From:	Oliver Gilmartin 
Sent:	Friday, 29 May 2015 9:52 AM
To:	jo.lim@auda.org.au
Subject:	Direct Registrations under .au

Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to present my opinion on the possible release of 
direct registrations under .au. As an Australian small business owner I appreciate the chance to 
be able to express my thoughts. 
 
The case for the release of .au: 
As a small population on a global stage, we as Australians need to keep up with the rest of the 
world.  
 
The Internet has connected the citizens of earth, and as a global brand, .com.au has fallen behind 
in brandability to that audience. 
 
Every major nation with a large internet population has the ability to register their 
company names on the second level of their country code, not third. This has become the norm, 
from .uk, to .nz to the USA's public release of their .us extension. 
 
It is vitally important that Australian businesses give the worlds consuming population the 
easiest path to find their websites. Australians may be conditioned to type .com.au into their 
browser, but would a Canadian who types .ca all day think they would need a .com in front of a 
.au? 
 
 
The argument against: 
I expect the greatest contention will come from the cost of registering an additional domain. My 
belief as a business owner is that if you can not afford to register an additional domain at a cost 
of about $12 Per Annum (25 cents per week) that has a clearer, easier, more marketable global 
presence with a greater user experience, then that business has greater problems than the 
additional domain name. 
 
Rollout: 
As with the United Kingdom and New Zealand's recent direct registration release, there should 
be a roll out where the top level domain holders have a grace period to register their .com.au 
domain under .au. Anything other than this would be a recipe for disaster. 
 
By releasing the direct registration .au domains as a free for all would cause endless litigation 
from current .com.au holders over brand confusion and possible trademark infringements. 
 
By releasing the domains via an auction system or landrush period would scream money grab 
and I believe would cause a great deal of resentment and backlash from current .com.au domain 
holders towards auDA. 
 
If the motivation behind the .au release is to put Australia on a global stage with our internet 
presence, then giving the .com.au holder the first chance to register the .au is the only fair and 
equitable way. 
 
Conclusion: 
It is in my opinion as an Australian business owner, that the release of direct registrations under 
.au should go ahead, and be made available to registrants of the existing .com.au for a set period 
of time. 
 
Oliver Gilmartin 
Dent Evolution 
www.dentevolution.com.au

-- 
With Thanks,
Oliver Gilmartin
Director