Firstly, what is a domain name? Well, I had a look in Wikipedia for a useful definition and found something equivalent to legalese, so my alternative (and possibly not wholly technically accurate) explanation is that the domain name provides people surfing the web with a virtual address to find you. Thats it. It doesn't necessarily give you a website and it doesn't automatically appear as a webpage just because you purchase the address. It does give you the exclusive right to attach webpages or a website to the address for people to find for as long as you remain the registered owner.
Like registering a business name, there aren't a lot of hoops to go through. You find a domain name seller (from my experience www.godaddy.com is pretty good), search the site for the domain name you want, and purchase it if it is available.
Again, hints are:
- don't try and register something that you know is someone elses brand name, it'll only end in tears
- know who or what entity is going to own the domain name and whether that is the same person or entity that is going to operate the website (it doesn't have to be, but you should put a written agreement in place between the entities to clarify the legal relationships if it isn't)
- know why you want a particular domain name and how much you are prepared to pay for it if someone else has already registered it
You can buy a domain name from an existing registered owner rather than through a domain name company, but if you want to go down that path be careful about handing any money over before you have access to the domain name. Chasing up money you have paid overseas is expensive, labourious and often unsuccessful. Obviously a domain name which comes up without website content attached to it has the chance of being easier and cheaper to acquire than a domain name with a website attached.
.. tomorrow, a note on trademarks...
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