Domain Names: Protecting your business name online

When you initially register your business name (or start selling a new product or service for that matter!), an important consideration is to register this name online through domain name registration (also known as an internet address). An example of a domain name registration is tppinternet.com.au.

Domain name registration enables businesses to protect their business name online, and use this domain name to configure professional email addresses and/or use as a website address.

Some people believe that by registering a business name this will enable them to have exclusive registration rights of the same name as a domain name; however the various domain name spaces operate independently from the various business registers; so they can be extremely disappointed and angry when they find out that their name has already been registered by somebody else.

Once you have registered your business name, you should consider the registration of the name as a domain name an important minimal cost investment in your intellectual property. Even if you only wish to protect the name, you can then use the domain for professional email address and/or a website address in the future.

Domain Name Space Risk and Relevance

There are over 270 different domain name spaces around the world in which you can apply for a domain name. Most countries have their own domain name spaces (for example .au for Australia) and many industries also have their own domain spaces (for example .aero for the aviation industry). Each domain name space has its own rules, regulations and requirements that registrants must meet in order to be eligible to hold the licence for a domain name.

Two important factors when registering a domain name are domain name space risk and relevance. Risk and relevance will assist to determine which domain name spaces you should register your business name in. Relevance is best answered by what geographical market/s and industries you operate in.

For example if you were a small business operating in Australia, it would not be relevant for you to register your domain name in the South African domain space (unless you planned to expand your operations in the short to medium term into South Africa!). However, it would be highly relevant for you to register your domain name within the Australian domain name space, and the global space .com as it is highly recognised around the world.

Risk refers to the various rules and regulations of a particular domain name space relevant to your business. Risk is about asking what the consequences are if a domain is not registered within a particular domain name space.

The global domain space has few rules and regulations (anyone can register any .com, .net or .org domain name they wish), and is regarded as high risk, however the .au domain space restricts the registration of .au domains to those who meet the eligibility criteria (those who have an ABN or ACN number or an Australian trademark).

Domain Name Registrars

A Domain Name Registrar is an entity that has been authorised by the regulatory body of a particular domain name space to sell domain name licences to applicants who meet the particular domain name space eligibility criteria.

It is important when registering a domain name that you use an authorised Domain Name Registrar (for example TPP Internet is an authorised Domain Name Registrar within the global name space, .au, .nz, .uk, .eu, and .sb domain name spaces), or an authorised reseller of an authorised Registrar. This protects you as a consumer, and ensures that the domain name that you register and pay for is licensed for your exclusive use for a period of time.

Should you have any further questions about domain names, and how registering one will help protect your businesses intellectual property please contact TPP Internet on 1300 665 491.