AuDA, the body which administers the .au top level Internet domain is canvassing the possibility of allowing the registration of domain names such as yourdomain.au, saying such a move would be “the most substantial change to the .au domain name space in over 30 years.”

AuDA has convened a policy review panel to make recommendations, issued a discussion paper and called for submissions.

It notes that one of the main issues is how holders of third-level domain names, such as yourdomain.com.au, should be given priority for these new domain names.

Both the UK and New Zealand have opened up their second-level domain names. In the UK, auDA says: “Competing claims were resolved in the following order of priority: (1) co.uk registrant, (2) org.uk registrant and (3) me.uk registrant ….This reflects the original policy intent that .uk is a space designed for business.

The issues paper is available at www.auda.org.au/PRP. Submissions close on Friday November 10. – Stuart Corner