Attention to Details Can Head Off Problems
Given all the things a business owner, particularly a small business owner, has to attend to, it would be nice if worrying about company affairs in cyberspace wasn’t one of them. But experts say that not paying attention to details related to a firm’s Web presence can cost time and money later.
For example, mixed up records with a Web site registrar can obscure a company’s claim to its own Web address, and not having the proper backup could leave a business unable to react quickly if the Web site goes down.
Chris Truax, a San Diego-based Internet attorney, and other experts said business owners can take some steps to head off trouble. They include:
* Read carefully the contract with the service provider and with the registrar to make certain that you retain ownership rights.
“It’s really important that the small business owner ask how the [Internet service provider] treats the domain name registration,” said Chris Clough, a spokesman for Virginia-based Network Solutions, the largest registrar of Internet domain names. “In the past, there have been some ISPs that took control of [a company’s] domain name and the small business owner found themselves in trouble.”
* Don’t be afraid to register your site yourself, and then pass the information along to your service provider. If you assign that task, make certain that the Internet service provider plans to list you as the registered owner and administrative contact of the domain name and uses your address.
* Be clear on whether the Internet service provider is allowed to switch registrars without your consent. Each registrar has its own set of rules and changing registrars could cause you to lose some rights that you thought you had.
* Make certain that you understand the terms and conditions imposed by the registrar. Some will allow you to “park” your name free, but charge a hefty fee if you want to move it to another registrar. To help consumers evaluate the offers of different registrars, a group of Internet experts, including Truax, launched the Domain Name Buyers Guide (https://www.domainnamebuyersguide.com) in May.
* If you have questions about whether your domain name may tread on someone’s copyright protection go to the U.S. Patent and Trade office (https://www.USPTO.gov) and check out the trademarks.
* Make certain that you have a complete, updated copy of your Web site on a storage disc. That way, if the old provider shuts you down, you’ll have a spare.
* Don’t put your Web site on auto pilot. Make certain that you check in regularly with your service provider to make sure things are as you think they should be.
By doing a little homework upfront, business owners can avoid a big cyber headache down the road.
