Make sure your company is the named registrant of your company’s domain names.
This is just a friendly public service announcement to all small business owners out there.
I just finished reading a domain dispute regarding the domain name TexasCash.com.
The complainant, TCR Business Systems, alleged that the respondent registered the domain on its behalf when he was employed by TCR. The respondent disagrees with TCR’s allegations.
Regardless of who’s telling the truth here, I frequently see examples of:
1. An disgruntled ex-employee of a company holding a domain hostage
2. A web design firm holding a domain hostage that it registered on behalf of a client
So here’s the message: don’t take any chances. If you own a small business, register your key domain names yourself. Don’t let an employee do it, because they might register it in their own name — which gives them control of the domain. And please, please, don’t let your web design register a domain for you.
Redevelopment PMC says
Very well said
I’m sure its foolish if you ask your employee or web-designer to register a domain for you !
GenericGene says
Great Advice ~~
Ms Domainer says
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This happened to me when I allowed a webhosting company to reg my domain along with hosting plan. Fortunately, I was able to regain the domain on the drop.
I hear such horror stories all the time.
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gaurav kohli says
A very important issue!
A few years back, i lost my business domain name to a web design company i engaged, as they refused to transfer control. Ultimately, they let it expire and today its listed in the domain aftermarket (trying to save enough to get it back)
Today, as a conscientous digital consultant and founder of a niche development company, i insist that my clients purchase their own domains. When it’s as simple as buying anything else online or paying bills online, why shouldn’t they.
Your message needs to reach out to as many folks as possible.
Keep up your good work!
ChuckWagen says
I know of a fairly large bank where this is the case.
Yikes.
Chris LaHatte says
Can I also add that this is important too? I get regular complaints to my office about this. Of course I do not have jurisdiction to investigate or do anything. On occasions in the past I have helped mediate a solution, but your comments about retaining ownership should be made known to every new domain name puchaser.
craig says
How does that work with online yp sites when they pick a domain for you and you later decide to upgrade to your own site design?
Andrew Allemann says
@ craig – Letting the YP “own” the domain could be problematic. I would try to avoid that at all costs.
Bob says
I have one of my drinking buddies register all my names for me, now he is in prison and says he does not know me.
Brian Freed says
About the first thing I do if I have registered a domain name for a client is as soon as the site is live I make sure to transfer the name to the person or company. it’s amazing how many clients I have had where the first person who designed their website still has control of the name.
Register a company Ireland says
Could you please suggest me some tips to save my website’s domain name before registering my company?I am planning to register my company.
Charles Mohr says
Our company adopted a policy to teach ownership to the business clients that hire us for website design.
If a new client has no domain we direct them to our re-seller account and hold their hands in creating a new account and acquire a new domain and hosting account. Once this is done, I set up the back end of the server and establish an FTP account for my company use and then walk the client through the process of changing the Main Account Password. In this process we do document all accounts established on the clients behalf. URL’s, User Names and Pass Codes are all list on a easy to read data sheet that we create.
To do not believe in Webmasters, SEO’s, Employees and Ad-Agency’s Holding companies hostage if a dispute arises between the parties.
guycook says
“And please, please, don’t let your web design register a domain for you. ” Except to register it to reserve the name, and then when they’ve sorted out having their own account at a registrar of their choice so no mistakes are made. Often I’ve done this for clients as they weren’t sure what email would be the default email for the admin of their club/organization that could stay with their club after officers had moved on. Like everything there are exceptions
Here’s the ‘gospel’ I’ve referred others to about Domain Names, a bottom line if you will.
Kris says
If I’m employed by a company and I registered an industry term (related keyword) domain, does my employer have any rights to that domain? Can I point my domain to my employer’s site but then take it with me/sell it when I leave the company?