In early 1997, I put up ReignYourDomain, a web site dedicated to providing free information and answers about domain names - how to get them, what things cost, legal issues, and more. The idea to create this site came to me after having clients come to me saying "fix this." Some had their Internet companies hijack their names by putting themselves in as all of the contacts. Some had domain name resellers beat them to their desired names, and now wanted $60,000 to get them back. I decided to become a consumer advocate for domain names and related issues; I wanted people to be informed since I was starting to believe that many web design and Internet service companies were not telling their clients much, if anything. So what do our clients need to know about their domain name(s)?
The client should understand what is in their domain name registration. Explain to them what it means to be listed as the administrative contact or billing contact. If they would prefer that you take care of these things, then fine, but how many in our industry have just put themselves as the controlling party on a domain name owned by the client without explaining what this may mean down the road? You may want to facilitate registration by creating a template similar to the NIC's registration template where your clients can fill out their organization information, purpose of domain, admin and billing contacts, and whether they prefer postal or e-mail invoices. You can code your nameserver info and tech contact handle in there, and even send it right to InterNIC. Or you could have it sent to you if your company chooses to look these over before submission. Another brand-new option is to have them use Network Solution's WorldNIC with or without your nameserver information. This solution will cost them an extra $49 per registration, but the savings in frustration and confusion could make it worth it for some companies.
A New York ISP put themselves down as all contacts for a name belonging to one of my clients before they were my client. When we asked the ISP to please change it, their response was that they would not because they were afraid if the client controlled their own domain name, the client would leave that ISP. There is no appropriate business or personal reason to tie your clients to the railroad tracks; let them stay with you because you're good (and ethical!) and not because they feel they have no choice.
