Fasthosts Internet Ltd, the UK's number one web hosting company, today warned UK businesses to tighten up on the legal ownership of their website addresses. The provider has seen a 30 per cent rise in the number of domain ownership disputes it has helped to resolve in the past year, commonly where companies have registered a domain in an employee’s or adviser’s name only to have to later prove that the business should retain legal ownership and control. Fasthosts is advising business owners themselves to check that their valuable business domain names are in their name – and seek transfer of ownership if necessary.
Nowadays, a virtual shop-front on the Internet can be as valuable to a business as its actual premises. However, an alarming number of UK businesses could be risking sales revenue and stability by having their business domain names registered on their behalf by employees or third parties such as web designers. If such individuals part company with a business, as they were the legal ‘registrant’ of the domains, the business often faces the time consuming task of having to prove their legitimate right to own and control the domain names.
According the Fasthosts, home to the most UK hosted websites, there has been a 30 per cent increase in the number of domain ownership disputes reported by customers. Fasthosts is different in having an in-house Domain Release Team that can adjudicate disputes and action domain transfers on behalf of business owners, often smoothing the process for its customers. Most web hosting providers merely refer disputes to the relevant domain registries, often prolonging disruption to businesses.
Steve Holford, CMO Fasthosts Internet, said “In 2008, companies should view their domain names as valuable intellectual property. Businesses can save themselves from potential losses and disruption by ensuring that every domain is registered continually in the proprietor’s own name”.
Fasthosts advises UK businesses to check that their domains are registered with up to date information and initiate any amendments rather than neglecting the issue. Companies with questions regarding their domains should contact their web host for advice.
Holford added, “Particularly in a challenging economic climate, third parties and employees can come and go. Whilst many business owners prefer somebody else to take care of their website, a clear distinction must be made between day-to-day administration of a company website and the legal ownership of the domains and hosting”.
As the UK's largest web host, Fasthosts offers a comprehensive range of web solutions including domain name registrations, email solutions (including mobile email services), shared web hosting, dedicated servers, online payment services, reseller web hosting and feature-rich broadband packages.
