What is a domain name?
The domain name is an integral part of every website and choosing the right name can be more important than the business name. The domain is the first part of every URL in the address bar of the browser (eg 'rocketlawyer.co.uk'). There are two elements to each domain name:
- the name itself (ie 'rocketlawyer'), and
- the suffix (ie '.co.uk'), which is often used to indicate the geographical location or nature of the business
How to register a domain name?
Anyone can register a domain name that has not already been registered, by paying a domain name registration company (eg www.123-reg.co.uk or www.1and1.co.uk) to register it with the relevant domain name authority (eg for domains that use a '.uk' suffix this is Nominet).
Domain names are normally registered for one or two years and renewed before the registration period expires. If they are not renewed, they become available for registration by a different business or individual.
If a domain name has already been registered, it can be purchased privately and then transferred across to the purchaser. However, this is generally more expensive, particularly as many businesses register attractive domains in order to make a profit by selling them (see ‘What is cybersquatting?’ for more information).
Are domain names intellectual property?
Domain names are not typically considered to be intellectual property (IP). Domain names grant their owner the right to use that domain for the duration of their contract with the register. However, much like IP, domain names are considered non-physical assets with their own economic value.