Direct Registration is coming in around 4 months. This is the ability to register a domain name in a shorter version e.g. Domainer.au.
But of course, auDA (the Australian domain regulator) has created a potential minefield of complexity as to who gets entitlement or prior rights to the .au. If you are a layman, good luck on traversing the road ahead! Even some seasoned domain investors have trouble with this.
The simple fact is that there is only going to be one real group of winners out of this. And that is the “Supply” side – auDA (regulator), Afilias (registry operator), and registrars. They get to “clip the ticket” for every domain that is registered via this “articial insemination”.
But smart operators can also profit
Want to legitimately secure the first rights to an .au? Here are two possible tips:
🔸 If you know of a com.au domain that is soon to be deleted (for whatever reason), then have a look if the .net.au has already been registered. If it hasn’t, then register it – cost around $10 to $15. When a domain name gets deleted and goes on the expired auctions, whoever purchases it gets a brand new “create date”. If your registration of the .net.au was even one day earlier, you will get the rights to the .au (assuming there are no other extensions registered – like .org.au).
🔸 Similar scenario to above, but assuming the net.au is already taken. If the com.au that is expiring is a really decent name, then try and purchase the .net.au from the existing registrant. If you can get it for less than $500, that is a good wager.
🔸 In either of the above scenarios, you get first rights to the .au, and you should make money. Either from the holder of the .com.au – or from a brand new buyer. Bear in mind that the purchaser of an .au does not need an ABN or ACN – only an Australian presence.
I know of many smart domain investors who are already taking legitimate advantage of these scenarios. I have even done so myself.
Note: This is not advice – just my opinion. Please make your own enquiries.
Ned, this seems to be a very risky gamble.
I`m not sure on this either.
” If the com.au that is expiring is a really decent name, then try and purchase the .net.au from the existing registrant. If you can get it for less than $500, that is a good wager”
People may be better to stick that $500 into 50 new registrations, 50 renewals, $500 on Red or Black, $500 on Roulette or $500 in something else.
It is the .com.au that has the value and not the .net or the direct .au. This is based on facts from other countries and namespaces.
A lot of supply side market pump was done in the .UK, .HK, .SG, .NZ .MY and even FREE domains. Yes 100% Free It didnt work.
The results have been wasted money and no appetite to buy even 1 work seemingly awesome generic names often. Or a very hard time flippjng them for profit , backlink or an SEO or google search result gain. Useless in some cases.
Having been in those markets for years I dont know of anyone who made a real profit there except the Registry operators and Registrars. Domain investors have not. Many have wasted timem money and resources or got caught up in fights and legal squabbles.
Try and sell a direct .nz direct .uk direct .hk etc to anyone and you will most often be ignored completely, offered $50 or laughed at in that market. Total waste of time.
There also is a very big issue NZ has faced with Passing Off claims and some cases that found in support of the .co.nz and against the seemingly ok registrant direct .nz of generic words! Thats scary stuff. Fyi Courts overall audrp, wipo etc so this is Very important fir people to be aware of. I came across this recently myself when talking to someone about a name that was in one of these cases. They even had a website and lost shocking me.
People need to be aware it might not be a good idea to register the direct .au domain name of other existing .com.au registrants without seeking legal advice in many cases.
We have an understaning of generic words and generic domains but this direct .au verses existing .com.au will be an issue that reaches dispute and maybe court.
Its already appearing in business name registrationsm trademark applications etc.
REA Group registered Flatmates.au business name obviously thinking it might help them in some way but they do not have that domain name nor do they use that business name as it is. Again interesting. If someone else got the flatmates.au domain name when it becomes available what happens legally?
I suggest Professor lawyer John Swinson is worth paying for advice to any existing domain name registrants affected or looking to get into the market. He was chair of the defunct auDA Policy Review Panel. He has done over 570 domain name WIPO panel decisions.
https://law.uq.edu.au/profile/8002/john-swinson
Just my opinion Sean. It’s like the real estate market – in both good and bad cycles, there are people that make money.
There are many domain investors that I have spoken with who are employing these strategies.
There were nothing but heavy losses for those who speculated on the “.uk” and “.nz” releases and it will be the same for the “.au”.
Google barely recognises “.uk” and “.nz” and Google.uk and Google.nz do not even resolve or redirect!
You think the age of a domain is important? The age of an extension even more so.
.com.au and .net.au are trusted and recognisable, whereas .au will like .uk and .nz be a basket case for spammers and latecomers.
