Websites confiscated: Businesses ‘losing everything’ as regulator cracks down on prohibited domains

In 1996, when the internet and websites were still in their relative infancy, digital marketer Craig Lennard purchased the australia.net.au domain for a nominal sum.

The small business owner, who has over the years used the website for business and other purposes, including the curation of general information about Australia, was paying about $40 a year for the website through retailer Crazy Domains.

But that all ended late last month when he was informed, after 22 years, that australia.net.au was a prohibited domain under Australian law and he could not renew the website as usual.

“I was sent a notice saying there had been changes with the policy,” Lennard tells SmartCompany.

“I tried to renew the website anyway, but was told I couldn’t.”

Having operated his businesses through the australia.net.au domain for several decades, Lennard says he was astonished by the decision, which has seen him lose everything related to the domain without compensation.

“I spent three weeks having to change my entire life with new email addresses everywhere … I’ve lost credibility in the business marketplace with the things I’ve been doing,” he says. Read more

Matthew Elmas and Dominic Powell - SmartCompany - 22 Nov 2018