auDA board accepts 2007 Names Policy Panel’s final report

The auDA board has accepted the final report of the 2007 Names Policy Panel, which recommends a number of changes to the .au policy framework.

The Panel reported that, overall, it believes the current .au policy rules strike an appropriate balance between allowing people to register the domain names they want whilst protecting the integrity and usability of the .au domain. However, the Panel identified some ways in which the policy rules might be clarified or enhanced to ensure they are workable and effective.

One of the most significant changes was the Panels recommendation that the Transfers (Change of Registrant) Policy be relaxed to allow a registrant to transfer their domain name licence to another eligible entity, for any reason. This will now mean that registrants of .au domain names will be able to openly trade domain names (subject to the existing eligibility requirements), a practice which has been forbidden until now.

It was also recommended that registrants should be able to license domain names for 1, 2 or 3 year periods, but that implementation be delayed until the new registry licence commences in 2010.

auDA is currently working on implementing the Panel’s recommendations in 2008, and further announcements will be made. In the meantime, all current auDA policies continue to apply.

It is likely that the changes recommended will be introduced in the first half of 2008.