Key facts
- Under UK copyright law the creator owns commissioned work unless rights are assigned in writing
- Paying the invoice does not by itself transfer copyright
- Check who the domain registrant is, not just who manages it
- Get admin logins for the domain, hosting, website and Google accounts
- Rented websites on a monthly contract often cannot be taken with you
- Themes, plugins and stock photos are licensed, not owned
The four things that make up ownership
"Owning your website" really means four separate things, and you can have some without the others:
- The domain name. Who is the registered owner (registrant) and who holds the login.
- The hosting and files. Where the site runs, and whether you can download a full copy of files and database.
- The copyright in the design, code and words written for you.
- The accounts connected to the site: Google Analytics, Search Console, Google Business Profile, payment providers, email.
If a designer controls any of these and the relationship ends badly, you can be locked out of your own business's online presence.
The domain: check the registrant
The person or company named as registrant is the legal holder of the domain. For .uk domains, the registry is Nominet; the registrar (the company you pay) is a different thing. Registrant changes go through Nominet, while moving to a new registrar for .uk names is done by changing the registrar's tag, often called the IPS tag. If your designer registered the domain in their own name, ask them to transfer it to you now while relations are good. See domain names explained.
The same applies to accounts around the site. Google Analytics, Search Console and Google Business Profile should be owned by a business email address you control, with your designer added as a user. If the designer is the only owner, ask them to add you as owner now. It takes a few minutes while you are on good terms and can take weeks to recover later.
Copyright: why paying is not enough
Under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, copyright in a commissioned design belongs to its author by default, not to the person who paid for it. Commentary from UK legal publishers is consistent that an assignment must be in writing and signed by or on behalf of the owner (section 90(3)), and that without one the client usually only has a licence to use the work. In practice that may be fine for day-to-day use, but it can cause problems if you want to change designer, reuse the design or sell the business.
Ask for a clause in your contract that assigns copyright in the bespoke design, code and copy to you on payment. Note that third-party parts such as WordPress themes, plugins, fonts and stock photos are licensed, not owned, and their licences carry their own terms.
Rented websites and lock-in
Some providers offer a website for a low monthly fee with no upfront cost. Read the contract carefully. Often the site stays theirs, runs on their own platform, and disappears when you stop paying. Minimum terms of 24 or 36 months are common, and the domain may be registered to them. This is not always bad value, but it is renting, not owning. At dijitul you pay once for the build, the client owns the website and the domain, and there is no lock-in. Hosting and care plans are optional and can be cancelled.
How to check what you own today
- Look up your domain's registrant through your registrar's control panel or the registry's WHOIS service.
- Ask your designer for admin logins to the domain, hosting control panel and website CMS.
- Ask for a full backup: files and database, or an export from your platform.
- Check you are an owner, not just a user, on Google Analytics, Search Console and Google Business Profile.
- Find your contract and look for clauses on intellectual property, termination and handover fees.
If you are planning to move, our guide to moving your website to a new designer walks through the handover.
When to call us
If you are not sure what you own, or a previous designer has gone quiet, get in touch. We can help you work out what is in your name and what needs transferring, charged at £45 an hour + VAT. Call 01623 650333.
Frequently asked questions
If I paid for my website, do I own it?
Not automatically. In the UK, copyright in commissioned design work stays with the creator unless it is assigned to you in writing. You may have a licence to use it. Check your contract, and ask for a written assignment of copyright in the bespoke design, code and copy.
How do I find out who owns my domain name?
Log in to your registrar's control panel and look at the registrant details, or use a WHOIS lookup. If you do not have a login, ask whoever manages the domain. The registrant should be your business, with an email address you control.
My web designer registered my domain in their name. What can I do?
Ask them to transfer the registrant to your business. For .uk domains, registrant changes are processed through Nominet. Most designers will cooperate. If they refuse, keep records and take advice, because the registrant is the legal holder.
Do I own the WordPress theme and plugins?
No. WordPress itself is open source, and commercial themes and plugins are licensed to you under their own terms, often with yearly renewals for updates. You own the content and any bespoke code written for you, if the copyright is assigned.
Who owns a dijitul website?
You do. The client owns the website and the domain, and there is no lock-in. If you choose to move to another designer or host later, we hand over the files, database and logins.
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