From: Peter Smith 
Sent: Friday, 30 July 2004 3:59 PM
To: jo.lim@auda.org.au
Subject: Review of auDA policy on geographic names

Hi Jo,

I support the current policy of auDA to restrict the free use of geographic 
names for use in .com.au and .net.au. It would be better if someone could 
use the geographic names to get to a Web address of a community of the same 
name, rather than letting the name be used for commercial purposes of some 
individual or business. A geographic place name is where people live, and I 
think it would be a mistake to prevent it being used by the people of a 
community from promoting their geographic area.

Also, being a member of the committee that has been organising the Bathurst 
area domain name, I'm surprised that auDA is even thinking about changing 
this policy. After the work we've put in, it seems like a slap in the face, 
and I'd have thought that auDA would have been more sensitive to these issues.

Please do not prevent people of geographic place names from using their town's 
name for the promotion of their communities.

Thanks,
Peter Smith,
Bathurst.