Google uses markmonitor:

Domain Name: GOOGLE.COM

   Registry Domain ID: 2138514_DOMAIN_COM-VRSN

   Registrar WHOIS Server: whois.markmonitor.com

   Registrar URL: http://www.markmonitor.com

   Updated Date: 2018-02-21T18:36:40Z

   Creation Date: 1997-09-15T04:00:00Z

   Registry Expiry Date: 2020-09-14T04:00:00Z

   Registrar: MarkMonitor Inc.

   Registrar IANA ID: 292

   Registrar Abuse Contact Email:

[email protected]

It probably looks like what Zoho should use..

Correct, MarkMonitor is a _huge_ business. Alphabet has had an account there for much longer than they have been a Registrar under Google name.

How exactly was that story of a man owning Google.com through Google domains for a few minutes possible, then?

He didn't own the name, he found a way to change the DNS records; while being registered at MM, google.com is still pointed to Google's own DNS servers.

A freak accident and lack of checks.

They're a reseller like everyone else. If I'm not mistaken they actually use eNom for customers buying domains on any of their platforms (though not for their own domains).

They're a reseller for some TLD's, and a registrar for others.

Wasn't aware they'd finally taken the plunge. Thanks for the correction.

Doesn't seem to be true, for my domain registered at Google:

Registrar: Google Inc.

Registrar IANA ID: 895

Registrar Abuse Contact Email: [email protected]

Registrar Abuse Contact Phone: +1.8772376466

Verify yourself at: https://www.iana.org/assignments/registrar-ids/registrar-ids...

Zoho is Zoho Corporation Private Limited IANA ID: 3803

I get emails for a friend's domain that was originally registered through Google Apps (G Suite) many years ago, and I see emails with "enom" in them going back all those years.

That’s before Google domains hit off