# checkyourname.com.au

> Plain-English guide to auDA's change to the .com.au and .net.au allocation rules, and how Australian businesses can check who their domain name is registered to. Run by Digital Rose (https://digitalrose.com.au). Independent of auDA. Current as at 12 October 2026.

## Key facts

- auDA (.au Domain Administration) is changing the rules for holding a .com.au or .net.au domain name.
- An independent Policy Advisory Panel's .au Licensing Rules Review recommended (Recommendation 2) deleting clause 2.4.4(2)(f) of the .au Licensing Rules. That clause currently lets a registrant hold a com.au or net.au domain because it matches the name of a service, goods, event, activity or premises they're connected to.
- auDA's Board approved the Panel's recommendations in principle in August 2026 and directed auDA to prepare an implementation plan.
- The rules are not final and not yet in force. auDA will publish draft rules for public consultation (aiming to start by late October 2026) before its Board approves the final rules. Timeframes and transition arrangements have not been finalised.
- Once the change applies, a .com.au or .net.au domain will need to match the registrant's legal name, registered business name or Australian trade mark. It doesn't need to be an exact match: some or all of the words is enough.
- The change affects .com.au and .net.au only. .au direct, .org.au, .asn.au and .id.au are not affected by Recommendation 2.

## Example

- Today: ACME Pty Ltd can hold domainname.com.au if it sells a product or service called "Domain Name", even without a matching business name.
- Once the new rules apply: ACME Pty Ltd will need a registered business name or trade mark like "Domain Name" to keep domainname.com.au.

## How to check a domain

1. Look up the domain on auDA's free WHOIS tool: https://whois.auda.org.au/
2. Find the Registrant and Eligibility Name, and their ABN or ACN. That's who auDA treats as the owner.
3. Check the domain uses some or all of the words in that company name, business name or trade mark.

## Our view

Digital Rose expects a rush to register business names once the rules are confirmed. Business names are first come, first served, so a competitor could register the business name matching another business's domain. Businesses whose domain doesn't match a name they own may choose to register a matching business name with ASIC now.

## Links

- Page: https://checkyourname.com.au/
- auDA update (25 Sept 2026): https://www.auda.org.au/news-insights/blog/au-licensing-rules-review-recommendations-status-and-next-steps/
- .au Licensing Rules Review: https://www.auda.org.au/public-impact/have-your-say/policy-panels/au-licensing-rules-review-2025/
- auDA WHOIS: https://whois.auda.org.au/
- Register a business name (ASIC): https://www.asic.gov.au/for-business-and-companies/business-names/register-a-business-name
- Contact Digital Rose: https://digitalrose.com.au/contact-us/

This is general information, not legal advice.