Protect your blog and yourself by using the free website terms and conditions template that is available to download below. Using it, you will let anyone know that your blog may be accessed and used only under your terms and conditions.
How and why to use website terms and conditions to protect your blog
Website terms and conditions, which may also be named ‘Terms of Use’, ‘Website Terms of Use’, ‘Website Rules’ and so forth, perform a very important role. You should always use such a document for the following reasons:
#1. A legal agreement between you and your readers
By launching your blog and publishing articles, expressing your opinions maybe even offering third-party products you start providing services. Even if you have no such intentions and receive no income from blogging, you become an entrepreneur. Website terms and conditions perform a function of a legal agreement between you and your readers. Each and every lawyer will confirm that a written agreement is the best option how for protecting yourself from claims, lawsuits and so on.
In the case there are no terms and conditions on your website, any disputes between you and your readers will be solved under the general requirements of legal acts. Believe me, not all of them will be in your favour. For example, in most cases, your liability before your readers will be unlimited (read below).
This important provision is included in the website’s terms and conditions, which can be downloaded free of charge here below.
#2. Terms and conditions may eliminate your unlimited liability
In most countries individuals’ liability is unlimited. So, if things go wrong, you risk suffering huge losses. For instance, you have a blog dedicated to cryptocurrencies. One day you receive a claim from your reader stating that he or she lost US$1,000,000 because cryptocurrency value decreased by 50% one month after the reader purchased them. He bought crypto coins after reading your blog post encouraging your readers to buy crypto because you expected their value to go up.
Terms and conditions may eliminate your unlimited liability by stating that the blog owner shall not be responsible and liable for any content published on the website. All information available on the website is for informational purposes only.
The clause limiting a blogger’s liability is included in the terms and conditions that may be downloaded here below.
#3. To protect your content
Not all people understand how much time you spend on creating your content. Some people think that they can freely use all and any piece of content available on the Internet. Such a way of thinking is absolutely wrong and to protect your intellectual property, add to the terms and conditions sections prohibiting other persons from copying or downloading articles, images, etc. without your permission.
Such a clause is included in the terms and conditions.
#4. To prohibit readers’ abusive behaviour on your website
If your readers may leave comments, upload or download any content and so forth they may do that in a way abusing you or other people. Terms and conditions serve as a tool expressing your attitude towards such behaviour and warning persons visiting your site that they cannot act improperly on your site.
Provisions prohibiting abusive behaviour are included in the terms and conditions.
#5. To set the governing law
Anyone from anywhere may access your website. So, any person from any country may accuse you of anything and start stating that a dispute must be solved under the law of his native country. That may be against your interests if, for example, you live in the United Kingdom and the reader accuses you lives in China. You wouldn’t want to solve your dispute in China and under Chinese law.
In the terms and conditions, you will see blank fields in the section “Governing Law”. Add in them your country of residence or, if you are a digital nomad, your native country or any other country whose laws you are familiar with.
Draft your unique terms and conditions
It is very difficult to create something from scratch. For this reason, to prepare your website terms and conditions, use the ones available below or search for another free template that may be available on the Internet; however, it is always recommended to review the template and adapt it to your special needs. Each website is unique, and each website owner may have unique needs.
While drafting your own terms and conditions, read similar documents that are available on other websites. You will find ideas on what might be included in your own terms. For example:
Free website terms and conditions template to download
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Images from Pixabay.
Disclaimer: The information provided on this blog does not, and is not intended to, constitute legal advice. All information and materials that are available on this blog are for general informational purposes only.
