The statement was sent out just prior to the go-live date for the new registry system, when management of the .au domain registry was transferred from Melbourne IT to AusRegistry.
The offending statement reads: "Secure your domain with Internet Registry in the new system before 31st July. Any existing registration period for your domain will be added to your two year registration!".
.au Domain Administration (auDA), CEO Chris Disspain claims the statement could lead some people to think this means a .au domain name can be registered for more than two years, which is incorrect.
"They're suggesting they have some authority they don't have, and they shouldn't be doing it," said Disspain.
Melbourne IT also objects to a phrase in the Internet Registry mail out, which reads: "Melbourne IT will lose its control as administrator of the .com.au domain space which will be taken over by AusRegistry".
Melbourne IT claims this could lead people to think AusRegistry has replaced its role in the domain space, and has issued a warning to its customers denying this is the case.
"It would seem like Melbourne IT is no longer in the business of .com.au and AusRegistry has replaced it and that's not the case," Bruce Tonkin, chief technical officer of Melbourne IT told ZDNet Australia. "In addition to what auDA has said there is potential to be confused about the role of Melbourne IT and we've clarified that."
Internet Registry was unavailable for comment when contacted by ZDNet Australia.
