People looking to register their first domain name for their SME business, are often concerned as to whom owns a domain if they have purchased it via a domain provider’s platform. You are always the owner of the domain when you register a domain through an ISP (Internet Service Provider), not the ISP, hosting company, or registrar, and you may transfer the domain to any provider of your choice.
Who Owns a Domain?
If you register a domain through an Internet Service Provider (ISP) or a domain registrar, you are recognised as the legal owner of that domain for the duration of the registration period.
Depending on the requirements of the TLD (Top Level Domain), also known as the extension you are registering, you may have the option to register the domain for 1, 2, 5, or 10 years.
How To Find Out Who Owns a Domain Registration
Registering a domain requires you to provide contact information such as your name, address, email, and phone number. This information is associated with the domain in the Registrar’s records and is typically available through the public WHOIS database.
To find out who the owner of the domain you are interested in is, you can use tools like WHOIS Lookup, ICANN Lookup, or IANA WHOIS to access the global database of all registered domain names. However, some information might be unavailable due to having Privacy Protection added or falling under certain GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) requirements.
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Additional Information
Domain Management
The domain registrant has administrative control over the domain settings, including updating DNS records, configuring email services, and making other changes through the Registrar’s control panel.
When registering a domain, choosing a reputable and reliable Registrar, ISP, or hosting provider is crucial. It’s worth mentioning that different Registrars may have different terms and conditions, so it’s wise to review their policies on domain registration, renewal procedures, and domain transfer processes.
Domain Renewals
To maintain ownership of your domain, you must renew the registration before it expires. ISPs, hosting providers, or Registrars are required by ICANN to send multiple renewal notifications to the registered email address before the domain expires.
However, if you do not renew yours in time, you will lose it, and it will become available for others to register.
Domain Transfers
As the domain owner, you can transfer the domain to another ISP, hosting provider, or Registrar if needed. This involves following the transfer procedures outlined by the new provider. This includes making sure there are no outstanding fees, giving 30 days’ notice, and acquiring an Authorisation Code.
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Domain Registries
Domain registries oversee the registration and allocation of domain names within their designated domains. They maintain a database of all domain names and associated registrant information in the Top Level Domains (TLDs) of the Domain Name System (DNS), allowing third parties to request administrative control of a domain name.
Domain registries oversee and administer domain names for particular TLDs, which encompass country code TLDs (ccTLDs) such as .us and generic TLDs (gTLDs) like .com. Upon registering a domain, the registrar acts as the intermediary between the registrant and the respective domain registry, conveying the owner’s information to the registry on their behalf.
The Domain Name System (DNS)
Every website on the Internet has a unique Internet Protocol (IP) address. The Domain Name System (DNS) translates domain names into IP addresses, enabling computers and devices to identify and access websites.
In simpler terms, the DNS acts like an address book for the internet. When someone enters a website’s domain name into a browser, the DNS converts the domain name into an IP address, allowing the browser to send a request to connect to the website.
The DNS is made up of a network of servers. When you enter a website’s address in your browser, your device sends a request to a DNS server to convert the domain name into an IP address. The DNS server responds with the IP address, enabling your computer to access the site.
The WHOIS Database
When a domain name is registered, the Domain Registrar collects the owner’s information and shares it with the WHOIS database. This process ensures that each registered domain name is unique, preventing duplicates. The WHOIS database is publicly available, enabling users to look up information about domain names and their owners.
You can use a WHOIS Lookup Tool to check domain name availability, verify the purchase and expiry dates of a domain, confirm registration details, and validate a website’s legitimacy.
It’s a good idea to verify that your contact details are accurately listed as the registrant in the WHOIS database, allowing you to retain complete control over your domain.
