Does paying for a domain renewal fee give me any rights?

[johntmcii]

A friend purchased a domain name as the registrant, and, after one year, my friend paid the renewal fee; however, when the renewal fee came due on the third year, I paid the renewal fee for his domain name-- would I have any legal rights to his domain name since I paid his renewal fee in the second year?

If not, where is the ICANN rule that specifically addresses this issue?

 

[mis_chiff]

as you stated twice in your post "it is HIS domain"
it's in his name, if you don't have a separate agreement, business or personal that includes the ownership,
it's all his

 

[johntmcii]

...it's all his

Thanks for the reply.
I agree with that assumption, I was just hoping to get some help with where the authoritative law or rule (ICANN?) in the U.S. that would support it is located. I've waded through some of the ICANN rules, and I assume that's the correct place that defines the registrant's rights, but guiding me in the general vicinity of the rule for this scenario would be appreciated.

 

[NPer]

The agreement that you made with the registrant, does not involve ICANN.

That's almost like paying the annual license fee on your friends car for one year,and now you are hoping that the state authority dealing with traffic-related issues, will transfer rights of ownership of the vehicle to you. What you want, sounds extreme.

Doesn't work that way. If the agreement was that paying the annual license fee would allow you to own the car, then that is an agreement with involves you and the owner. The Traffic department could care less that you paid the fee when the car was/still is owned by your friend. The license fee on a jalopy and a Maserati is the same. Paying the license fee on the jalopy could be the same as the value of the jalopy... that you can take to the small claims court. If you paid the license fee for your friends car, and it's a Maserati... forget about even taking that issue to court-you'll look ridiculous and probably lose.

Clearly you should see the logic in why t your "friend", is the owner.

So...is the domain a jalopy of a domain, or is it a name with (some) value?

If you feel your "friend" should pay you or compensate you...take it up with him.
If that fails,then you can take him to a small claims court.

You say his your "friend", but what kind of friend wants ownership of his domain..for just paying a measly renewal fee?

Surely there is more to friendship than $10?

 

[johntmcii]

The agreement that you made with the registrant, does not involve ICANN.

Thank you for the clear explanation and analogy. Now I see the logic in why my friend is the owner, but just to be perfectly clear:

When there is a purchase of a domain name, the "deal" is simply between the buyer (registrant) and the seller (authorized seller of domain names), right? Then when I look at WhoIs, the "Registrant" is the legal owner as provided by the domain name seller, i.e., "Registrant" = "Legal Owner".​

 

[NPer]

Thank you for the clear explanation and analogy. Now I see the logic in why my friend is the owner, but just to be perfectly clear:

When there is a purchase of a domain name, the "deal" is simply between the buyer (registrant) and the seller (authorized seller of domain names), right? Then when I look at WhoIs, the "Registrant" is the legal owner as provided by the domain name seller, i.e., "Registrant" = "Legal Owner".​

When your buddy "bought" the domain, he may have registered it himself-with a registrar. Here the agreement is between your friend and the registrar.

If he bought it from someone, that is; the previous owner, that agreement would've been between him and the previous owner. There is also an agreement which your friend has with the registrar where the domain is held.

The listed registrant has the rights to the domain...you could say this person is the "Legal Owner" of the domain.

 

[johntmcii]

When your buddy "bought" the domain, he may have registered it himself-with a registrar. Here the agreement is between your friend and the registrar.
...
The listed registrant has the rights to the domain...you could say this person is the "Legal Owner" of the domain.

Thank you for your help. That answered my questions.