Forwarding a message from Robert Nagy:
> Even if it is an obviously copyrighted or trademarked name?
> like hyundai.com.au  or  samsung.com.au ?
> 
> Surely only the legitimate owners have access to those names.

The question can't be answered in terms of rights, only in terms of
policy. If we assume for the sake of argument that the Hyundai motor car
company has a right to "hyundai.com.au" then we'd have to conclude that it
has a right to "hyundai.net.au", "hyundai.edu.au", "hyundai.zeta.org.au"
and indeed every domain name containing the word "hyundai". This is the
assertion that the DNS in its entirety is subject to the law of trademarks.

My personal belief is that the conclusion is ludicrous, so I call the
assumption and assertion into question.

On the other hand, a registry (like COM.AU) can easily mandate that listings
must concur with prior registered trademarks. That's simply the policy of
the registry and anybody who doesn't like that can apply for listing to a
registry which applies a different policy (for a different domain, of course).

Nick.
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