Are you sure that you own your Website Address?

If you already own a domain name or are planning on registering a domain name in the future, I recommend that you read this.

What is a Domain Name? 

In simple terms, an internet domain name (a website address) provides recognisable and easy-to-memorise names to numerically addressed internet resources and IP addresses; such as websites, computers, networks and other services.

In Online Innovations’ case, our domain name, onlineinnovations.com, points to IP address 196.26.58.4. This is all made possible by a DNS (Domain Name Service) that translates domain names into these numerical identifiers for the purpose of locating and addressing these devices and services worldwide.

Beware of Unscrupulous ISPs (Internet Service Providers)

Domain names are internet real estate and many service providers will use their own contact details when registering domain names for their clients. In many cases they may even state ownership. This can cause a dispute on the right of use of the domain name if you ever need to move the domain or website.

I’ve seen it time and time again where ISPs hold their customers ransom by claiming ownership of the domain names. Just recently, one of our customers had to pay R100 000, yes one hundred thousand rand, to reclaim the domain name that they had been using for the past 10 years. All because their ISP thought they’d punish them by deleting the domain name for cancelling their services with them.

Concerned? 

If Online Innovations registered your domain name, you need not worry; we make sure that our clients own their domain names. In fact, we make sure to triple-check this.

For absolute piece of mind, get confirmation that you own your domain name from your ISP. If you don’t own it - insist that they update the domain name records and take action if they don’t or are hesitant to do so.

Online Innovations can register your internet domains for you, give you the best advice on the matter and once registered, manage them for you too. As an auxiliary service to our development and hosting services, you can be assured of great value and that your best interests are always protected with us.