Do I need legal pages on a website?
I am a web developer, not a lawyer but one thing I do know is that legal pages on a website are a crucial and often forgotten part of website design and development.
Design and content are important when creating a website, but legal pages are just as crucial. Ignoring these pages could have serious consequences, as they are not just a formality. Legal pages can put your website at risk, and not understanding the rules could result in a lawsuit or worse.
You may question if you need legal pages on a website when the goal for you is to just present your services and attract potential clients.
This article will examine the significance of legal pages on websites and the necessary components to ensure lawful and ethical operations. It will also address the potential repercussions of not having these pages in place and how it can affect your business. Upon completion of this article, you will have a comprehensive understanding of why legal pages are imperative for any website.
What is a Privacy Policy?
A Privacy Policy is a document that details the handling of personal data on a website, including its collection, usage, sharing, and other pertinent information.
A Privacy Policy is required when a website collects personal information through contact forms or email newsletter sign-up forms.
Why is a Privacy Policy important?
Creating a privacy policy can prevent potential penalties or legal actions.
To comply with privacy laws in both the US and globally, websites that collect personal information must have a Privacy Policy in place.
- European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR);
- United Kingdom’s Data Protection Act 2018 (UK DPA 2018);
- Canada’s Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA);
- Australia Privacy Act of 1988;
- The California Online Privacy Protection Act (CalOPPA);
- The California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA);
- Delaware Online Privacy Protection Act (DOPPA);
- Nevada’s Revised Statutes Chapter 603A;
- Colorado Privacy Act (goes into effect in 2023); and
- Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act (goes into effect in 2023).
The laws aim to protect consumers in certain states and countries, requiring businesses that operate there to comply with regulations if they conduct transactions, collect personal data of residents, or offer goods and services in those areas.
Penalties for breaches of privacy laws can be costly.
Why you need to keep your Privacy Policy up to date
Several states have proposed privacy legislation that would require websites to collect personal information. These bills have varying disclosure requirements and impose penalties for non-compliance. Additionally, some states may allow consumers the option of suing businesses that do not have a compliant Privacy Policy.
Complying with various state privacy laws may be necessary for businesses that receive inquiries from multiple states.
My Recommendation for legal pages on a website
Termageddon
Termageddon is a Privacy Policy generator that can ensure your website’s policies stay up-to-date with any changes in the law.
Termageddon is a Privacy Policy generator that has been listed as a trusted privacy technology vendor by the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP.org) for a considerable amount of time.
For a monthly or annual fee, you will receive the following policies to protect your website:
- Privacy Policy;
- Terms of Service;
- Disclaimer; and
- End User License Agreement.
Does my website really need a Privacy Policy?
Websites that collect personal information, such as name and email on their contact forms, are required to have a Privacy Policy according to several laws.
- General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR);
- UK Data Protection Act 2018;
- California Online Privacy and Protection Act of 2003 (CalOPPA);
- California Privacy Protection Act (CCPA);
- Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act (PIPEDA);
- Delaware Online Privacy and Protection Act (DOPPA);
- Nevada Revised Statutes Chapter 603A;
Several states are considering implementing privacy laws that would mandate most businesses to have a Privacy Policy and would impact how it is written, necessitating frequent updates.
I have collaborated with Termageddon as I believe it is the most effective solution to avoid legal action and penalties concerning the need for a Privacy Policy.
Why do I need Terms of Service?
Terms of Service serve a dual purpose: answering common customer questions and mitigating potential legal liability.
- The provision of information regarding refunds, order cancellations, and returns for products and services can assist in addressing customer inquiries and facilitate the purchasing process.
- Implementing this feature on your website can safeguard your intellectual property by clearly indicating to visitors that your logo, name, and other assets are under your ownership.
- Including links to third-party sites on your website, such as social media links, can be a safeguard if a user contracts a virus from the third-party website.
Do I need a disclaimer?
You need a Disclaimer if you do any of the following on your website:
- Display advertisements;
- Display or sell health products (e.g. vitamins and supplements);
- Participate in affiliate programs (e.g. Amazon Affiliates);
- Provide health and fitness advice or tips; or
- Provide any information or tips that could be seen as legal advice.
The use of a Disclaimer can assist with meeting disclosure obligations, allowing participation in specific affiliate programs that require a Disclaimer, and reducing the risk of any unexpected complications.
Is it possible to create legal pages myself?
It’s not a good idea to create your policies because there are many laws and legal opinions to consider. Not having enough knowledge could result in incomplete, inaccurate, and non-compliant policies. Privacy laws change often, meaning you need to update your policies regularly, which takes away from your business. Termageddon can help by providing automatic updates to keep your policies current.
Is it possible to request that my lawyer write my legal pages?
Hiring a lawyer to draft these documents may result in significant costs, and regular updates will require revisiting the lawyer and incurring additional expenses.
Is my business considered too insignificant to warrant attention?
Proposed and passed laws do not limit enforcement and liability to large companies, potentially impacting small businesses.
Consumers prioritise privacy protection regardless of company size and may choose not to purchase from businesses that do not respect their privacy.
Can I copy someone else’s Privacy Policy?
Copying someone else’s Privacy Policy and modifying it to fit your website is a copyright infringement and could result in a lawsuit.
Additionally, you cannot guarantee that the policy complies with current laws and will not update automatically. This means that you must keep track of changes to the law, which are frequent. It is much simpler, less time-consuming, and safer to have Termageddon create a policy for you.
Can I use a template?
Using a free online template for your policies may be tempting, but it’s risky as you can’t be certain of its accuracy or legal compliance.
Templates don’t update automatically, which means that you’ll need to keep track of changing laws yourself.
Termageddon is a proven policy generator that does great work and updates the policies for you. It’s the best option.
Am I collecting personal information on my website?
Personal information is collected on a website if a contact form requests the user’s name, email, or phone number. Additionally, personal information is collected if the user’s email is required to sign up for an email newsletter.
Is a Privacy Policy necessary even if my site is secure?
The presence of a Privacy Policy on a website is necessary if personal information is collected, regardless of the level of security on the site.
There are no privacy laws in my state. Is a Privacy Policy really necessary?
Privacy laws apply to all websites that collect personal information, regardless of their location. It is important to have a Privacy Policy to protect the privacy of website visitors, including those from California who access websites all over the United States.
You need to have a Privacy Policy if you collect personal information on your website, regardless of how secure that personal information is once it’s given to you
There are currently no privacy laws in my state, does that mean that I don’t need a Privacy Policy?
The laws that are in place and that are proposed protect the residents of that state, not the businesses.
People from California aren’t just going to websites of businesses located in California, they go to websites all over the United States. This means that you need a Privacy Policy if you collect personal information on your website, regardless of where you are physically located.
What do these pages look like?
Take a look at my Legal Pages
- My Privacy Policy
- My Terms of Service
- I use a cookie consent plugin to display cookie consent as needed.
Pricing For Legal Pages For A Website
Termageddon has a price rise starting July 1, 2023, and regular retail pricing ($10/mo or $99/yr per license) for both new and existing subscriptions will change to $12/mo or $119/yr per license.
Why does Termageddon charge a recurring fee?
Termageddon charges an annual fee for its service. The service updates your policies automatically when the law changes. The US has two new privacy laws – California and Nevada.
The United Kingdom has also made changes.
Other states are proposing new privacy laws. Termageddon conducts research, studies, and changes to your Privacy Policy for you.
