[thelist] Hosting and DNS Registrations

Sharon F. Malone sfmalo at 24caratdesign.com
Sat Feb 23 04:17:01 CST 2002


Had a question come up tonight about who is displayed (considered) as the owner of a domain and who is not when you do a search on whois.net

Let's say a web designer joins BulkRegister, for example, and can then register domain names for their new clients. As I understand it, BulkRegister (with me as a rep) is the registrar, the new client is the owner, and any name and other info can be displayed as the Administrator, Technical Contact, and Billing Contact as is decided upon.

In Network Solutions, when you do a search, NS is the registrar, the owner of the domain name appears as the "Organization" which would be the equivalent to the name and address info that first appears when the registrar is BulkRegister. My company's name and address, let's say, XYZ Consulting, should not be the name first appearing; it should be the client's name and address.

Bear with me, please!!!! The person I was talking to said, no, if it's a BulkRegister scenario, it's perfectly alright to show my XYZ Consulting name and address, rather than the client's. I said, no, XYZ Consulting is simply representing the registrar and the owner/organization should reflect the client name and address information.

Legally, who is right?

Sharon

From: "Vic Wooten" <vicwooten at eaglewebservices.com>
Sent: Friday, February 22, 2002 2:19 PM

> David,
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "David Kutcher" <david_kutcher at hotmail.com>
> To: <thelist at lists.evolt.org>
> Sent: Friday, February 22, 2002 12:54 PM
> Subject: Re: [thelist] Hosting and DNS Registrations
>
>
> > For liability reasons, if I were you, I would insist that the client
> > register their own domain.  Say that you'd be glad to assist them, and
> even
> > provide detailed instructions for how they would go to the registrar of
> your
> > choice and be able to register their domain.  BUT, do not do it for them.
>
> Why? What liability? If you have registered the domain on their behalf, and
> have provided the proper information, there is no room for liability for
> you!
>
> If you have yourself listed as the Administrative Contact, and see that you
> have screwed up "some" of the information, it is a simple matter for "you"
> to "fix" things yourself. The client is relying on "your" expertise to get
> their domain registered, hosted on a reliable service, and up and running!
>
> > Reasons for this:
> >
> > 1. It often costs more money to transfer the domain than to actually
> > purchase it.
>
> Perhaps, but how many new clients actually know how to choose a good hosting
> service? Do you? Again, your expertise is expected from your clients!
>
> > 2. Until you transfer the domain, you're easily liable for everything that
> > occurs under the name of that domain.
>
> That is questionable I believe. Unless you are conspicuously involved in
> building a porn site, a warez site, any site that offers for
> download...pirated software, or obviously infringes on copyrights, I would
> imagine (with the strictest contentions!) that you would be safe from any
> liabilities here. Also please note that "most" reliable, above board hosting
> services, "will" monitor their hosted sites..at least on a periodic basis,
> to make sure that the site owners are in complience with the law! The Hosts
> will be the first under attack, should any infractions occur. "Any"
> respectable hosting service will shut down a site, before they will risk
> losing their hosting privileges!
>
> > 3. Clients appreciate honesty.  And they'll appreciate it even more when
> you
> > provide them with easy to follow instructions.
>
> No question about that. My point is simply that the web design company can
> easily help the client in establishing their domain, and setting up hosting,
> without the client having to bother with trivial details such as these.
>
> Vic
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sharon F. Malone
"web design and Internet writing services"
http://www.24caratdesign.com
sfmalo at 24caratdesign.com





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