Ownership – Who Really "Owns" a Domain?

When you register a domain name, you become the registrant of that domain. This means you gain the right to use the domain for as long as you pay for it and follow the applicable rules. However, it is important to understand that payment alone does not grant ownership. A domain name is not a physical product that you can own forever – it is an agreement between you (the registrant), your registrar, and The Swedish Internet Foundation.

To maintain your right to the domain, your contact details must be accurate and up to date. If you provide incorrect information, you risk losing your domain – even if it has been paid for.

When You Register a Domain

When you order a domain name through a registrar, you must be able to prove your identity. This can be done using electronic identification such as BankID, by providing supporting documents like an ID card or registration certificate, or through email and phone number verification. In many cases, several methods are combined to ensure the accuracy of the information.

Checks During Registration

Even before a domain is registered, automatic format checks are performed. The system ensures that the provided information follows the correct patterns – for example, that personal identity numbers and organization numbers have the correct length and structure, or that email addresses and phone numbers are in a valid format. If something is incorrect, the registration may be halted.

Before the Domain Becomes Active

During registration, an additional verification check may be carried out before the domain is activated in the DNS. This check acts as a filter to catch any deficiencies in the registrant's information before the domain can be used on the internet. The domain will only be activated in the DNS once any issues have been resolved and the registrar has updated the domain with a new holder contact containing correct details.

Ongoing Monitoring

Verification does not end once a domain becomes active. The Swedish Internet Foundation continuously analyses registry data and uses external sources such as the Swedish Companies Registration Office (Bolagsverket) and the Swedish Population Register (SPAR) to ensure that organizations and individuals exist and that their information is current. Targeted reviews of registrant information are also carried out when reports of suspected abuse are received.