Registering domains? Read the fine print.

December 10, 2004 · Comments

I have registered many domains in the past few years. It’s a lot easier to do than people think (not techie people of course, I mean everyday people who still don’t realize that Internet Explorer is an application and isn’t “the Internet”). I have always registered domains separately from the host provider, then changed the name server record to the new host. I have domains registered with [PairNic](http://www.pairnic.com), [GoDaddy](http://www.godaddy.com) and [Dotster](http://www.dotster.com) and a few clients have their domains already registered at [Network Solutions](http://www.networksolutions.com).

Last summer, I had to get a site set up quickly and I was lazy. Rather than take the step to register the domain separately, I clicked the button at [ICDSoft](http://www.icdsoft.com) to pay an extra $5 when I signed up for hosting and register the domain at the same time. Bad idea.

I **always** register a domain with the true owner’s name (the client). I use a separate domain management email address at momathome.com so I can get renewal notices and be authorized to make changes, but the line is clear. I don’t own the domain. My client does. At any time my client can say “see ya, Judi” and they are free to do whatever they want with their domain (but not with my work). I think it’s the only ethical way to do this business.

Now I’m consolidating my domains under one roof, and this one domain that I let the host register is a problem. I just pulled up the record on the domain and found that it’s owned by ICDSoft! My name and/or email (or the person’s name that I put on the form when I signed up) is nowhere to be found. Legally, I don’t have the right to change the name server, I can’t even transfer the domain to a different registrar. ICDSoft, if they were so inclined, could wipe this domain off the face of the earth and there’s not a darn thing I can do about it short of litigation. Not good.

Mind you, they are good people at ICDSoft so they won’t do that. I wrote support and explained the situation and we are working it out. There’s something strange where they thought they were registering it in the correct name but somehow pir.org (Public Interest Registry since it’s a .org) got a different message. They’re not trying to cheat me and they won’t fall off the face of the earth. But there are so many fly-by-night folks out there you can’t be too careful.

Lesson for the day: don’t be in doubt. Register your domain names separate from your hosting using a reputable, well-known registrar. That way, if you want to make changes later you don’t have to write to your soon-to-be-ex hosting company and say “pretty please with sugar on top.” If your host goes away, so does your access to your domain records if the domain isn’t clearly in your name. They’re not all going to be as nice about it as ICDSoft is being. And even after you’ve registered your name, double check to make sure that what’s on the public record is what you think it is. [SamSpade.org](http://www.samspade.org) or [Whois.sc](http://www.whois.sc) are good references for this.

Related posts: