New release domain names were recently released in Australia, and you need to take action to avoid threats to your business internet identity.
New domain name extensions of .au (in addition to .com.au) are now available and if you want to secure your existing domain name in the new format, you must register by 20 September 2022 or someone else could claim it.
You might have heard about a significant change to domains in Australia that has introduced .au as a new and additional domain extension. Eventually, the new .au format will replace .com.au and .org.au and edu.au and gov.au.
As the existing old-format domain name owner, you have priority. However, you must register by September 20, 2022. If you fail to claim it, someone else will be able to apply and take it which has potential to cause serious problems such as a third-party scamming you or your clients or directing legitimate enquiries away from your website to the a website set up under ‘your’ .au address.
So too, could you be held to ransom.
There are groups that watch domain expirations closely, securing those that aren’t renewed in order to force businesses to pay large amounts of money to get their website addresses back.
If your domain host service has not yet secured your .au domain or is unable to do it for you, there are accredited registrars out there that can. Visit this link.
For more information and the steps you should take, we recommend you visit this government website.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us on 03 9708 8801 or email info@rvpartners.com.au for assistance or further information and please feel free to forward this email onto other business contacts and help warn Australian domain users of the upcoming September 20, 2022 deadline.
General Advice Disclaimer: The information contained within this document is of a general nature only and neither represents nor is intended to be personal advice on any particular matter. Robinson Voss Partners (RV Partners) strongly suggests that no person should act specifically on the basis of the information in this document, but should obtain appropriate professional advice based on their own personal circumstances.
