Does anyone else starting singing “Too legit. Too legit to quit… Hey! Hey!” If not, you should get on the bandwagon because it’s cool! Okay, not really, but now that it is stuck in your head, let’s take about what makes you legitimate on the internet. Also, just to be clear, these are likely more boxes a lawyer is looking for than maybe the general public. However, I think that the more educated you are about these issues, the more you notice if the websites you visit have also checked these same boxes.
First, does your website have a page dedicated to the terms and conditions? Terms and Conditions are the legal boundaries and protections you set for yourself. The various parts of your terms and conditions will depend on what service or product you are providing. It is a placeholder to put all the legal items that govern your practice but do not fit into the privacy policy.
Second, does your website include a privacy policy? Are you planning on having your services or products purchased or used in the EU? The EU has a strict policy regarding the collection and use of personal data. To be GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) compliant, you must not only detail what data you collect, how you collect it, but also give the visitor your contact information. California has the California Consumer Protection Act, and Utah has the Protection of Personal Information Act. Both require similar information to the GDPR. The bottom line to all of the various privacy regulations is that the enforcement of the laws includes a hefty financial penalty.
Third, do you have a copyright notification at the bottom of your website? The notification, either (c), ©, or “All Rights Reserved” is not required, but does provide a written cue that you, as the owner, understand your curated content (designs, written content, blogs, pictures) is not free to use. It is hard to prevent people from taking images and written content from your website. The notification is easy to add and only serves as a deterrent for those who would otherwise feel entitled to use your images or original content.
Fourth, do you have a registered entity? I realize that I am very vocal about my belief that a legal entity is both beneficial from a legal perspective, economic perspective, and branding perspective. (See my other blog post about whether to get formed or not).
Fifth, do you have any special licensing requirements? If you are a contractor or other profession that requires special licensing add that information to your website. You can include it in the terms and conditions or in your “about me” page.
Okay, so now you know what boxes I look for- how does your website measure up? Are you legit or do you have some work to do?