- Joined
- Dec 20, 2007
- Messages
- 290
- Reaction score
- 4
I'd very much appreciate guidance on a particular WHOis issue.
Background:
I'm about to enter an arrangement with another party....I currently own an undeveloped $xx,xxx domain name, that has great potential.
The deal is this:
* I make the domain available for development.
* The other party does the tech development for the new website + provide most of the content (which they already have).
* I pay for additional content (say, about 30% of the total content on the new site).
* The other party will manage the site, and, most likely do most of the promotion work.
* The new website will be hosted on the other party's server.
* The domain will remain under my control, in my Registrar's account.
* We share revenue earned by the site, 50%/50%.
* I agree not to sell the domain for a minimum of two years.
* If I sell the domain after two years, its agreed I get my original $xx,xxx purchase price back first - then, we split the balance of the sale proceeds 50/50.
The issue:
The other party asks this:
* That I change the WHOis details for the domain to their company name & address - for Registrant, Admin, Tech & Billing.
* BUT...the email address in WHOis for Registrant, Admin, Tech & Billing would remain my email address (so, I get all notifications from the Registry etc).
* And the domain would remain in my Registrar's account, under my control (eg presumably, no one could move/transfer the domain without my permission, because I'd control the Registrar account, and the email address?).
(Note: The reason they have given for changing the name & address details in WHOis to their details, is that the revenue the site will generate will be handled by a Billing third-party (and, then disbursed to us, 50/50) with whom they already have an account....They/we plan to use the same Billing third-party, and, thus, the same account that's already established. Apparently, this will make the process much more straight forward).
Should I agree to change these WHOis details (name & address) on the domain?....Is my control of the domain at the Registrar account + WHOis showing my email address, sufficient to protect me?
My concern is that, with the domain WHOis showing someone else's name & address details, might I become vulnerable if I ever have to prove I own the domain?....Or, is it that as long as I control the email address for Registrant, Admin, Billing & Tech, + the Registrar account the domain is in, I needn't worry?
Note: I do not doubt the integrity of this other party. They are not strangers to me. I've known them - and, know people who've had dealings with them - on another forum, for over about 2.5 years.
But....
It pays to be careful...
This is a premium domain, and, the business model will likely generate significant revenue....thus, the domain may become super-valuable, in time.....There could be a lot of money at stake, over time - both in revenue, and, in a future sale of the domain/website.
I need to set it up right, so that there are no problems at a future time.
Very much appreciate your opinions, knowledge, or suggestions.
.
Background:
I'm about to enter an arrangement with another party....I currently own an undeveloped $xx,xxx domain name, that has great potential.
The deal is this:
* I make the domain available for development.
* The other party does the tech development for the new website + provide most of the content (which they already have).
* I pay for additional content (say, about 30% of the total content on the new site).
* The other party will manage the site, and, most likely do most of the promotion work.
* The new website will be hosted on the other party's server.
* The domain will remain under my control, in my Registrar's account.
* We share revenue earned by the site, 50%/50%.
* I agree not to sell the domain for a minimum of two years.
* If I sell the domain after two years, its agreed I get my original $xx,xxx purchase price back first - then, we split the balance of the sale proceeds 50/50.
The issue:
The other party asks this:
* That I change the WHOis details for the domain to their company name & address - for Registrant, Admin, Tech & Billing.
* BUT...the email address in WHOis for Registrant, Admin, Tech & Billing would remain my email address (so, I get all notifications from the Registry etc).
* And the domain would remain in my Registrar's account, under my control (eg presumably, no one could move/transfer the domain without my permission, because I'd control the Registrar account, and the email address?).
(Note: The reason they have given for changing the name & address details in WHOis to their details, is that the revenue the site will generate will be handled by a Billing third-party (and, then disbursed to us, 50/50) with whom they already have an account....They/we plan to use the same Billing third-party, and, thus, the same account that's already established. Apparently, this will make the process much more straight forward).
Should I agree to change these WHOis details (name & address) on the domain?....Is my control of the domain at the Registrar account + WHOis showing my email address, sufficient to protect me?
My concern is that, with the domain WHOis showing someone else's name & address details, might I become vulnerable if I ever have to prove I own the domain?....Or, is it that as long as I control the email address for Registrant, Admin, Billing & Tech, + the Registrar account the domain is in, I needn't worry?
Note: I do not doubt the integrity of this other party. They are not strangers to me. I've known them - and, know people who've had dealings with them - on another forum, for over about 2.5 years.
But....
It pays to be careful...
This is a premium domain, and, the business model will likely generate significant revenue....thus, the domain may become super-valuable, in time.....There could be a lot of money at stake, over time - both in revenue, and, in a future sale of the domain/website.
I need to set it up right, so that there are no problems at a future time.
Very much appreciate your opinions, knowledge, or suggestions.
.
