Share domain name ownership?

[jrenzi]

Is it possible to co-own a domain name? As far as I know, domain names can be registered by a single person.

I'm about to launch a website with a partner, so I'd like to know if this is somehow possible so we both can protect ourselves?

Thanks in advance

[fadetoblack22]

you would have to email the company it is regged with to find out.

[desilator]

Im note sure if this helps or not.. but with GoDaddy you can make someone an "account manager" and in regards to the whois you could always put both your names down if you both operate out of the same business location?

[jrenzi]

desilator, how do you specify both names in the whois?

With Godaddy I can only register it under my name

[wallace0205]

never heard about this issue,
why not go straightly to build up a company if you are seriously...

[desilator]

desilator, how do you specify both names in the whois?

With Godaddy I can only register it under my name

Just put both names on the same line. Im not sayig this will work as I have never tried it was just a thought that came to mind.

[Dave Zan]

desilator, how do you specify both names in the whois?

Whether you can add more than one person on the registrant field depends on
the registrar. But let me share one anecdotal story from my previous registrar
life.

When I was an agent, I got a call from a lady where the domain name showed
both her name and that of...drum roll...her boyfriend. It showed something like
this:

Registrant:
gfname-bfname
Address of bf
Phone of bf

Domain Name:

The lady said they broke up, she tried to gain access to the domain name, but
was locked out. Only the registrant field showed her name, while the rest had
displayed her now ex-boyfriend's details.

She couldn't use our online forgot-password options since it doesn't show her
info at all. She could send a fax, but the contact details were under her now
ex-bf.

One thing led to another, but we just couldn't help her. All we could do is tell
her to try to work things out with the bf...or seek legal advice.

The moral of this story, jrenzi, is to ensure you and the other have agreed on
certain things and, more importantly, gotten it in writing. I'm no lawyer, but I
would say it's preferable to put in the name of a legally existing yet "neutral"
entity (like a company or so) where you both have a say or so.

Various registrars have character limits on how many letters, numbers etc to
put under registrant. Whoever's listed as the registrant is considered the legal
name holder of the domain name, no ifs ands or buts.

(Well, the ifs ands or buts can be worked out by the parties involved...or seek
legal advice again. But that's a different story.)

If you 2 are on opposite sides of the globe, you might want to think long and
hard about this.

[desilator]

Whether you can add more than one person on the registrant field depends on
the registrar. But let me share one anecdotal story from my previous registrar
life.

When I was an agent, I got a call from a lady where the domain name showed
both her name and that of...drum roll...her boyfriend. It showed something like
this:

Registrant:
gfname-bfname
Address of bf
Phone of bf

Domain Name:

The lady said they broke up, she tried to gain access to the domain name, but
was locked out. Only the registrant field showed her name, while the rest had
displayed her now ex-boyfriend's details.

She couldn't use our online forgot-password options since it doesn't show her
info at all. She could send a fax, but the contact details were under her now
ex-bf.

One thing led to another, but we just couldn't help her. All we could do is tell
her to try to work things out with the bf...or seek legal advice.

The moral of this story, jrenzi, is to ensure you and the other have agreed on
certain things and, more importantly, gotten it in writing. I'm no lawyer, but I
would say it's preferable to put in the name of a legally existing yet "neutral"
entity (like a company or so) where you both have a say or so.

Various registrars have character limits on how many letters, numbers etc to
put under registrant. Whoever's listed as the registrant is considered the legal
name holder of the domain name, no ifs ands or buts.

(Well, the ifs ands or buts can be worked out by the parties involved...or seek
legal advice again. But that's a different story.)

If you 2 are on opposite sides of the globe, you might want to think long and
hard about this.


Yes that is always something you would have to worry about if more then one name is on the registration.

[htmlindex]

Absolutely it's possible to co-own a domain. In fact, I know that a few people on Namepros that do that. Not sure how but probably by setting up a company or something that owns the name(s).

Personally, co-owning a name is not something that I would consider doing as you would really need to trust the other party A LOT!