetisation as it adds value to it and 
convenience to the public. It connects the Australian public to the products and services they 
are looking for, instead of seeing a 404 error which does not benefit the namespace or any 
business.

If a trade mark holder's rights are being infringed upon extensive legislation already exists 
for them to enforce their rights. It is to no ones disadvantage to continue to allow domain 
monetisation to fall under the existing "close and substantial" rule.

Disallowing the contributions the Australian namespace and Australian domainers offer to the 
Australian Internet industry by way of domain monetisation would be a huge disservice to the 
Australian public, Australian businesses, the Australian Internet industry and the Australian 
namespace.