For those that don’t know, a domain name is a web address (for example, www(dot)yourbusinessname(dot)com(dot)au) that enables you to establish a professional online presence.
Domain names come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some have unique criteria, while others are a little more lenient. The following is a quick rundown of the most popular varieties of the .au domain names:
- COM AU is for Australian businesses, corporations, and other incorporated entities. This kind of domain is used by the majority of Australian businesses.
- NET AU is for commercial entities such as corporations and enterprises that are registered with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) (registered with state governments). Companies that focus on information technology (IT) are the most likely to utilize it.
- ORG AU is for organizations such as charities and non-profits in Australia.
Now that we’ve explained all that, how does one go about registering any kind of AU domain? The requirements for NET.AU and COM.AU are a bit more rigorous than for other domain names. Namely, in order to register a COM.AU or NET.AU domain name, the domain owner must meet the following requirements:
- The domain must be an exact match of a registered trademark or a trademark application in Australia (an International trademark that includes the Australian territory is also valid); or
- Have an ABN (Australian Business Number) or ACN (Australian Company Number). The domain must be a match of your company's name or its acronym, or a match/synonym of the product or service it offers.
If you do not meet these requirements, I suggest you file a Trademark Registration Request in Australia
If you do fulfill the above requirements, then you can purchase an AU domain from any registrar that offers them, and my recommendation is Nominus - AU Domains Nominus