Thus I won’t be investing in any .au names myself. The best investment is not to buy a battle-ax block out the back of Bourke but rather a waterfront or main street masterpiece close to the city.
I was pleasantly surprised by the profits from buying carefully in .nz which is an even smaller market. Top domains will always be desirable. Correctly identifying them is harder in the smaller regional markets.
Cite examples and also the full number of .nz names you speculated on and number of years held
Then factor in your time eg $50/hr
Then factor in opportunity cost and what your time and money could’ve been invested in instead
Pleasantly surprise me.
Most investors do poorly with .co.nz (let alone .nz) so I am finding it hard to believe you. Please prove me wrong.
It is a bigger gamble not to invest in direct registration and take advantage of the priority application process. My prediction is that .au will have a high takeup rate as it is the first time the namespace will be available with no restrictions (except Australian presence).
It is a bigger risk for those that are buying .com.au names on the drop and then parking and listing them for sale. Why would anyone purchase the name when they can register the direct.au in 4 months time, which in itself will grow direct.au usage.
There is no going back and direct reg will happen. Everyone has to decide to invest in it or not. Does anyone remember when Bitcoin was launched, i’m sure plenty of us wish we had taken the gamble then.
Did you invest in the direct .UK or direct .NZ ?
Did you make a good profit or get better SEO, Rankings, Branding, Sales etc?
Both direct .NZ and direct .uk had no eligibility rules. That did not help their success.
.UK was even FREE for 2 years.
Both direct .uk and direct.NZ have failed.
Few if any show in Google search results
Few if any have sold for a reasonable profit.
Few if any have been built out.
Was direct .UK and direct .nz Bitcoin type profit opportunities as you say the proposed new direct .au extension is?
Look at resale values and reported sales of .co.uk verses direct .UK
Then look at actual resale values and reported sales of .co.nz verses direct .nz
Also note there is a planned ID check for direct .au now apparently auDA wants Registrar’s to verify Meaning it will require Australian passport, Australia drivers licence etc .
Good luck with that compliance requirement Registrar’s when audited or asked for it!
Can you see GoDaddy and Crazy Domains bothering to verify this new auDA required direct .au ID info from their overseas offices or systems?
If Aussies send their ID like this to offshore Registrar’s how safe is it? Where is it stored? Philippines? China?
Its not like public ABN, ACN, Trademarks info etc. This will be personal ID required. Very different.
On ya Sean
C’mon people just because you see a stall at the side of the road that says Horse Poo $2/bag doesn’t mean you need to buy some.
And if you see two people rushing to line up doesn’t mean you need to join the race.
Bitcoin was novel and has a use, which is money laundering (though its value proposition is waning due to increased exchange / miner and investor regulation eg $10k IRS reporting requirements / China ban etc).
But .au is not novel and adds no utility to the internet landscape. Just as .uk and .nz failed to add anything meaningful to the internet landscape.
PS. Bitcoin is going south of $10,000 USD in 2022 in my opinion (not advice). Major crypto crash coming I reckon. DYOR.
EVERYONE NEEDS TO READ THIS!
https://www.newsroom.co.nz/an-industry-divided-over-nz-website-abuse
The proposed direct .au is a big risk to the existing verification process that is already flawed
How will the direct .au registrants be tracked down and held to account if they are frauds, set up fake web shops etc. .. They no longer need any ABN, ACN, Trademark etc this will be a lot harder for consumers, ACCC, Police, Fair trading etc.
So I go to Gumtree.au and it’s some persons name there listed as registrant with no abn, no abn, no trademark etc. Who knows they even exist? How can I contact them if they steal my data or credit card details? When I complain to auDA and Registrar what do they do? They send me to the Police and ACCC and what do they do.. how can they track them down easily if the info is not actually provided, required or verified at the time of application, registration and renewals of a direct .au?
“Internet authority cracks down on dodgy ‘.nz’ websites after concerns”
https://www.stuff.co.nz/technology/105782111/internet-authority-cracks-down-on-dodgy-nz-websites-after-concerns
Invoicing scams. Illegal drug sales. Fraud and money laundering. Defamation and harassment. Phishing and malware hosting.
These are just some of the dodgy activities being carried out by organisations or individuals with websites ending in .nz, according to a report released Thursday.”
https://www.newsroom.co.nz/an-industry-divided-over-nz-website-abuse