Website domain name licensing rules updated to include Indigenous corporations
Posted: April 7th, 2021
The .au Domain Administation (auDA) has updated the eligibility criteria for registering org.au website domains, for the first time specifying Indigenous corporations under the Corporations (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander) Act 2006 (Cth) (CATSI Act) on their list of eligible organisation categories.
Prior to the updated org.au licensing rules, which come into effect from 12 April 2021, Indigenous corporations under the CATSI Act were able to register for org.au websites, but were not yet specified as an eligible organisation category. The updated rules mean the org.au registration process for Indigenous corporations, including Prescribed Bodies Corporate (PBCs) and Registered Native Title Bodies Corporate (RNTBCs), is now clearer.
The updated definitions include the following new additions to the list of eligible organisation categories:
- Indigenous corporations
- Co-operatives
- Registered state and territory political parties; and
- Government, being either the Crown or a Commonwealth, State or Territory statutory agency.
In addition to specifying Indigenous corporations as eligible, the new licensing rules now exclude unincorporated associations from registering for org.au website domains – unless the association is registered with the Australian Charities and Not for Profit Commission’s (ACNC) Register of Charities.
By tightening the eligibility for org.au domain registration, auDA hope to improve the integrity of the org.au and overall .au ccTLD space, and continue building trust and confidence in .au namespaces.
To read more about the changes and see the full list of eligible organisation categories, visit the auDA website here:
https://www.auda.org.au/au-domain-names/new-au-licensing-rules/orgau-rule-changes
View the full .au Domain Registration Rules – Licensing document here:
https://www.auda.org.au/policy/au-domain-administration-rules-licensing