auDA carpets NetRegistry in domain dispute

The local .au Domain Administration (auDA), has flexed its muscles and deleted two domain names it considered in breach of its policies after local registration house, NetRegistry, refused to carry out the request.

The Australian domain name regulator took exception to the domains ws.net.au and bs.net.au telling NetRegistry that the names weren't a close and substantial match to the business of the customer who registered them, according to NetRegistry CEO, Larry Bloch.

The domains were registered to DomoWeb, a Web services business listing its skills from consultancy and planning to site management.

DomoWeb had registered ws.net.au and bs.net.au to promote Web Services and Business Systems; both listed as competencies on its website.

"The domains were applied for in good faith, and we approved them in good faith, but auDA doesn't believe the registrant will use them for what they describe," Bloch said. "auDA should either provide registrants with objective guidelines or accept the calls that registrants make."

According to Bloch, auDA's decisions on what domains were allowable were too arbitrary and a form of appeals process was necessary, even in cases which might seem clear-cut.

"Even in the cases where registrars do get it wrong, and it is clear there has been a breach, there should at least be an appeal process. The name should not be taken away until that appeal is worked through," he said.

In response, auDA CEO, Chris Disspain, issued a written statement to ARN criticising NetRegistry's actions.

"I find it extraordinary that NetRegistry would use the inability of one of its directors to understand the domain name policy in Australia as an opportunity for publicity," Disspain said.

"I don't think being cited by auDA for policy breach is anything to be proud of. NetRegistry obviously does."

The owner of DomoWeb was contacted for further comment but had not responded at press time.