Does Your Website Have Terms of Use?

Lots of startup companies are heading to the internet these days. Web 2.0 has been around so long, it feels like we should be calling it 3.0 by now.

In all that hustle to launch a website, I hope you haven’t forgotten the fine print. Those tiny links at the bottom of every website to “terms of use” and “privacy policy” aren’t just for fun. They really mean something.

To see what I’m talking about, check out the terms for a website you frequent. I examined Facebook a while ago. Visitors agree to a number of things, just by using a site. It’s legally binding.

What about your own site? Are you protecting the company you have bootstrapped into existence? If your site is interactive, that presents an even larger number of issues. Here’s a big one: do users still own the content they upload to your site?

Don’t just let your website designer copy the terms of use from another site. Every company and website have different needs. It’s best to consult an attorney before your website launches, so you can make sure all your bases are covered.

Think carefully about your terms of use and privacy policy. The fine print does matter.