Domain name resellers from across the country have come out in support of comments made by NetRegistry CEO Larry Bloch, and auDA board member Joshua Rowe, as the auDA launches a code of practice aimed at improving the industry.

auDA CEO Chris Disspain emerged from Monday's AGM with a mandate to provide a forum for the creation of an industry wide code of practice.

"At this stage domain name resellers are not subject to any particular requirements however, we are bringing about changes which will see new domain name registrars subject to an agreement regarding the way they conduct business, and who they conduct business with," Disspain said. "The auDA will be in a position to monitor the market and ultimately by able to prevent accredited registrars from behaving in a manner that is not reputable."

While he recognised that many of the industry's concerns regarding certain advertising and marketing practices were well founded, he emphasised the role of resellers in both creating an appropriate code of practice and in informing their customers.

"We can issue consumer alerts regarding unethical behaviour in the industry, but it is up to the resellers to make sure their own customers are aware of who is managing their account, and when they are required to renew it," Disspain said.

In order to set about creating the code, the auDA has called a preliminary meeting on the December 11, and invited all interested parties to visit the auDA Web site for further details.

Meanwhile the industry has rallied behind NetRegistry's Bloch, condemning a range of marketing and practices, and Joshua Rowe's open criticism of the mrketing practices of domain name reseller ING. Vic Cinc, CEO of Internet development company Host1, was less than complimentary when it came to describing the marketing practices of some companies.

"We loose a substantial portion of our renewals to these pack of vultures who should be run out of town," Cinc railed.

In an attempt to fight back Cinc is investing in an "aggressive customer awareness campaign", to increase brand recognition and cut down on the number of customers lost through their lack of understanding of the domain name registration system.

"These people operate on the grey edge of the law and take advantage of the fact people don't understand the domain name system or who or what is official," Cinc said.

Many resellers are pointing to a precedent set by New Zealand based Domainz, a subsidiary of the equivalent to the auDA. Domainz issued domain name reseller ING with a warning after receiving complaints from .nz name holders that the company had approached using information obtained from the .nz register.

Rather than allow the company to continue with its campaign Domainz threatened to terminate ING's .nz provider status, saying the campaign was evidence the company had not acted in -good faith".

Australian domain name resellers such as Host1, Business Park and NetRegistry are calling for a similar warning to be issued here.

Business Park director Ron Stark also expressed concern that the .com.au domain holders were inadequately protected from marketing practices which exploited a lack of understanding of the market.

-The market place is hugely under-informed, and there's no doubt that consumer education is crucial," Stark said. -However, there is no excuse for improperly exploiting that ignorance."

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