Hello all,

 	It seems there is a flaw in name checks for allocating a .au domain.

 	auda currently allows an ABN listed trading name as sufficient proof of
naming rights.

 	When registering for an ABN, trading names are NOT validated. The ATO have
no reason to, the ABN is only for tax purposes as far as they are concerned.
Ask the ATO (13 24 78) they will confirm this.

 	The Office of consumer and business affairs (08) 8204 9628 in South
Australia, requires for a trading name to be recognized it must be
registered as a business or company name. Yet the ATO will not check that a
trading name is registered.

 	So hypothetically speaking one could register an ABN with the ATO having a
trading name of Microsoft, INA, or MelbourneIT. The ATO would never validate
the trading name.

 	Then approach INA/melbourne IT and request the domain microsoft.com.au or
ina.com.au or melbourneit.com.au to be registered and it would approved
based on the information from the ABN. This was put to the ATO and a
representitive from melbourne IT - they agreed it was an absurd outcome, but
by current auda policies possible.

	A VERY similar thing is happening with a client at the moment, they own the
name by registration of company and business names, yet they have lost their
most deserving domain name due to an ABN trading name.

Thoughts people?

David Ford.