auDA "grossly negligent" says domain registrar CEO

Stephen Withers
Monday, 20 April 2009 10:12

Business IT - Technology

The CEO of a major Australian domain name registrar has blasted .au administrator auDA's decision to de-accredit Bottle Networks. Meanwhile, Bottle has hit back at auDA in the courts, winning a temporary injunction until a hearing this week.

As reported last week, auDA - the body responsible for managing the .au domain space - de-accredited Bottle Domains.

auDA alleged a "serious" breach of its domain registrar agreement with Bottle, referring to security breaches in April 2007 and February 2009.

Bottle took the matter to court, and on Thursday gained an injunction requiring its reinstatement until the case could be heard in detail.

auDA appealed that ruling, but on Friday the Supreme Court granted an interim order for Bottle's reinstatement.

In separate statements, auDA said it "intends to vigorously defend its decision to terminate Bottle Domains' accreditation", while Bottle said "Bottle Domains strongly appose auDA's action and will continue to defend their claims against us through the Supreme Court."

The parties will return to court on Wednesday April 22.

Other industry players are weighing into the dispute - see page 2.