Background
When direct .au domain names launched in 2022, they offered a shorter, simpler option for Australian websites. Existing holders of domains like .com.au or .net.au were given priority to claim their matching .auequivalent. But a unique situation arose when multiple parties had a legitimate claim to the same name—for example, if one person owned yourbrand.com.au and another owned yourbrand.net.au.
This created “contention sets,” where the desirable .au domain was put on hold until a single eligible owner could be determined. Years later, this process is still quietly ticking along.
Where Things Stand in Mid-2025
The number of contended names has been steadily shrinking. According to the latest data from .au Domain Administration (auDA), only 3,588 names remained in contention as of July 9, 2025.
This is a significant reduction from the more than 6,000 contested names at the start of 2023. The chart below shows a clear downward trend, with several sharp drops as large batches of disputes are resolved. This careful, methodical process ensures that the allocation is handled fairly, even if it takes time.
The Critical Role of Compliance Audits
So, how are these disputes being resolved? auDA has recently started compliance auditing. auDA is actively reviewing the eligibility of every applicant in a contention set to ensure they still meet the requirements to hold a .au domain.
Recent compliance data for these contended names reveals how effective this process is:
- 250 compliance cases have been created.
- 212 of those cases have been closed.
- Approximately 40 domains have been suspended or deleted as a result.
The reasons behind these compliance checks are even more revealing. The top three areas for a review are:
- Eligibility Query (98 cases): A general check to confirm the applicant still has a valid connection to Australia.
- Cancelled ABN (89 cases): The Australian Business Number linked to the application is no longer active.
- De-registered ACN (55 cases): The Australian Company Number linked to the application has been de-registered.
Together, lapsed business / company / ABN registrations account for a massive 144 cases. This is a simple, non-negotiable factor: if the entity that applied for the domain no longer exists, its claim becomes void. This automatically removes them from the contention set, bringing the dispute one step closer to resolution.
What This Means for Domain Holders
If you are one of the applicants for a contended name, be patient and diligent. The process is moving forward, and it now appears to be driven by enforcement the rules via compliance audits. This is also a powerful reminder for all .au domain holders to ensure their registration details and eligibility basis (like an ABN) are kept up-to-date.
For everyone else, this ongoing process could eventually mean that some short, memorable, and valuable .au domain names become available for the first time if all contenders in a set are found ineligible.
The resolution of these legacy contention sets is a marathon, not a sprint, although some have expressed frustration at the large number of contended domain names remaining. auDA’s compliance activities may end up reducing the contended domains over the coming years.
Leave a Reply