Online Terms of Use – What Should We Include?
This post about online terms of use is based on a Quora question that I answered today. The question and my answer are reproduced with minor edits below.
Q. What things should I include in an online terms of use agreement for a new internet startup?
A. Assuming that your lawyer is experienced at drafting terms of use, s/he will be able to contribute the required knowledge of relevant legal issues.
Your input is critical with respect to the specific needs of your business:
- Identify the various classes of users of your site.
- For each class, describe the business relationship between users and your site / business. Include risks and other issues that particularly concern you.
- Examine the terms of use for similarly-situated existing sites to uncover additional issues that you may not have thought of on your own.