Simply put, you need to be aware of mistakes that can inadvertently cause you to lose access to your domain.

Every Web Site Requires a Hosting Account and a Domain

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Note that a domain and hosting are two separate items. Think of hosting as rent for your home on the Web. It’s the space where your Web site content resides. A domain is your address on the web, otherwise known as your URL, and it’s licensed to you for a specific length of time.

A domain can point to a hosting account on any server. Moving from one Web host to another does not usually require transferring a domain, but it does require direct access to the domain manager. If you move your site to a new hosting account, your domain’s name servers will need to be updated. If you’re working with a Web designer, he’ll typically handle this part for you.

You Don’t Own the Domain Unless You’re Listed as Registrant

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Ok, here’s where it gets sticky. Many times the Web designer (and sometimes even the hosting company) will register your domain in his name or their business name. You’re paying this person/company to handle all of the technical aspects, so at first glance it seems easier for all involved. BUT, if your Web designer is the official domain registrant, he legally owns your domain name.

If your Web designer falls off the face of the earth, if you and he have a falling out, if for any reason he becomes inaccessible, you’re left without access to the domain YOU bought and paid for. This happens far more frequently than you might imagine.

It doesn’t help to call the hosting company and explain the situation. Their hands are tied. You MUST be listed as the domain registrant to be granted access to the domain.

If the registrant fails to make payment for your domain, your Web site will revert to a parked page until the grace period for its renewal expires (usually three months), after which your domain may be sold at auction.

Keep Your Domain’s Administrative Contact Info Up-To-Date

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Another conflict arises if your administrative contact info is inaccurate. The domain registrar uses your administrative contact email as their primary means of getting in touch with you.

An example: Let’s say you want to transfer your domain from an unresponsive or expensive hosting/domain company to one with better prices/customer service. If your domain’s administrative contact info is correct, it’s a simple two step process. But if you no longer have access to the email listed as your domain’s administrative contact, you’ll never receive the authorization request or the security code/ID number needed to complete the transfer.

Now if you’re listed as official registrant, you at least have recourse. You can call your domain company’s technical support and have the necessary changes made. Still, it’s an added hassle, easily avoided by keeping the records up-to-date.

Shameless Plug: We offer domain registration and hosting services through Express Domains and Hosting. Getting set up properly is a straight forward process, but technical support is readily available 24/7 should you need it. We also offer our Web development customers full hosting/domain and email support as part of a complete Web site design package.

Please bookmark this post and pass it on to those who need it. As always, your comments are encouraged and appreciated.

A quick Google search turned up over 1,000,000 results for the company name – the first several pages all looking legit. Adding the words “domain dispute” to my search changed the results significantly. This is a domain trademarking scam – and apparently rather an effective one.

There is no trademark dispute over our domain name. What they don’t disclose is that their goal is to frighten a business person into “protecting” their trademark by purchasing the overpriced .cn and .com.cn Chinese extensions of your domain. So don’t fall for it. Save yourself a headache and don’t even respond.

I’ve copied and pasted the email below. Several other versions using different company names are also used. The one common thread seems to be that they all originate in China.

Dear Sir/Madam,

We are Hong Kong Network service Company Limited, a domain name registration center in Asia.

Yesterday we received an application from another company for the domain names “zerotosixtymarketing” , but later we found your company is their original owner and this may involve your company name or trademark and  this may cause confusion between your products and others’ , and bring about negative effect on your company.Therefore we decided to inform you of this and check out your attitude toward this matter. We would appreciate if you can spare some precious time to settle this issue.

Thank you for your cooperation and looking forwards to your early reply.

Best Regards,
Monica.Meng

Hong Kong Network Service Company Limited
Address: 19/F., First Block, New World Bldg.,
No.18 Quen Middle Road,
Zhonghuan,
Hong Kong
Tel: +852-31757931 (ext8023)
Fax: +852- 31757932
Email: Monica.meng@hk-nsc.org.cn
website: www.hknsc.hk

Related Domain Trademark Scam Articles:

Beware of Chinese Domain Names Fraud

Chinese Domain Scam?

Domain Name Registration Scam

In reality, paying that invoice begins an overpriced domain transfer – and undoing that mistake will be a major hassle. Often the transfer fails, but the fine print says that the fee is non-refundable.

If you receive an invoice from anyone other than your Web host or domain registrar, you’ll save yourself a headache if you simply send it through the shredder.