Say My Name: Transferring Domain Name Ownership

A wise entrepreneur does everything in her power to keep the reputation of 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 two 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
To transfer from one registrar to another, you'll first need to contact your current registrar to obtain the proper authorization codes. Remember that when you contact your current registrar, you're basically breaking up with them and you might be met with a bit of resistance. Be persistent (but of course, polite) until you get the information you need.

Once you have the authorization codes in hand, contact the new registrar and provide the codes. Once the new registrar has your information, the switch in most cases will be made in a few days. You'll need to cancel the registration with the old registrar, too. Shuman said that Register.com offers new clients a discounted rate when switching registrars. He also mentioned that his company offers several features to ensure that the site stays in the right owner's hands. For example, an owner could list himself as owner but provide another name as an admin contact. That way, the owner never completely relinquishes control, but doesn't have to be to go-to technical contact.

Research When Registering
As with any business decision, you'll want to be aware of several considerations when going through the process. Kylee Dickey, owner of Sites That Take Flight, a Web site design business, said it's important to research any new registrar. She said simple online searches for reviews of potential companies can save a lot of time and prevent future hassles down the road.

Shuman said that it's important to read the fine print before agreeing to anything and to make sure that any organization you deal with is legit. He mentioned that some registrars lacking much reputability deal in proxy registration, whereby the registrar ends up owning the site's name. This leaves the business owner without one of his most valuable assets: ownership of his business' name in the online world. RegisterFly got into a lot of trouble earlier this year because of this very situation, he said.

All in all, Shuman said that e-tailers need to do everything in their power to protect the sanctity of their business and its name. There's no reason whatsoever, he said, to be running a Web shop for which some third-party is the official owner.

Sally Marek Curran is a frequent contributor to ECommerce-Guide.com.

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