10. Lease-to-Own Domain Purchases
10.1. Definitions
LTO Domain: A domain name purchased via SellerHub under a Lease-to-Own (LTO) installment plan.
LTO Term: The period during which the Buyer makes recurring installment payments for the LTO Domain.
Service Fee: Any fee disclosed upfront at checkout for costs such as renewal or platform services.
Spaceship Holding Account: A secure custodial account in which the LTO Domain is placed and safeguarded by Spaceship during the LTO Term.
Custodial Registrant: Spaceship may appear as the registrant of record for the LTO Domain during the LTO Term solely in a custodial capacity, without acquiring beneficial ownership rights.
10.2. Payments and Refunds
All installment payments received are non-refundable.
Buyers may cancel future installment payments at any time, but will immediately forfeit all rights and access to the LTO Domain.
Payments are processed by third-party providers. Buyers agree to comply with the terms and conditions of such providers in addition to these Terms.
10.3. Domain Transfer and Custodial Holding
Seller Transfer: Once an LTO Agreement is initiated, the Seller shall transfer the domain into one of Spaceship’s designated registrar accounts. Spaceship will then consolidate the domain into its primary Spaceship Holding Account.
Custodial Registrant Role: Spaceship may be listed as the registrant of record during the LTO Term solely as a Custodial Registrant. This designation does not transfer ownership to Spaceship. The Seller remains the beneficial owner until the Buyer completes all installment payments.
Limited Buyer Access: After consolidation, Spaceship may grant the Buyer limited platform access to the LTO Domain. This access allows the Buyer to:
- Configure and update DNS settings, including nameservers and records.
- Request renewals and other basic management functions made available by Spaceship.
Restrictions: The Buyer shall not have registrant-level control of the domain during the LTO Term. Beneficial ownership rights remain exclusively with the Seller, with Spaceship serving only as custodian, until all installment payments are completed.
Final Ownership Transfer: Upon full completion of the LTO Term or early payoff, Spaceship shall transfer registrant ownership of the domain to the Buyer, granting unrestricted ownership rights.
10.4. Buyer Obligations
The Buyer agrees to use the LTO Domain lawfully and responsibly. The Buyer shall not:
- Engage in practices that may devalue the LTO Domain, including black-hat SEO tactics, keyword stuffing, hidden text, doorway pages, or spam.
- Grant or assign third-party rights in relation to the LTO Domain.
- Act in any manner that could negatively impact the LTO Domain, SellerHub, or Spaceship’s services.
- Use the LTO Domain for any illegal activities, including but not limited to fraud, phishing, distribution of malicious software, or infringement of intellectual property rights.
10.5. Pricing and Fees
All installment pricing and any applicable fees shall be disclosed upfront at checkout.
No undisclosed or additional administrative fees will be applied during the LTO Term.
10.6. Early Payoff
Buyers may pay the remaining balance at any time with no additional fees.
Upon early payoff, Spaceship will immediately transfer registrant ownership of the LTO Domain to the Buyer.
10.7. Default and Termination
Grace Period: If the Buyer fails to make an installment payment when due, Spaceship will provide notice. The Buyer shall have five (5) business days to cure the missed payment (“Grace Period”). If payment is not cured within the Grace Period, the Buyer shall be in default.
Effect of Default: Upon default, the Buyer will lose all rights and access to the LTO Domain. No refunds shall be issued for payments already made.
Seller Reversion: In the event of default, the LTO Domain shall remain under Spaceship’s custodial control. Spaceship will notify the Seller and request transfer instructions. The Seller shall have up to twelve (12) months, or until the next renewal date of the domain (whichever occurs sooner) to reclaim the domain by providing transfer instructions. If the Seller fails to act within that period, Spaceship may, at its discretion, renew the domain at the Seller’s expense or otherwise dispose of the domain consistent with industry practice.
Spaceship’s Role: Spaceship acts solely as custodian and facilitator and shall not acquire beneficial ownership rights in the LTO Domain. Spaceship will not resell or reassign the domain except as expressly authorized by the Seller.
10.8. Purchase Protection
If a domain cannot be transferred to Spaceship or subsequently to the Buyer due to technical or administrative reasons, the Buyer shall receive a 100% refund under Spaceship’s Purchase Protection Program.
10.9. Indemnification
Buyer Indemnification
The Buyer agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless both Spaceship and the Seller from any claims, damages, liabilities, costs, or expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising out of:
- the Buyer’s use or misuse of the LTO Domain;
- any violation of these Terms by the Buyer; or
- any third-party claims resulting from the Buyer’s activities involving the LTO Domain.
Seller Indemnification
The Seller agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Spaceship from any claims, damages, liabilities, costs, or expenses (including reasonable legal fees) arising out of:
- disputes or claims between the Seller and the Buyer regarding the LTO Agreement;
- the Seller’s misrepresentation of rights or authority in transferring the LTO Domain to Spaceship; or
- any claim that Spaceship, acting as Custodial Registrant and facilitator, is liable for obligations that properly belong to the Seller under the LTO Agreement.
10.10 Scope of Spaceship’s Role
For clarity, the LTO Agreement is a direct contractual arrangement between the Buyer and the Seller. Spaceship’s role is strictly limited to facilitating installment payments, maintaining custodial control of the LTO Domain during the LTO Term, and providing managed access for Buyer use. Spaceship does not assume any liability for the performance, obligations, or representations of either the Buyer or the Seller.
