Internet Domain Registration

What is Internet Domain Registration?

Your web site has a domain name such as lovetoknow.com and an IP address, which in LoveToKnow's case is 69.59.184.171. The name is easier for people to remember, but computers need the IP address to find the site. Internet domain registration adds your website to the Internet "phone book" and allows a web browser to find the site when the site name is typed in the address bar.

Domain registration can also give you a legal claim to that domain even if you choose not to host a website at that time. Domain name ownership is a complicated issue and registration is merely one factor that will be considered in a dispute resolution.

What is a Domain?

In an url formatted like "aaa.bbb.ccc", the domain is "bbb.ccc". The "aaa" part differentiates parts of the domain, which are called subdomains. Most commonly it will be "www" to indicate that it is the subdomain that hosts a website. In "business.lovetoknow.com", the domain is "lovetoknow.com" and the subdomain is "business". Subdomains can be smaller divisions within a larger website, for example "business.lovetoknow.com" versus insurance.lovetoknow.com. However a domain covers more than just the website and other subdomains might handle email, file transfer, or other Internet services. Internet domain registration applies only to the main domain not the subdomains, which are handled by the web host.

How Do I Find a Registrar?

All domain registrars are regulated by ICANN (Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers). The master database of domain names and IP addresses is overseen by InterNIC which publishes a list of accredited domain name registrars. There are also registrars that don't appear on the list because they are acting as resellers for accredited registrars.

Most web hosts will offer Internet domain registration. Using your host has the advantage of convenience, since you pay only one vendor for both hosting and registration. Often registration will be included in the cost of the hosting package. One advantage of using a third-party registrar rather than your web host is that, should you wish to switch your website to a different host, the transition is often smoother because you are changing only the IP address of the site itself not the location of the registration record.

How Long Does My Domain Registration Last?

Registration lasts at least a year. The registrar has the option of offering longer registration periods, but no longer than ten years. The registration can be renewed after the term expires.

Someone Has Registered the Domain I Want. What Can I Do?

Often a desired domain name is already owned by someone else. If it is a name you have legal claim on, such as your company name, you can file a complaint under the ICANN dispute resolution policy, and you might be awarded that name for your own use. Generally such cases succeed only if the current domain owner is deliberately trying to sabotage or extort your business. In most cases, you are better off finding some variation on the desired name. For example, let's say you owned a bookstore called "Love To Know". You decide to create a website promoting your store and find that "lovetoknow.com" is already taken. Your claim to that domain is no stronger than its current owner, so instead you could use "lovetoknow.biz" or "love-to-know.com". If you are nice about it and aren't a competitor, you might even get the owner of the desired site name to link your site on the front page.

What Information Is Made Public in Internet Domain Registration?

ICANN requires that all domains contain valid contact information that is publicly available through a "whois" query in order to "allow rapid resolution of technical problems and to permit enforcement of consumer protection, trademark, and other laws". This includes a contact name, address, telephone number, and email address. However you are allowed to use contact information of a third party who will forward any inquiries on to you. If you are concerned about your privacy, there are a number of companies that will provide this service for a fee.