News & Insights

The release of the “.au” Australian domain names has been a long-anticipated change for businesses around the country. Back in August 2020, we discussed the release of the new Australian “.au” domain and what it means for existing and new business. Finally, the time has come and it’s out with the old “.com.au” and in with the publicly available “.au” as they begin the process of being released.

On 24 March 2022, the Australian “.au” domain registration system went live, opening a priority period of six months for select existing domain registrants. If you currently own a “.com.au”, “.net.au”, “.org.au” or similar Australian domain name, you have until 20 September 2022 to lodge a ‘priority application’, allowing you to obtain the “.au” name before anyone else.

What happens if someone else has made a claim?

You may not be the only one lodging a priority claim – if more than one person lodges a priority request (i.e. business A owns the “.com.au” and business B owns the “.net.au”) then they may have equal priority. Where there are competing claims, the priority will be decided in accordance with the “.au” rules to determine which claim will be successful. These disputes can get quite complex so we recommend consulting a domain name expert to assist with the acquisition of the “.au” domain name.

If you don’t act before 20 September 2022, then anyone is able to secure the “.au” domain provided they comply with the existing rules (the main one being it must be an Australian business).

What if I don’t make a priority claim?

If you don’t make a priority claim, you risk someone else doing so, or someone else grabbing the domain as soon as it’s become publicly available before you do. This could result in unsuspecting consumers going to your competitor’s website instead of your own.

What do I need to do to make a claim?

You can apply yourself for the domain, or if you want peace of mind, contact Macpherson Kelley’s domain name experts at ipq@mk.com.au and we’ll take care of it for you.

The information contained in this article is general in nature and cannot be relied on as legal advice nor does it create an engagement. Please contact one of our lawyers listed above for advice about your specific situation.