: Do I own a registered domain? A couple of years ago I entered (as a silent partner) into a business. I was asked if I could get a website up and running, which included registering the domain.

@Shanna517

If they own the trademark to the name, then by withholding the domain from them for the explicit purpose of profiting off of their trademark you are effectively violating the Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act. If you live in the U.S. or a country with a trade agreement with the U.S., then you could be fined up to 0,000.

If you had purchased the domain on your own to use for your own unrelated site, then it could be argued that you aren't cybersquating. But knowingly withholding a trademarked domain name in order to extract money from them (some might consider it blackmail) clearly demonstrates a bad faith intent to profit from the mark.

I mean, if they didn't pay you initially for the hosting or domain registration, then just get those expenses reimbursed. But if you're not providing any additional value to them, why should you turn a profit for returning to them what rightly belongs to them in the first place?

Vote Up Vote Down

@Carla537

Unless you signed something that basically says "Your paying the company's web hosting and domain bills" then, it's your web hosting and domain. I'm not sure what the situation would be if the name of the domain is trademarked but, if it is in fact your domain and web hosting then, you can cancel your web hosting, and try to force the company to buy the domain from you.

Vote Up Vote Down