The Elephant In The Room

[Scott.L]

My view is that removing the ABN requirement is a backward move.
The value of our name space is holding high across the world, as Australia currently holds the highest ccTLD domain name sale for this year, and I am about to release the second highest sale in the next few days.
The UBU problem is the core issue here. It has clearly become out of control for a long time now. It has the potential of not only greatly watering down value of individual names and the market in general, but the trust of the ccTLD in general.
auDA need to quickly and thoroughly address this issue and implement new policy and complaint rules. How many times do we have to say this?

100% - The ABN restriction adds value, its a sovereign system for the benefit of ALL Australians. Open it up and you'll be left with madness.

These minutes are obviously meaningless;

Board Meeting 24th July 2017

4. Matters for Noting

a. Actions Arising
The Board noted the actions arising.

b. CEO Report
The Board noted the CEO report.

c. Finance Report
The CFO presented the June 2017 financial report to the Board.
The Board noted the Finance report.


.

 

[snoopy]

100% - The ABN restriction adds value, its a sovereign system for the benefit of ALL Australians. Open it up and you'll be left with madness.

I don't think it benefits ALL Australians because the average person starting a site from their bedroom can't register one. AUDA's proposed solution was .id.au and bringing in that instead of fixing the problem with .com.au was the point of madness in my view.

 

[neddy]

I have had the benefit of being on the 2015 Names Policy Panel. Even though I was part of the Minority Report (dissented to direct registrations), there was one thing that the majority of members agreed on. And that was the need for Australian citizens or residents to be able to register any domain extension they wanted to (subject to warranty requirements).

As I write on Domainer today, that could be an almost instant growth spurt for the .au space. Who needs another extension? Just cut the red tape for many disenfranchised Australians.

 

[Scott.L]

I don't think it benefits ALL Australians because the average person starting a site from their bedroom can't register one. AUDA's proposed solution was .id.au and bringing in that instead of fixing the problem with .com.au was the point of madness in my view.

Its a system of commerce; think of these restrictions as a type of proxy to stop 'kids' from entering into a commercial contract. If your old enough to get an ABN then your old enough to take some responsibility for that business. the .id.au declined due to social media (facebook/Twitter)

its irresponsible to open .com.au to everyone for the sake of increasing growth creates, and your not going to increase the value of domains just because you got more people with the potential to buy it. So restricting it adds consumer safeguards and value benefits for ALL.

 

[neddy]

@Scott.L

But what if you’re not a business?

Or if you’re one of many thousands of Australian sole traders that have hobby businesses way under reporting thresholds? Like the example in this article in the SMH.

These were things considered on the Names Panel. auDA is a not-for-profit membership organisation that promotes and protects the .au domain space for all Australians.

Provided there are safeguards in place (warranty system), I don't see a problem with allowing Australian citizens or residents to register a domain without an ABN.

Let's not forget this - if direct registrations do come in, this will probably come to pass as per the NP recommendations. So why not do it now?

 

[robert]

I fully believe we need .AU Direct Registrations. Everyone I am talking to from small Australian businesses to staff members from large corporations at my children's friend's birthday parties, to overseas domainers and domain brokers agrees that eventually Direct .AU will be amazing.
Removing the ABN restriction is madness in my mind, as has been previously explained above by Scott L and myself.
I think the main point everyone can agree upon, is we need to finalise the rules and get them right THE FIRST TIME.
This transition process is excruciating... and it hasn't even started yet!!

 

[robert]

I made that post before yours, Ned, but for some reason it has shown up after...
If you're not a business, there's always .id.au for you
or a Facebook Page.
I own dozens of .id.au's - I think they're great for hobby-related websites that don't earn any money.
Now I just need to find the time to develop some of my hobby-related .id.au's . . .

 

[snoopy]

Its a system of commerce; think of these restrictions as a type of proxy to stop 'kids' from entering into a commercial contract. If your old enough to get an ABN then your old enough to take some responsibility for that business. the .id.au declined due to social media (facebook/Twitter)

its irresponsible to open .com.au to everyone for the sake of increasing growth creates, and your not going to increase the value of domains just because you got more people with the potential to buy it. So restricting it adds consumer safeguards and value benefits for ALL.

Lots people under 18 create startups, have jobs and enter into contracts. Why stop them starting a .com.au website? If they can't get one easily they'll go straight to .com and that is probably where they will stay.

 

[Scott.L]

@Scott.L

But what if you’re not a business?

Or if you’re one of many thousands of Australian sole traders that have hobby businesses way under reporting thresholds? Like the example in this article in the SMH.

