eCommerce Guide:
A wise entrepreneur does everything in his/her power to keep the reputation of his/her business in good standing within the community, whether that be Main Street, USA, or the Internet at large. Part of that task is ensuring that the online presence is sound. Taking charge of the site’s ownership and making sure it’s registered with a legit registrar is key. We’ll take a look at both transferring a site’s ownership (perhaps you own an e-business but a Web developer created your site and still owns the domain name but you want ownership) and transferring a registrar (a move from, for example, GoDaddy to Register.com). Both processes are easier than you may think.
First Things First
In order to make any of the aforementioned changes regarding your site, you must be the site’s owner. If you are unsure, it’s simple to determine. There are many ‘who is‘ databases online that will provide a domain name’s (or Internet protocol address‘) owner. (Many registrars, including Register.com, include this functionality on their sites; likewise, a quick Google search will turn up many options.) You may also be able to learn the owner’s street address, the current registrar, when the site was originally registered and when the registration expires. What we’re most concerned with, though, is the name of the owner.
Transferring Site Ownership
Doug Shuman, the vice president of customer marketing for Register.com, said there are 2 main reasons site owners switch, or transfer, ownership. In one scenario, an owner may be reclaiming the name of a business. In the second scenario, the owner listed was the technical contact and has left the business. To change ownership, the current owner must contact the registrar. Shuman said Register.com’s process involves a series of questions to verify the owner’s identity. At that point, the customer service representative will take the reins and transfer the ownership. It’s a fairly quick and painless process, according to Shuman.
In the event that the current owner has gone AWOL or your site designer is holding it hostage, for example, Shuman explained that Register.com (and other registrars) have processes in place that legally allow the business owner to get the Web site back. Register.com prides itself, said Shuman, on advocating for small businesses and noted that its been successful in helping sites land in the hands of their rightful owners.
Making the Switch: Going From One Registrar to Another…
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