 |
Webmaster Tips 'n Tools
Who really owns your website?
You might be surprised when you find out the facts!
First, understand who owns the web site design code.
Believe it or not in many cases if you ask or read the fine print the answer will be someone other than you will own the "code". The absurdity of this continues onto the text and graphics content that you may even have provided your web designer.
Many designers take the sales and contractual attitude that they are the "pros" so they merely embedded your content information in THEIR code so the website must remain under their possession and control. Move on if you must but you must start all over with someone else as the code ownership stays with them. That effectively will neutralize any practical use or reworking of your web site should you decide to leave them.
Most importantly, understand who purchased and now legally owns YOUR domain name and hosting services.
Many if not most design company's and even free lancers will purchase your domain name(s) and place your hosting on their server systems thus effectively in practice and often in contractual writing they take control and even full ownership of your website business domain name by registering the ownership of it in their name not yours.
I take the attitude and the professional position that any thing less than putting in writing that YOU are the legal owner of your finished paid for website and making sure that YOUR domain names are all legally registered to YOU and YOUR business is just plain unethical and unprofessional behavior.
My business plan is to simply keep you as my client and very satisfied website customer for many years to come by providing you with excellent, timely, friendly, professional, reasonable and affordable service and support!
You can check out one of my standard Purchase Agreement with Terms of Agreement to affirm this commitment to you.
Next . . . discover some template site limitations and issues.
You might be surprised when you find out the facts!
First, understand who owns the web site design code.
Believe it or not in many cases if you ask or read the fine print the answer will be someone other than you will own the "code". The absurdity of this continues onto the text and graphics content that you may even have provided your web designer.
Many designers take the sales and contractual attitude that they are the "pros" so they merely embedded your content information in THEIR code so the website must remain under their possession and control. Move on if you must but you must start all over with someone else as the code ownership stays with them. That effectively will neutralize any practical use or reworking of your web site should you decide to leave them.
Most importantly, understand who purchased and now legally owns YOUR domain name and hosting services.
Many if not most design company's and even free lancers will purchase your domain name(s) and place your hosting on their server systems thus effectively in practice and often in contractual writing they take control and even full ownership of your website business domain name by registering the ownership of it in their name not yours.
I take the attitude and the professional position that any thing less than putting in writing that YOU are the legal owner of your finished paid for website and making sure that YOUR domain names are all legally registered to YOU and YOUR business is just plain unethical and unprofessional behavior.
My business plan is to simply keep you as my client and very satisfied website customer for many years to come by providing you with excellent, timely, friendly, professional, reasonable and affordable service and support!
You can check out one of my standard Purchase Agreement with Terms of Agreement to affirm this commitment to you.
Next . . . discover some template site limitations and issues.
