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Have you ever been gazumped in registering a domain name?

Domain names are a fantastic means for customers and potential customers to locate a business. However, often a domain name is not available because someone else has registered it; often with a speculative (or dishonest) aim of making a profit by later selling the domain name to a business owner who is keen to have that name as it is logically or commercially associated with their business.

Under current rules, applicants for domain names need to demonstrate a legitimate interest or association in the domain name; such as being the owner of a proprietary limited company, a registered business or business name, a trademark or some other connection between the domain name being applied for and the business which will use this name. However, even though these rules exist, we all know of or have heard of names that have been snavelled up by someone who does not have a legitimate reason to have it registered in their name.

The Australian Domain Name Administrator (auDA) has placed restrictions on domain name transfers, in order to reduce the occurrence of domain name trafficking. But now, from 1 July 2008, auDA has introduced further steps by to restrict these domain name transfers by introducing a number of new policies, which include:

• Domain names cannot be registered for the sole purpose of resale.
• Domain names cannot be transferred within 6 months of registration.
• Standard domain name transfer forms to be introduced, to improve the administration of the transfer process.
• Parties involved in a domain name transfer are asked to disclose the sale method and price to auDA, with this information (unidentified) published so as to provide prospective buyers and sellers a better understanding of market prices for Australian domain names.

These measures are positive steps to restrict exploitation and inappropriate registering of domain names, which often prevent and disappoint legitimate business owners from being able to use a domain name that would and should be logically associated with their business name.

Espreon offers a domain name registration service for two years at the low price of $66 (including GST).

Call Espreon Today.