Common Website Legal Concerns
Almost all businesses have their own website nowadays. Operating a website is a great way to market your business, sell items, and gain new customers.
However, there are restrictions as well as compliance issues that need to be addressed. You cannot simply post whatever web content you desire. There are things you must include and be aware of to avoid liability issues. Take a look at some common concerns that business owners face when it comes to creating their websites.
Inadequate Content Disclaimers
The absence of a disclaimer leaves you with no protection at all. A website disclaimer is important because if your website content causes harm to a consumer in any way, you could be held liable. A properly written disclaimer should cover every element of content that your website incorporates. Consider an opt-in agreement or a page or section that outlines the terms and conditions of the use of the website.
Intellectual Property Issues
Intellectual property is a tremendous corporate asset. A trademark or patent can make or break your company’s success. You must not only respect the intellectual property of others, but you must also protect your own.
If your website infringes on a patent, trademark, copyright, or trade secret, it could be removed. If you rely on your website for sales, the consequences can be catastrophic. That’s why you need to create a detailed policy that addresses intellectual property use so that everyone in your organization acts in compliance with the law.
Defamation
Defamation refers to false statements about a person or a company that can damage their reputation. Defamation covers both slander and libel, but libel is more common in regards to web content, since it refers to false written statements. A statement is considered defamatory if it is published to a third party (such as your website) and the information is clearly false. Therefore, be careful about content that you and your employees post on your website.
Domain Name Issues
Domain name issues can happen in a couple of ways. One is typosquatting, in which someone registers a domain name that’s similar to an existing one, except it includes a typo in hopes that web users reach it by accident. Typosquatters usually make money off paid advertising.
Pagejacking occurs when someone copies part of an existing website and puts it on another domain to make it look like the original. Pagejacking often uses phishing schemes to gather passwords, account numbers, and personal data from users.
Learn More About Domain Names and Website Transactions
Operating a website is not always easy. There are many legal issues involved, so it’s important to stay compliant.
Orlando business lawyer B.F. Godfrey from Godfrey Legal can address your legal concerns and help you avoid common mistakes as you build your business’ website. Call (407) 890-0023 or fill out the online form to schedule a consultation with our office.
Source:
blog.pagefreezer.com/common-legal-issues-web-content
