Registration Disputes

The domain has already been registered by somebody else

Domain names are registered on a first-come, first-served basis. That is, as long as the registrant of the domain is eligible to hold the licence (if they meet all the requirements), then they can keep that name.

You can attempt to contact the owner of the domain name licence, enquiring whether they wish to transfer it to you, but they are not under any obligation to do so.

Please note, the sale of .au domain names between parties is prohibited and any person found to be selling a .au domain name will have their domain licence revoked by auDA. All other domain names can be freely sold between parties.

Please contact Netregistry at domains@netregistry.com.au for further information with regards to this topic.

A domain, for which I hold a trademark, has been registered by somebody else

.au Domains
You have the option of pursuing the auDRP (.au Dispute Resolution Process) for the domain in question. For further information, please click here.

.com/net/org/info/biz Domains
You have the option of pursuing the UDRP (Uniform Dispute Resolution Process) for the domain name. For further information, please click here.

Other Domains
Please contact Netregistry at domains@netregistry.com.au for further information with regards to other types of domain names.

Registrant eligibility for .au domain names

Complaints about registrant eligibility are handled by auDA according to the Complaints (Registrant Eligibility) Policy. To view this policy, click here.

You will need to contact the registrar that the domain is registered through (such as Netregistry). The registrar will then verify the registration information to check whether the domain registrant is eligible for the domain, and will follow up with you. If the registrant is eligible for the domain name then no further action will be taken. If the registrant is not eligible for the domain, the registrar will need to work with the registrant to update their eligibility details, failing this, the domain registration will be cancelled.

More information regarding how .au domain names are governed

auDA is the body responsible for the administration of .au domain names. You can visit their website at auDA.

More information regarding how gTLD domain names are governed

ICANN is the body responsible for the administration of gTLD (generic top level domain names). You can visit their website at ICANN.