[LINK] Bottle Domain Challenge to AuDA; Origins of AuDA

[Roger Clarke]

[Brief comments at end]

>Date: Mon, 20 Apr 2009 08:42:55 +1000
>To: privacy at lists.efa.org.au
>From: Jan Whitaker <jwhit at janwhitaker.com>
>
>Bolton takes on internet controller
>http://business.theage.com.au/business/bolton-takes-on-internet-controller-20090419-abg4.html
>Mark Hawthorne
>April 20, 2009
>
>FIRST Nicholas Bolton threatened to bring BrisConnections, builder 
>of the nation's biggest infrastructure project, to its knees. Now 
>the 27-year-old has embarked on a legal fight that could destroy the 
>governing body that controls the ownership and registration of 
>internet domain names in Australia.
>
>Last week the Australian Domain Name Administrator (auDA) terminated 
>the accreditation of Mr Bolton's company Bottle Domains, "due to a 
>serious breach of its obligations under the registrar agreement".
>
>In January this year the personal account details, including credit 
>card numbers of up to 60,000 Bottle Domain customers, were posted 
>for sale at an online forum by a computer hacker. That security 
>breach is being investigated by Australian Federal Police, who have 
>charged a 22-year-old Perth man with theft and dishonestly dealing 
>in personal financial information.
>
>The auDA was formed in 1999 by former communications minister 
>Richard Alston, and controls the registration of every website with 
>a domain name that ends with ".au".
>
>It's chief executive, Chris Disspain, described the theft from Mr 
>Bolton's Bottle Domains as a "very serious breach of its duty".
>
>"Given the seriousness of the matter, it is appropriate that auDA 
>terminate Bottle Domains' registrar accreditation," he said.
>
>Mr Bolton has since won an injunction in the Supreme Court and 
>Bottle Domains has been reinstated as a domain name registrar.
>
>On Wednesday, he will begin legal proceedings against auDA over that 
>suspension.
>[snip]


[(1)  AuDa is a vital part of the system, and needs protection

[(2)  AuDA needs to be subject to controls, and should of course not
       be immune to applications for injunction, and court challenge

[(3)  "The auDA was formed in 1999 by former communications minister
       Richard Alston".  Discuss.  (:-)}


-- 
Roger Clarke                                 http://www.rogerclarke.com/

Xamax Consultancy Pty Ltd      78 Sidaway St, Chapman ACT 2611 AUSTRALIA
                    Tel: +61 2 6288 1472, and 6288 6916
mailto:Roger.Clarke at xamax.com.au                http://www.xamax.com.au/

Visiting Professor in Info Science & Eng  Australian National University
Visiting Professor in the eCommerce Program      University of Hong Kong
Visiting Professor in the Cyberspace Law & Policy Centre      Uni of NSW