> I guess we will learn as the new policy is introduced, and adjust the policy
> as necessary.
> However in the example above, each of the domain names must be associated
> with the one business name - ie exact match, derivation, close connection
> etc.  

As I understand the application for generic domains is already based upon
the 'new policy'

Can someone please clarify the 'close connection' policy as from Chris
Disspain's remarks below in response to an earlier post it seems that anyone
can apply for a generic domain

> Business A would be able to apply under the 'substantial and close
> connection' criterion.

In response to

> Take a not so fanciful example. "accupuncture.com.au" appears on the first
> page of generic domain names to be released. Business A offers accupuncture
> services and promotes itself on the web using its trade mark "holey relief"
> (also registered as its company name), and has registered holey.com.au to
> promote its services. Business B has registered "Bob's Accupuncture" as a
> business name (before 13 August 2001) and promotes its accupuncture
> services at bobsaccupuncture.com.au. Both businesses think that a more
> memorable domain name would be accupuncture.com.au, and they also think
> that more people may guess that domain name and hence locate their
> services.
> 
> The auction system only allows Business B to seek to obtain that
> registration, even if Business A values it more highly and would be
> prepared to pay more for it. How is it that this is fair and equitable?
> What if Business B registered its business name in order to secure
> accupuncture.com.au because of its ignorance of the prohibition on generic
> domain names, but Business A did not because it "knew" that there was a
> (permanent) prohibition on such registrations?


As a web development company I take it under the 'substantial and close
connection' criterion I would be eligible to apply for the following generic
domain names as form a substantial and close connection to my business even
though I have no associated business name registered.

developer.com.au
design.com.au
designers.com.au
internets.com.au
web.com.au
web-sites.com.au

etc, etc, etc.

Is this the case? If so, does it not mean that the several thousand web
design/multi-media companies can apply for these domains. In an auction
system the obvious winners are those with the cash and not necessarily those
who represent the generic name per se, which was one of the reasons generic
names were not made available in the first place.

There seems to be some confusion here.

Katie Halson
Blue Door Multimedia
http://www.bluedoor.com.au