Colin Craig disavows ColinCraig.co.nz

A rep for Colin Craig tells NBR ONLINE the Conservative Party leader has no association with new website ColinCraig.co.nz.

That's not really any surprise, given the slickly-developed site features photos of Mr Craig with captions such as "What if I was a chemtrail", and a giant head that rears up from the bottom of the screen from time to time.

Mr Craig has previously been quick on the draw with lawsuits, incluidng in the case of satire run on TheCivilian.co.nz.

In this case, there's no obvious target.

A quick scan of InternetNZ's Domain Name Commission site reveals he party who registered the ColinCraig.co.nz took steps to cover their tracks, using services in the US and India to mask their identity.

Domain Name Commissioner Debbie Monahan earlier told NBR that web addresses are issued on a "first-come, first-served" basis.

However, the DNC does have a disputes resolution service, bringing the parties together for a round of informal mediation.

Ms Monahan told NBR that domain name disputes are often quickly resolved at this level.

Binding resolution - for $2000 to $7000
But if they are not, the complainant has the right to refer the dispute to the DNC's panel of legal experts. The panel is headed by Andrew Brown, QC and its members include three ex-High Court judges turned professional mediators Robert Fisher QC, Sir Ian Barker QC and Barry Paterson QC.

One expert from the panel (on a next-cab-off-the-rank basis) will assess the case, then make a decision that will be binding on both parties.

The onus is on the complainant to prove the balance of probability is that they have rights to a name, and that it was registered unfairly.

While information mediation is free, a referral to an expert panel member costs $2000 plus GST, and $7000 plus GST to mount an appeal (that's $2300 or $8050 incl GST).

Shouldn't come to that
In most cases it should not come down to mediation or an expert panel, however, Ms Monahan said.

After a domain name expires, there is a holding period of 90 days after expiry before a URL can be on-sold to a third party, the Commissioner said.

Your registrar (typically the ISP, web hosting company or domain name specialist that sold you your web address) must also remind you three times that renewal is due (a good reason to keep the phone number and email address with your registrar current).

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ckeall@nbr.co.nz

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