On Friday, 25 January 2002 3:02 PM, Ron Stark wrote:
Subject: RE: [DNS] Geographical Names

> David, if there are "heaps of domains registered pre 1996 which are
> prohibited by the current com.au policy (and have been for over 5 years)" I
> have to ask:  If a domain name must comply with current policy at its
> renewal, how can "heaps" of domains have gone through at least two
> iterations of renewal when they don't comply?

Hi Ron

The interpretation of the rules has always been that a domain name must
comply, and must continue to comply, with the policy in force at the time
of its initial registration.

In other words, the policy has never been retrospective.

Assuming the policy was changed in 1996, any domains which were registered
prior to that date are "grandfathered" i.e. they are allowed to be renewed
even though they do not comply with the current policy.

I hope that clarifies the particular point.

Best regards
Patrick Corliss
_________________________________________________________
I'm on the Board of auDA (the .au country code) as well as TLDA (the Top
Level Domain Association).   Please note that anything I write is my own
personal opinion and does not necessarily reflect the views of any body
with which I am associated.  Please also note IANAL (I Am Not A Lawyer).