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Who owns my website?

Last reviewed
2026-09-16

Domain registration, content rights, code licenses, account access and control of business records are separate matters. Review the contract and account records to establish what you own, what you license and what can be transferred.

The longer version

The domain should be registered to the appropriate business or owner, with authorized access to the registrar and DNS.

Code and design rights depend on the agreement and any third-party licenses. Access to submitted information also comes with privacy and retention responsibilities.

Next steps

  1. Check the domain registration and who can access the account.
  2. Review ownership, licensing, export and handover terms.
  3. Confirm authorized access to hosting, analytics and business records.
  4. Agree on backups and exports that respect privacy and security requirements.

Sources

  1. Works Made for Hire (Circular 30) (opens in a new tab)US Copyright Office

This page provides general information. Your obligations depend on your business and jurisdiction. Consult a qualified adviser about your circumstances.