ICANN, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, has officially put new domain registration rules into effect as of August 21, 2025. These changes settle a long-debated question in the industry: who actually owns a domain name? The answer is now tied directly to the “Organization” field in the domain contact record.
The New Standard for Ownership
The policy is straightforward but impactful. If the “Organization” field contains a company name, that company is considered the legal owner of the domain. If the field is left blank, then the individual listed in the record is recognized as the rightful owner. This clarification might seem like housekeeping, but in practice it could determine the outcome of ownership disputes that involve valuable digital assets.
How We Got Here
This change comes out of ICANN’s broader Registration Data Policy, which is now active for all contracted parties. The policy replaces the interim rules that were in place and introduces a standardized framework for handling registration data across registries and registrars. It is the result of a consensus process led by the Generic Names Supporting Organization, which spent years refining how privacy regulations such as the GDPR fit into domain management.
The final policy includes 34 recommendations and touches 20 different procedures, so the ownership clarification is only one piece of a much larger puzzle. But for business owners and individual registrants, it is the piece that matters most. Who appears in that “Organization” field will now carry legal weight.
Why This Matters for Businesses
Domain names are no longer just digital addresses; they are often trademarks, brand anchors, and multimillion-dollar assets. A mismatch between who thinks they own the domain and who ICANN records say owns the domain could be disastrous. Consider a startup that registers its domain under a founder’s personal name but later builds the business under a corporate structure. Without updating that “Organization” field, the company might not have a clear claim to the domain if things ever go sideways.
Legal teams, IT staff, and marketing departments should all be on the same page here. If the domain belongs to the business, it should be reflected in the record. If the domain is personal, the field should be blank. This simple step can prevent expensive disputes later.
Steps Registrants Should Take Now
Review Your Contact Records
Log in to your registrar account and view the contact information tied to your domains. Pay special attention to the “Registrant Organization” field. That is the field that now determines ownership.
Decide on Ownership
If the domain is tied to a business, ensure the business name is in the field. If it is meant to be owned by an individual, leave the field empty. Accuracy is critical because any changes to this field trigger an ownership change, which will require confirmation and verification.
Work With Your Registrar
Each registrar may display or label the field slightly differently, but they all follow the same ICANN rules. If you are unsure, contact support and confirm how they record “Organization” ownership in their system.
When Ownership Mistakes Go Wrong
This is not a theoretical risk. Many companies and individuals have lost control of valuable domains because of outdated or incorrect registration records. In some cases, the wrong person was listed as the owner, and courts or arbitrators sided with the record rather than the intent. In other cases, domains were stolen outright because ownership details left an opening for bad actors. Once a domain changes hands improperly, recovering it is often expensive, stressful, and time-consuming.
The lesson is clear: records matter. A single field in your registration data can determine whether you keep control of your online identity or lose it overnight.
How DNAccess Can Help
For those unsure about their records—or already dealing with ownership disputes—professional help is often the safest move. DNAccess specializes in investigating, documenting, and recovering domain names. That includes clarifying ownership, handling stolen domain cases, and providing expert support in UDRP (Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy) and ACPA (Anti-Cybersquatting Consumer Protection Act) disputes. The team has worked on cases where domains worth millions were on the line, and their process combines technical investigation with legal strategy.
If you’re facing a problem with your records, or worse, fighting to get back a name that was stolen or mishandled, DNAccess has the expertise to protect your digital assets. These issues are tricky, but with the right support, they can be resolved before they spiral out of control.
Closing Thoughts
ICANN’s policy brings clarity to a gray area that has caused countless disputes over the years. The “Organization” field is now more than a formality—it is the deciding factor in legal ownership. Registrants who ignore this update risk losing control of valuable digital property. Those who take the time to review and correct their records will avoid future headaches. And for anyone already caught in the storm of a dispute, services like DNAccess provide the expertise needed to sort it out and secure what’s rightfully yours.