The High-touch Legal Services® Blog…for Startups!

© 2009-2021 Dana H. Shultz

Changing Online Terms of Use: How Detailed Must Notice Be?

Blue change button

In “Changing Online Terms of Use? Be Sure to Give Notice First!“, I explained that if you are going to change a website’s terms of use, you first need to provide notice that the terms have been changed and explain how they have been changed. This post – based on a Quora question and my answer – discusses how detailed the notice must be.

Unfortunately, there are no definitive rules regarding the level of detail that the notice must contain. I have two guidelines that I like to follow.

First, each change should be described briefly with reference to the applicable section or paragraph number. Examples:

  • Section 7 – The order processing fee is increased from $5.00 to $10.00 effective January 1, 2011.
  • Section 11 – Your indemnification obligations have been broadened.
  • Section 15 – You now agree to waive your right to a jury trial for any dispute that arises under this Agreement.

Second, if you are in doubt, a prudent approach is to provide more, rather than less, detail in the notice.

Check out all posts about online terms.

Photo credit: iStockphoto

Dana H. Shultz, Attorney at Law  +1 510-547-0545  dana [at] danashultz [dot] com
This blog does not provide legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. If you need legal advice, please contact a lawyer directly.

Categories
Contracts, Online Terms