Don Cameron wrote:

> Perhaps rather than offering alternatives of dubious suitability, could
> someone please explain why we could not register this domain (at the time of
> registration nobody was able to explain this to our satisfaction despite our
> advices over our ability to trade under this name).

Maybe I'm living on a different planet from other guys on the list.  It's very
simple to understand.  But you've got to get on the right wavelength.

A person by the name of Robert Elz had the rights to the .au space.  He saw
what was happening in the global Top Level Domains and was concerned that the
same thing didn't happen here.  He saw the DNS as a system which matched
domain names with IP addresses, not a speculator's paradise.

In the gTLD space, most of the names have been bought up for speculation.
Millions and millions, literally.   He had the power.   And the inclination.

The rules he devised for .com.au included:

(1)    Had to be a registered business entity.
(2)    Only one name was allowed for each.
(3)    The name had to be *derived* from the business name.
(4)    Generic and geographic names were prohibited.

Wasn't he silly? you might ask.  But it's like the gambling, the law or a game
of monopoly -- you play by the rules or you don't play.

In your case, you are asking why the name had to be derived?  You are a NFP
and you can't afford it, or whatever.  And it's not the name you want.

If the name wasn't derived, the rules would be more complicated.  My company
is "Quad Quality Addressing Pty Ltd" and I want "qantas.com".  Many of the
letters are the same.  Both start with the letter "q".   Both have got the
letter "a" at least twice.  Both have got an "t" and a "s" in the right order.
I've even got an "n" although not in the right order.

But imagine the time that Robert Elz, who was very, very busy, would have to
spend checking domain name derivations.  Would you in his place?  I'm sure
not.  In fact I'm lazy and would have made the rules much easier.  I would
have said your domain name has to be exactly the same, letter for letter.

In NSW, it costs $114 to register a business name.  It's valid for three
years.  That's less than a dollar a week.  Pretty cheap even for a NFP.  But
I'm told you can register an ABN with the Tax Office even without a Business
Name.  And that's free of charge.  So you could do either or both to satisfy
the rules.

But even easier, and cheaper, is to register a dot ORG domain.  In fact, the
last I heard it was free!!  And it's still being managed by Robert Elz so you
can ask him yourself why he set the system up in the way he did.    See what
he says.

Meanwhile the rules are under review.  I don't guarantee the changes will have
any effect on your particular inquiry.  But I can say it has been noted.

Hope that helps :).

Best regards
Patrick Corliss