.au Domain Administration Limited (the administrator of .au
domain names) is introducing a new set of rules for those who wish
to hold, or continue to hold, a .au domain name.
The new rules will come into effect on 12 April
2021.
The new rules introduce several changes to the previous
eligibility rules applying to .au domain names. One of these
changes may have implications in particular for foreign persons or
entities wishing to hold a .com.au or .net.au domain name.
Under the previous rules, a person or entity must be
"Australian" (as defined by certain criteria set out in
the rules) to be eligible to hold a .au domain name. This
requirement would be satisfied for .com.au and .net.au domain names
if the domain name was an "exact match, abbreviation or
acronym" of a registered or pending Australian trade mark held
by that person or entity.
