Domain Name Registrant: "name holder", not "name owner"

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The Internet industry doesn't actually recognise a web domain name "owner". The term "Registered Name Holder" is used for the person or organisation in whose name a web domain is registered.

Provided that you, the Registrant (i.e., Registered Name Holder), have:

a legitimate right to register a particular name,
pay renewal fees promptly by the due date and
adhere to the terms and conditions of use specified by the relevant registering authority,

you may exercise the rights specified in your Registrar's terms and conditions of use.

These terms may state that the Registrar reserves the absolute right of ownership. (For more information on this, see article at www.domainhandbook.com/property.html)

IMPORTANT: The registration and renewal processes employ automated systems - failure to pay renewal fees by due dates may result in expiry and loss of your rights to the name. As a result of which the system will show the name as available for anyone to register.

This also exposes you to a common Internet scam, whereby fraudsters register a recently expired domain name and charge the previous registrant a considerable sum to buy it back!