Website ownership question...

[Curios Cat]

Hello,

I am trying to get a better grasp on the issue of who owns a website.

Last December a WHOIS search gave me the following details on the website:

Created On:11-Dec-2008 20:57:52 UTC
Last Updated On:22-Dec-2009 23:02:36 UTC
Expiration Date:11-Dec-2011 20:57:52 UTC
Status:RENEWPERIOD
Status:AUTORENEWPERIOD

However as of today I am given these details:

Created On:11-Dec-2008 20:57:52 UTC
Last Updated On:04-Mar-2010 00:25:53 UTC
Expiration Date:11-Dec-2011 20:57:52 UTC
Status:CLIENT TRANSFER PROHIBITED

The person who owned and operated the website in December is now claiming he has nothing to do with the website. however he has stated he has no idea who does now, and he has nothing to do with it.

But how can somebody else just get control of a website? Surely you would have to give / sell the account to somebody? Otherwise there is no evidence to show that you don't own it (i.e. you still do)

The registrent ID on both the December and Current versions has changed. The domain ID remains the same.

Is anybody here clued up on such matters, your help would be greatly appreciated.

[<CrGeary.com/>]

Its possible that whoever did own the domain, simply didn't bother to re-register it. In which case, after about 60 (ish) days (from when the payment was due), it can re-sold to someone else.

That new person doesn't have to have his details displayed on the WHOIS websites (unless its a company website).

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I am assuming the ID stayed the same, because its the same Domain.