| div align="center"> | | | | domain name: |
| What is a domain name? | | | | ⢠is not the same as a registered business |
| A domain name is the unique address that identifies | | | | name in your state or territory (check with consumer |
| the location of a website on the internet. As you will | | | | affairs in your state or search the National Names |
| have noticed, domain names can have a variety of | | | | Register Index at and |
| different endings which can refer to different types | | | | ⢠is not the same as a registered company |
| of organisations - such as, .net.au, .edu.au, or .org.au, | | | | name (again, you can check the National Names |
| or to different registration localities, such as, .com.au | | | | Index). |
| (Australia) or .co.uk (United Kingdom). | | | | The reason for this is that if you conduct a business |
| There are specific rules of registration for each type | | | | through your website then the law in your state or |
| of domain name ending. If these rules are satisfied, | | | | territory will require you to register the relevant |
| then domain names are allocated on a first come, | | | | business name â registering a domain name |
| first served basis. | | | | will not exempt you from this requirement. Also, |
| The holder of a licence to use a domain name is | | | | these checks will alert you to whether any other |
| known as a registrant. The seller of a domain name | | | | business is already trading under a business name |
| licence is known as a registrar. | | | | similar to your proposed domain name. |
| While registrars can issue domain name licences, the | | | | Trade marks and common law marks |
| cost of registration charged by each registrar varies | | | | Third, be careful that the proposed domain name |
| depending on the type of domain name being issued | | | | does not infringe an existing trade mark in Australia, |
| and the length of its registration period. | | | | or in overseas markets if you intend to trade |
| Domain names and trade marks â the | | | | overseas. You can check the Australian trade mark |
| domain gives little protection | | | | register, ATMOSS, by viewing IP Australia's website |
| No-one has an automatic right to a domain name. It is | | | | at However, you need to be aware that not all |
| important to realise that there are different systems | | | | common law marks are registered as trade marks. If |
| for registering domain names and trade marks. | | | | you register a domain name that is similar to a |
| The rights arising from registering a domain name are | | | | common law mark, then the owner of that common |
| far more limited than those arising from registering a | | | | law mark may be able to stop you from using that |
| trade mark. A domain name registration is a licence | | | | domain name if it successfully establishes that your |
| that entitles you to have the exclusive right to use | | | | domain name passes off its common law mark. |
| the domain name for the duration of the licence | | | | The ending |
| period. However, you cannot rely on domain name | | | | Finally, consider which form of domain name ending is |
| registration to stop another business from using the | | | | best suited for your business. For instance, if your |
| same or a similar name, or from registering a similar | | | | business trades only in Australia, it may be preferable |
| domain name. | | | | to register a .com.au domain name. But if you trade |
| In contrast, a registered trade mark is personal | | | | internationally, then it may be appropriate to consider |
| property and the registered owner has the exclusive | | | | registering a .com domain name. Ultimately, the choice |
| right: | | | | of domain name ending will depend on your particular |
| ⢠to use the trade mark in relation to the | | | | business and marketing needs. |
| goods and services to which relates, and | | | | Cleardocs is an Australian provider of legal documents |
| ⢠to prevent other traders from using trade | | | | for SMSF creation, company registration, family trust |
| marks that are identical with or deceptively similar to | | | | deeds and more. Cleardocs provide an automated |
| the registered trade mark. | | | | online document creation process which is completely |
| Consequently, if you use a domain name that is | | | | online and easy to use with documents ready within |
| identical with or similar to another person's registered | | | | minutes. |
| trade mark, then you risk infringing the trade mark | | | | Report this article |
| â particularly if the domain name relates to | | | | This article is free for republishing |
| the same or similar goods or services. | | | | Source: |
| Choosing your domain name | | | | Republish this article |
| There are four steps you should consider as part of | | | | |
| the process of registering your domain name. | | | | Ask a Question About this Article |
| Availability of the domain name | | | | >> How do I go about purchasing my own |
| First, check the status of an existing domain name to | | | | web page domain and hosting? |
| find out whether you can register it. Registered | | | | >> Do you think a puppy can help pick its own |
| business or company names | | | | name? I ... |
| Second, you should also check that the proposed | | | | |