Business argument regarding domain name

[minusuk]

Hey!

So here's my question. I bought a domain about a year ago and worked on content for it for about 6 months - I then didn't have time for it due to my other business so the guy who was helping took over and delivered the content - The site doesn't get updated a lot as the main focus of the business is a flashbook. Now I have more time I want to get back involved with the business and domain but his stating he doesn't want this and wants me to sign over the domain. His been sorting legalities for the business and needs the domain signed over to him, but I own it and I bought it way before he registered the business etc. Who's in the right here? I dont have to legally sign the domain over right?

I'm not looking to erase him from the business at all, I just want to get more involved and work on the SEO of the site etc. He wants to just run the site alone now.

Would appreciate your advice,

 

[aZooZa]

Whoever registered the domain (the current registrant) has the control. You'd need to go down the legal route for any redress.

 

[minusuk]

What do you mean by going down the legal route for any redress? Thanks for the reply

 

[Bailey]

And he/she that has control of the administrative email address can make whatever changes they wish more or less at will.

 

[aZooZa]

What do you mean by going down the legal route for any redress? Thanks for the reply

The current registrant has control of the domain. If you want to contest it, you'll need to file a Nominet DRS complaint (unlikely to be be appropriate) or sue in the Courts.

 

[aZooZa]

And he/she that has control of the administrative email address can make whatever changes they wish more or less at will.

Yes - a simple change of DNS will screw everything up.

 

[minusuk]

Yeah I have control of the admin panel (email addresses) along with controlling the domain. So if he wanted to contest it he'd have to try to sue?

 

[aZooZa]

Yeah I have control of the admin panel (email addresses) along with controlling the domain. So if he wanted to contest it he'd have to try to sue?

If you do a 'whois' on the domain, if it's your name - you're fine. It has nothing to do with admin panels for email.

 

[minusuk]

Really appreciate your comments, I own the domain and it states it on whois - Should be fine then

 

[Bailey]

Yep its all yours

Sounds/reads like you have given administrative access to the domain- nothing more.

Always 'Double' check your control over the domain (remove any duplicated access) - then tell the pretentious pimp to Go f##k himself

 

[minusuk]

HAHAHA! I was just pointing the name servers to a site he'd created.

 

[Bailey]

HAHAHA! I was just pointing the name servers to a site he'd created. .

thats good enough - delete your other comment though

 

[diablo]

To be honest your story is far from clear and I'm surprised at the clear cut advice you've been offered here based on your original post.

You registered the domain. You don't own it. You are the registrant, assuming it is in your name.

Did you register it on your behalf or on behalf of a business or on behalf of you and this guy?

The guy who was helping, is he an employee, friend, business partner, what?

Why would he be "sorting legalities for the business"? What does that actually mean anyway?

You are not looking to "erase him from the business". What does that mean? Does he share ownership?

 

[aZooZa]

To be honest your story is far from clear and I'm surprised at the clear cut advice you've been offered here based on your original post.

You registered the domain. You don't own it. You are the registrant, assuming it is in your name.

Did you register it on your behalf or on behalf of a business or on behalf of you and this guy?

The guy who was helping, is he an employee, friend, business partner, what?

Why would he be "sorting legalities for the business"? What does that actually mean anyway?

You are not looking to "erase him from the business". What does that mean? Does he share ownership?

He's been given "clear cut advice" {sic} - what can you add?

 

[diablo]

He's been given "clear cut advice" {sic} - what can you add?

Clear cut doesn't necessarily mean correct.

I can't offer any genuine advice without knowing the exact circumstances as per my post. You obviously feel you can.

 

[Beasty]

Clear cut doesn't necessarily mean correct.

I can't offer any genuine advice without knowing the exact circumstances as per my post. You obviously feel you can.

I am with diablo on this. Being the domain registrant is a good place to start from, but the OP raises issues that flag up ownership of copyright in the site, any agreement between the parties, etc. that would also need dealing with.

Without knowing more, it is not possible to advise properly - but what the OP has already said indicates that a "bull in a china shop" approach may well result in a messy outcome.

 

[Bailey]

Yes I should aplogise for my choice of wording in my earlier reply (I won't edit it - it was irrational).

Comes to mind that I criticise others (and offer advice) where my understanding and success of "end-user" domains comes in. Then stupidly comment on a "build" that I agree to knowing very little about. I think its because I have gone through the "thats my domain / No it isin't scenario, once to often myself