Website ownership
You may declare yourself the owner of a website if you meet the following conditions.
1. The domain name
Example: mywebsite.fr
You must have access to the registrar account, meaning the company where the domain is registered: OVH, LWS, IONOS, Gandi, etc.
Check that:
- the domain is registered in your name or your company’s name;
- you have access to the customer account;
- you can modify the DNS;
- you can renew or transfer the domain.
Without the domain name, you do not truly own the website address.
2. Hosting
Hosting is the server space where the website files are stored.
You must have:
- access to the hosting control panel;
- FTP/SFTP credentials;
- database access;
- SSH access if required;
- the ability to back up, modify or move the website.
Without hosting access, you may own the domain but not necessarily the actual content of the website.
3. Website files
This includes:
- PHP, HTML, CSS and JavaScript files;
- images;
- configuration files;
- plugins, themes or modules;
- specific scripts.
For a WordPress website, for example, this includes theme files, extensions and media files.
4. The database
Many websites have a database: WordPress, PrestaShop, forums, customer websites, PHP applications, etc.
It often contains:
- articles;
- pages;
- users;
- products;
- orders;
- website settings.
Having the files without the database is generally not enough.
5. Content and rights
You must also own or have the right to use:
- texts;
- images;
- the logo;
- videos;
- product sheets;
- customer databases;
- brands;
- graphic creations.
A website may be technically under your control but legally problematic if the content belongs to someone else.
6. Administrator access
You must have access to the important accounts:
- website administrator account;
- hosting account;
- domain name account;
- email account linked to the website;
- Google Search Console;
- Google Analytics;
- Google Ads, Meta Ads, etc. if used;
- payment accounts: Stripe, PayPal, bank account, etc.;
- email sending accounts: Mailchimp, Brevo, Sendinblue, SMTP, etc.
7. Domain-related emails
Example: contact@mywebsite.fr
You must be able to manage:
- mailboxes;
- forwarding addresses;
- SPF, DKIM and DMARC settings;
- email account access.
This is important for the website’s image and to prevent messages from being classified as spam.
8. Proof of ownership
For a sale or transfer, it is preferable to have:
- a domain name invoice;
- a hosting invoice;
- a transfer agreement if the website is sold;
- proof that the seller has the right to transfer the website;
- domain transfer codes;
- a complete website backup;
- a list of the access credentials transferred.
Summary
To truly own a website, you must at least have:
| Element | Importance |
|---|---|
| Domain name | Official address of the website |
| Hosting | Server where the website is stored |
| Website files | Code, images, structure |
| Database | Dynamic content of the website |
| Administrator access | Website management |
| Content rights | Legal security |
| Linked accounts | Emails, statistics, payments, advertising |
| Proof and invoices | Ownership justification |
True website ownership is therefore based on two things: technical control and legal rights.