.MELBOURNE Domain Policies

.MELBOURNE domain names must adhere to the following guidelines:

• Minimum length for the second level domain name is three characters.
• Maximum name length (excluding "http://www" and ".MELBOURNE") is 63 characters.
• Hyphens cannot be used for the first or last character of the second level domain name. Also, hyphens (-) cannot be used as both the third and fourth character.
• Spaces and special characters (for example, !, $, &) are not permitted.

Important:  The API provided by OpenSRS will not enforce eligibility requirements. Resellers need to ensure that those requirements are met when registrations are submitted. Eligibility data will be checked by the registry however, and registrations not meeting these requirements may result in the deletion of the domain.

.MELBOURNE domains are available only to Victorian residents, businesses or other entities with an interest in the State of Victoria. The purpose of the gTLD is to establish an online space specifically associated with the city of Melbourne, the capital of the State of Victoria, Australia. The gTLD will provide a dedicated space in which residents, businesses, community groups, and government bodies of the State of Victoria can identify themselves with the city of Melbourne and take advantage of marketing opportunities that are related to their geographical location. This gTLD will also benefit Internet users searching for location-specific information relating to Melbourne.

To support the mission and purpose of the domain, at the time of submission of the application to register a domain name, applicants must warrant that:

• they meet one of the eligibility requirements (outlined below), and
• that the domain name and its use will be consistent with the mission and purpose of the gTLD, applicable laws, government rules or requirements as well as the policies of the registry

A) Victorian Entities

The applicant must be an entity registered with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission or the Australian Business Register and:

• have an address in the State of Victoria associated with its ABN, RBN or ARBN

OR

• have a valid corporate address in the State of Victoria

B) Victorian Residents

The applicant must be an Australian citizen or resident with a valid address in the State of Victoria.

C) Associated Entities

The applicant must be an associated entity and may only apply for domains that are an exact match, partial match, an abbreviation or an acronym of one of the following:

• the business name of the applicant, or the name by which the applicant is commonly known (i.e. a nickname) and the business name must be registered with the appropriate authority in the jurisdiction in which that business is domiciled
• a product that the associated entity manufactures or sells to entities or individuals residing in the State of Victoria
• a service that the associated entity provides to the residents of the State of Victoria
• an event that the associated entity organizes or sponsors in the State of Victoria
• an activity that the associated entity facilitates in the State of Victoria
• a course or training program that the associated entity provides to the residents of the State of Victoria

Continuing Eligibility

Where the registrant no longer meets the eligibility requirements of the gTLD, it must:

• contact its registrar as soon as possible within 14 calendar days of its ineligibility
• request that the domain name be canceled, locked, placed on hold, transferred or deleted 

General Availability will began on November 11, 2014. Now any applicant can register a domain name on a first-come-first-served basis, however claims service for mark holders continues.

TMCH claims service will run from until December 31, 2014.