Details of the rollout of Domain Names System Security Extensions (DNSSEC) in the .au domain name space have recently been released by the au Domain Administration (auDA).

Developed in conjunction with the .au registry operator, AusRegistry, the plan consists of a five stage process to introduce DNSSEC into the .au Top Level Domain (TLD) and second –level zones, including com.au, net.au, org.au and asn.au.

DNSSEC is a security extension that facilitates the digital signing of internet communications. Implementation of the plan hopes to see additional protection against a range of vulnerabilities.  AuDA CEO, Chris Disspain has said in an auDA announcement that “DNSSEC can provide an extra level of security to help ensure that Australian internet users will be directed to the website or service they expect to enter when they enter a domain name into their browser.”

Implementation is scheduled to commence next month and allows for:

-          Experimentation and testing of core systems

-          The gradual signing of second level .au domains and the .au TLD

-          A trail implementation for .au domain registrants, and

-          Full protection rollout to registrants

A review to be undertaken by auDA’s independent Security and Stability Advisory Committee (SSAC), chaired by professor Bill Caelli from the Queensland University of Technology, will be conducted at the end of each stage.

The fifth, and vital stage of the implementation plan will be the active encouragement of Australian ISPs and domain registrants to adopt DNSSEC. auDA believes that the Australian Government will play a significant role in delivering to the ISPs, the message about the importance of DNSSEC for the security of Australia’s internet infrastructure.

We will keep you updated as the implementation process rolls out.

The Panel, will among other things, review existing auDA regulation concerning domain name eligibility. Erhan was previously a member of the 2004 Names Policy Panel.

The issue of domain name eligibility is one of the more contention issues in the .au space.

The Panel is due to hold its first meeting on September 14, 2010.

A recent YouTube video campaign targeting Logie award winner and Home and Away Star Ray Meagher, has raised questions about free speech and internet law.

Cooper Mills Director Erhan Karabardak and IT Lawyer was interviewed by Channel 9′s ‘A Current Affair’ about his expert legal opinion on internet regulation of online media, and in particular his views on the so called comedy videos.

Cooper Mills Lawyers, one of Australia’s leading IP, and domain law expert legal practices, today launched version 1.0 of its online brand protection service portal TM.com.au, giving both local and international clients online trademark registration services, and trademark monitoring and management services.

Cooper Mills Lawyers Director Erhan Karabardak said:

In order to meet the demands of both our local and international clients we have launched our online brand protection service, which will enable our clients to effectively monitor their intellectual property all in one convenient place. This service now brings online brand protection within the reach of all local and international businesses.

Cooper Mills expects to expand the product offering and functionality of TM.com.au over the coming months.

In the first round, Optus was successful in securing licences for 972 sites.

The ACMA received applications in response to an invitation for interested parties to apply for radiocommunications licences in the 2 Ghz band during May 2010. The 2 GHz band is used by mobile carriers to provide 3G mobile services.

In announcing the award of licences ACMA Chairman, Chris Chapman said:

I am delighted by the high level of demand from industry for additional spectrum in the 2 GHz band in regional and remote Australia.

It is expected that a second round of licensing will take place following an assessment of Telstra’s application for multiple sites.

The ACMA expect that this process will lead to a significant increase in the availability of 3G mobile phone services in regional and remote Australia, based on the number of sites applied for by Optus and Telstra.

Google has given the following undertakings:

-          That it will publish an apology to Australians for its collection of unsecured WiFi data in its official Australian Blog

-          That it will provide a privacy impact assessment (PIA) on any new Street View data collection activities its undertakes in Australia

-          This is will provide a copy of these PIAs to the Commoners Office

-          That it will regularly consult with the Privacy Commissioner about personal data collection activities arising from significant product launches in Australia.

The undertakings come after the Commissioner was satisfied that the information collected by Google breached the Privacy Act 1988.

The Commissioner was unable to impose a sanction on Google due to having already initiated an investigation. This has prompted the Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) to make an inquiry into Australian privacy laws. This may prompt the government into taking action to strengthen the enforcement regime.