Q: is there a way to reset your apple id without knowing the previous owners id

If you purchased a phone that has the original owner's apple id, then contact that person and have them remove the device from their icloud account.

Hopefully that answered the question because you slightly had me confused

if you cannot find the previous owner be aware iPhone may be stolen

Activation lock is the new front line against iPhone theft

If you cannot find the owner it is paperweight there is no way to activate it

see here

http://support.apple.com/kb/PH13695

If you are referring to the Activation Lock, as Waikeet guessed, see the section titled "What if I purchase a device that is still linked to the previous owner's account?" in this support article:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5818

If that's not what you meant, please post back and clarify.

Regards.