These were things considered on the Names Panel. auDA is a not-for-profit membership organisation that promotes and protects the .au domain space for all Australians.

Provided there are safeguards in place (warranty system), I don't see a problem with allowing Australian citizens or residents to register a domain without an ABN.

Let's not forget this - if direct registrations do come in, this will probably come to pass as per the NP recommendations. So why not do it now?

Just to clarify, the restriction is a mechanism to verify age, I agree that .au can be opened up (made more inclusive) but only on the provision of a suitable age (18 years old) + identity (citizen/resident). and again, its the question of how can that be monitored? Simple, auDA issue a registrant ID number.

 

[Scott.L]

Lots people under 18 create startups, have jobs and enter into contracts. Why stop them starting a .com.au website? If they can't get one easily they'll go straight to .com and that is probably where they will stay.

You do agree that certain contractual limits apply for people under 18 - so, if it were available to people under 18 then certain "restrictions" would need to be applied. i.e non-commercial (limited to information content) etc..

 

[snoopy]

You do agree that certain contractual limits apply for people under 18 - so, if it were available to people under 18 then certain "restrictions" would need to be applied. i.e non-commercial (limited to information content) etc..

Why would any "restrictions" need to apply?

If you've got an entrepreneurial spirit, but you're a little younger than the typical age of a business owner, don't worry - you can still start a business as a minor with some proper planning and information!

https://www.business.gov.au/info/pl...usiness/starting-a-business-as-a-young-person

 

[eBranding.com.au]

Age restrictions for .au registrations is getting silly imo. It makes no sense to me unless it's a nTLD like .xxx or .porn, that I could understand.

As pointed out by Snoopy, you can already start a business and apply for an ABN regardless of your age. So the existing .au policies place no limitations on registrant age. Adding such a restriction would be crazy imho.

 

[neddy]

Age restrictions for .au registrations is getting silly imo.

When you hit 65, you can longer register .au domains. Authorities deem you may no longer be mentally capable. Sorry.

 

[Scott.L]

Why would any "restrictions" need to apply?
https://www.business.gov.au/info/pl...usiness/starting-a-business-as-a-young-person

You need to be at least 18 years of age to be a director of a company.

Sole trader -
You'll also need a TFN to do business. You can apply for a TFN at any age, however if you are:

• 12 years old or younger - your parent or guardian must sign on your behalf
• between 13 and 15 years old - either you or your parent/guardian can sign the form
• 16 years old or older - you must sign the form yourself.

I doubt the child can open a bank account without mum and dad or enter into contract with a supplier - and who gets sued for any liability or infringement the child may orchestrate (unwittingly / or knowingly) so many limitations, besides nothing stops a kid from building websites today with the help of mum and dad as the trustee.

 

[Scott.L]

Age restrictions for .au registrations is getting silly imo. It makes no sense to me unless it's a nTLD like .xxx or .porn, that I could understand. As pointed out by Snoopy, you can already start a business and apply for an ABN regardless of your age. So the existing .au policies place no limitations on registrant age. Adding such a restriction would be crazy imho.

well that is not entirely correct, age restrictions do apply and the point I'm making is being hijacked, the ABN rule acts like a proxy for registration which imposes an age restriction - in the event the ABN policy were removed then I would prefer an age barrier for registration of a domain name, after all, what 15, 16, 17 year old has his own credit card and with most banks if you're aged 16 or 17, your parent or guardian needs to be a joint account holder to apply for a visa debit card. So who is going to register the domain name? the Parents.

 

[snoopy]

Everyone I am talking to from small Australian businesses to staff members from large corporations at my children's friend's birthday parties, to overseas domainers and domain brokers agrees that eventually Direct .AU will be amazing.

You do realize that you can make just about any statement to anyone and most of the time they will nod their head and agree?

 

[snoopy]

I own dozens of .id.au's - I think they're great for hobby-related websites that don't earn any money.
Now I just need to find the time to develop some of my hobby-related .id.au's . . .

Has someone from 1 Collins St hacked this account?

 

[DomainNames]

100% - The ABN restriction adds value, its a sovereign system for the benefit of ALL Australians. Open it up and you'll be left with madness.

These minutes are obviously meaningless;

Board Meeting 24th July 2017

4. Matters for Noting

a. Actions Arising
The Board noted the actions arising.
b. CEO Report
The Board noted the CEO report.
c. Finance Report
The CFO presented the June 2017 financial report to the Board.
The Board noted the Finance report.
.

..Keep digging that hole auDA and Directors!