Light check on ten client sites: seven legal notices still show the old shared host, two confuse registrar and host, one shows a generic "Europe" address without phone. No dispute yet — until a report or an institutional partner asks.
In France, LCEN requires sites published in the territory to publish the host identity: designation, address, and phone. This is not an SEO formality. It is the contact point authorities and third parties use for illegal content notifications and abuse procedures. A post-migration error is common — and easily fixed if you know where to read the right entity.
Where to find the right information
The invoice or hosting contract shows the exact legal name — not only the marketing brand on the provider website. The client area or host terms often include a "legal notice" section with coordinates to republish.
If in doubt, ask support in writing which designation to publish for LCEN compliance. Do not confuse roles:
| Role | Example | Publish as host? |
|---|---|---|
| Web host | OVH, Infomaniak, Ionos | Yes |
| Domain registrar | Gandi, Namecheap | No (unless also hosting) |
| CDN only | Cloudflare proxy | No instead of host |
| Reseller agency | Agency "hosting included" | Entity that actually stores |
Publishing your web agency name instead of the host does not waive the obligation — and delays useful notifications.
Process after each migration
Identify the legal entity on the new invoice from the first payment. Update footer or legal notice page on DNS switch day, not "when we have time". Check mirror pages: app, landing pages, forgotten subdomains.
Keep a dated screenshot of the updated page — useful in audit or client due diligence. If you are a reseller, publish your publisher coordinates and upstream host coordinates per your legal status; have counsel validate white-label models.
Links with hosting and abuse
Exact coordinates speed abuse procedures and takedowns under digital economy trust law. Compare providers on legal transparency via the directory before signing.
A host that clearly publishes LCEN coordinates and a dedicated abuse@ channel signals operational maturity — distinct from "compliance" marketing.
The peak: the broken mailbox
Decide and move forward without blind spots
Audit your sites this week by comparing the legal notice host line with the current month's invoice. Fix all concerned sites in one pass, including subdomains and side apps. Add "verify legal notices" to your migration checklist to avoid repeating the error. If changing provider, use the compare tool to also compare legal clarity on host profiles.
Frequently asked questions
Which host information is mandatory in France?
Designation, registered office or main establishment address, and host phone (LCEN art. 6 III). Not just the shared product commercial name.
Must I mention the reseller or datacenter?
The entity storing content contractually — not CDN alone or separate registrar.
What to do after a migration?
Immediate update on switch day; verify legal entity on new invoice and subdomains.
Must a site hosted abroad show a French host?
No — exact coordinates of the hosting entity, foreign accepted if correctly stated for a site published in France.
Hosting legal notices are verified in one line — the invoice you pay this month.