Looking to launch or expand your business presence on the Internet? Before you do so, you need to be aware of the legal traps and issues associated with:
- Choosing a domain name that doesn't violate the rights of another person or business
- Sending email newsletters, advertisements, or solicitations
- The actions of users of your website, and how you can be responsible for what they post on your website
- Blogs, and what free speech doesn't protect
- Obscene material, whether placed on your website by you, or your users
- Being sued by a website user living in a different state
Also, website terms of use and privacy policies are not just "nice to haves," but in many cases are legally required. We can quickly tell you what you need for your website. Read more information here about whether you really need website terms and conditions.
The attorneys at Pepper Law Group develop website terms and conditions policies to address a number of issues that can be important to website owners, including:
- User-generated content. If some or a significant portion of the content on your website is generated by users, you need to ensure that you are not held liable for that content. Your policy can also include a provision for removing defamatory content.
- Copyright infringement. Many sites containing user-generated content are filled with content that infringes copyrights. We can help ensure that you are not liable for the behavior of others. Your policy can include a provision for removing infringing content, including compliance with the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).
- Data privacy and security issues. What are your responsibilities for customer information stored on your e-commerce site?
- Commercial e-mail and the CAN SPAM Act. If you are soliciting business and sales via mass e-mails, you must comply with numerous federal and state laws regulating commercial e-mail, bulk e-mails and spam.
Website Privacy Policies
If your website collects information from users, it's vital to let them know what you do with any of their personal or sensitive information. Oftentimes website owners will use "stock" privacy policies that describe how they treat such personal information, only to discover that they are not following their own rules.
Too many web-based business learn about these issues the hard way, after it's too late. Don't be one of them - talk to us about your venture before you launch it, and let us help you avoid being a statistic.
Simply contact us, or schedule a consultation with one of our lawyers and attorneys.