auDA plans to grandfather existing .com.au and .net.au registrants – Domain Name Wire | Domain Name News

Move could save millions of domain registrations from the chopping block.

auDA, the organization that manages Australia’s .au country code domain, plans to give a reprieve to existing .com.au and .net.au domain name registrants.

Last month, auDA’s board approved changes that would severely limit who could register these domains.

It removed a “close and substantial connection” test for registering domains.

Under the new rules, for example, a company named Jane’s Bakery that sells pies couldn’t use applepies .com.au.

Erhan Karabardak, a former auDA board member and IP attorney, was on the panel that made this rule change recommendation, but voted against it. He explained what was at stake on DNW Podcast #603.

auDA faced lots of pushback, including from registrars that register .com.au and .net.au domain names.

This week, auDA announced that it plans to grandfather existing registrants, subject to board approval.

The updated rules would still apply to new registrations, however, which would severely stunt the extension’s growth.

auDA also offers second level .au registrations, which are not impacted by the rule change.