This is a very interesting and complicated question, it really comes down to a matter of intellectual property and copyright laws. So let's explore this some. So first a web site is made of many different components, so let's talk about them first. 1. Web Server 2. Web Server Operating System 3. Web Server Platform 4. Content Management System (CMS) 5. Database Software 6. Source Code 7. HTML/CSS/Javascript 8. Visual Design 9. Web site content 10. Photography, graphics and artwork 11. Web Browser 12. Domain Name Web Server - Unless you own the server, then you don't own this. The web server is the computer running the Web Server Platform that hosts your website. This is usually and hopefully for you sake, housed in a professional Network Operations Center (NOC). For most web sites, the hosting company owns the web services or they are at least leased from the data center or NOC. Web Server Operating System - This is the software that runs on the server that makes the server, function like a computer or server (Windows, Linux...). Unless you wrote the code then you don't own this. Web Server Platform - This is the software that is running on the server (Apache, IIS...). Unless you wrote the code then you don't own this. Content Management System (CMS) - The CMS is a web application that is used to manage the administration of content for your website. Some examples include WordPress, Drupal and Joomla Again unless you wrote the code, then you don't own the CMS. In fact most software follows the same rules, you simply have a license to use the software. This even applies to Open-Source software. Database Software - This is the software that operates and manages the database on the server, some examples are MySQL, Oracle and SQL. You don't own this, it's a software thing again. However it is very possible that you own the contents of your web site that is stored in the database, that is if you are the author of it. What? You paid someone to write it, then that means you are not the owner of it. Source Code (custom programming) - This is the programmed code created in the language of the Web Server Platform that contains the logic and connectors to other software running on the server. Source code may also communicate with outside integrated system servers. Source code is what produces the output you see on the screen. Unless you authored it, the you don't own it. Again software and code is generally owned by the creator of it and you are licensed to use it. If you hired someone to write it, then this gets really trick as it starts to deal with Intellectual Property and GNU General Public License. HTML/CSS/Javascript - HTML and CSS are the building blocks of almost all websites. It is a language that browsers understand. The Javascript is programming that may alter the HTML and CSS as one interacts with the website. Since this is programming, you probably don't own it. Visual Design - Unless you designed the layout yourself, then, yep, you guessed it, you don't own it.  Intellectual property and copyright laws state that the legal owner of the web site visual design is the person that authored it Web site text content - This is the text on your web site. Unless you or an employee authored the content, then you don't own it. Intellectual property and copyright laws state that the legal owner of the web site content is the person that authored it. Your web site developer should have an agreement stating that they will give you ownership of the web site content upon completion and final payment of the project. Photography, graphics and artwork - Unless you actually took the photos or created the artwork, then you don't own it. If you had an employee take the photo or create the artwork, then there is a chance you own it. Web Browser - A web browser is the software on your computer that interprets the web site coding and renders the web site for you to see. Unless you make the browser, then you don't own that either. Domain Name - This is the name or address of your web site, www.mysite.com for example. If we didn't have domain names, then you would be required to remember IP addresses, like 192.168.1.13. Most businesses include their domain name in their branding and marketing. However, you don't own the domain name, though you are the registered domain owner. By definition, no one technically owns a domain name. As the registered "owner" you are simply paying a fee and making a licensing agreement for a third party to record the domain name into a centralized database so no two people can register the same domain name. Domain name registration with a registrar does not confer any legal ownership of the domain name, only an exclusive right of use. This is much like a phone number, you don't own it, but you are using it. When you are done with it, the phone company simply puts it back into the unused pool of numbers. "Finished Assembled Work" The website terminology that matters most is the "finished assembled work." I define this as the HTML/CSS/Javascript, visual design, and the text content that is rendered by the Browser. The entirety of finished assembled work can be saved and stored by you, and can be rebuilt with any website platform. Look for contractual terms defining "finished assembled work" and stating you own the website "finished assembled work" upon completion and final payment of the project. ...read more