You don’t own your website unless it is expressly stated in your contract.

A website’s host is its sole source of support. The same thing will happen to your website if the website builder goes down.

The domain name is the first and possibly the most significant component of every website. It’s critical to realize that registering a domain name only grants the user the right to use it exclusively for a predetermined period of time, not the domain name’s legal ownership.

The elements that give your website its unique identity, such as the text, graphic design, and all of the pictures, are what you may own outright. These elements should all belong to you as they make up your website’s content. However, you must ensure that it is written that way on your website builder’s contract.

The Basic Components Of A Website 

Here are the fundamentals of what’s in a website ownership contract and what you can be able to legally claim as yours, keeping in mind that your website is made up of several components.

Domain name

You do not own your domain name. Although it is true that one may sell the domain’s rights, doing so does not actually transfer ownership; rather, it is more like entering into a contract with your wireless provider for your mobile number. Nevertheless, you must ensure that your domain is registered in your name, whoever does it. Additionally, avoid the all-too-common error of storing the registration details in a location where they will be lost or forgotten. Keep in mind that visitors won’t locate your website if your domain name isn’t renewed each year.

Your website’s content

It should be yours. This is due to the fact that copyright law stipulates that the person who created the website’s layout and content instantly becomes the rightful owner of those assets. The text you send them, if any, and the pictures you take, you are fully in charge of. Unless the website builder specifies otherwise in the fine print of your contract, you are granted a license to use your website after it has been constructed. After the project is finished, you should confirm that the website builder permits you to own all the contents, even if they were created by them.

The JavaScript, HTML, and CSS code on your website

This is a complicated one. You should maintain ownership of the individual CSS, HTML, and JavaScript files that are used by your website because many websites utilize similar scripts and open source code.

The source code

If it’s reasonable, you ought to own this. It is very hard to secure complete ownership of a website because many of its core building components are already available for most websites. However, you should, at the very least, be granted exclusive rights to your own programming and any files containing your code.

The CMS

It is not your property. WordPress, in particular, is the owner of content management systems. The ability to select your CMS is something you should be in charge of, and you should request a website that can be quickly switched from one CMS to another.

How To Determine Who Owns Your Website’s Domain Name

Visit this page, enter in your website’s address, and look at the registrant’s contact details if you’re unsure who owns the domain rights. One of the following three entries should appear:

  • The registrant contact information shows that you, your company, or an employee of your company are the domain name’s owners.
  • It might be you or someone else, but the registered contact is classified as private, so it means no one else can see the contact details. An investigation into the owner’s identity is worthwhile.
  • The contact information might be for your website designer, a marketing firm, or someone else. You should contact the  person mentioned as the registrant contact immediately  to find out what’s going on.