From: Leo 
Sent: Friday, 30 July 2004 2:36 PM
To: jo.lim@auda.org.au
Subject: registration of geographic names

GEOGRAPHIC PLACE NAMES AS DOMAIN NAMES

I would like to enter my comments into your debate and review concerning 
the registration of geographic place names.

I appreciate that the unrestricted use of "place" names could be misused 
and exploited in some cases. However there are many legitimate reasons for 
the use of such domain identities, providing that there remains some form 
of control to limit these uses to being only for the benefit of the 
locality or place so named. 

For example, a website which is used to engender the increase in tourism 
should be allowed whereas a website which is to be used by a resident for 
solely personal advantage (or even a "home page" should not be considered. 
Simple residency, or business locality, should not be a suitable qualification. 
Sites which are owned by local groups, (whether they be official "council" 
ones or not) should be given the opportunity to use the name of their locality. 
Sites which promote the locality, or sites which can be seen to be of some 
benefit to that locality should be allowed; whilst sites which have a purely 
commercial purpose should not be allowed. 

This approach will require that auda do maintain a control of these domain 
names, but not solely to prevent their use. Auda's role should be more to vet 
applications and to judge applications on their individual merits. Should such 
applications meet with some form of criteria as I have outlined above, then 
the application should be allowed. 

A registry of applications should be maintained so that :-

a) Potentaial users of these names can apply and be listed. Then, on a "first 
come first allowed" basis the names can be allocated should they be released. 
b) Users who successfully aquire these names cannot sell them on without the 
approval of, and re-registration with, auda.

Leo Buckley 
GEMBROOK Vic 3783