On 12 April 2021 a new set of rules for the .au country code Top Level Domain (ccTLD) - the .au Domain Administration (auDA) Rules - took effect.
The new rules contain a range of changes that will affect the monetisation of .au domain names.
‘Domain monetisation’ broadly refers to the practice of registering a domain name licence to generate revenue from advertising on a website associated with the domain name.
Domain monetisation is allowed in the com.au and net.au namespaces within the .au country code Top Level Domain (ccTLD), but must be undertaken in accordance with the rules.
When the new rules will apply
Domain names created, transferred or renewed on after 10:00 AEST 12 April 2021 are subject to the auDA Rules.
If the current licence period for your .au domain name began before 10:00 AEST 12 April 2021, the legacy published policies in place at the start of your current licence period apply. If you renew your .au name the auDA Rules will apply.
Find out which rules apply to your .au domain name.
Monetisation under the auDA Rules
Domain monetisation is still only allowed in the com.au and net.au namespaces.
To register a name for monetisation, registrants simply need to meet the eligibility and allocation requirements for the com.au or net.au name they wish to register or renew.
Under the legacy published policies there was an exception which allowed com.au/net.au domain names to be registered for the purpose of monetisation, provided the name wasn’t a name/brand/entity that already existed, and resolved to a website that met specific content requirements.
This exception has now been removed. As long the eligibility and allocation rules are met, registrants can monetise a domain name, or transfer a com.au/net.au domain name licence to another eligible registrant.
You can register com.au/net.au domain names licenses for the purpose of transferring them to another registrant
Under the auDA Rules a registrant who meets the eligibility and allocation criteria can register a com.au or net.au domain name licence for the sole purpose of transferring it to another registrant who also meets the eligibility criteria. This was prohibited under the legacy published policies.
Leasing or sub-licensing of .au domain names is prohibited under the auDA Rules.
What to do if these changes affect you
The changes to the rules may impact domain name investors who do not meet the new allocation criteria for com.au or net.au domain name licences they hold.
To ensure you remain eligible to hold your domain name you may need to update the basis on which your name meets the allocation criteria.
While you will need to assess what is best for your own circumstances, you may wish to register a matching business name to ensure you meet the allocation criteria.
Domain name investors should review the allocation criteria set out in clause 2.4.4 of the new licensing rules.
If you wish to rely on your domain name being a match or synonym of the name of a service you provide, you will need to be able to describe the service that you provide, supply the name of that service, and demonstrate that you provide the service under that name.
