TAGS: #trouble
COMMANDMENT #1: Always have a Terms of Use agreement. It should be hyperlinked from the bottom of each webpage. This is especially important since the Child Online Privacy Act came into effect.
COMMANDMENT #2: Always have a Privacy Policy – even if it just says a few lines about what you do with information you collect. Be aware that many of the internet delivery systems you use may collect digital information unbeknownst to you. You should not make your Privacy Policy too restrictive since you might find yourself violating it unwittingly.
COMMANDMENT #3: All sales to website viewers require a Purchase Agreement and Disclaimer that sets out the rights and obligations of buyer and seller. The positioning of this and the wording is extremely important.
COMMANDMENT #4: Be cautious with “Income Claims” in your sales copy where your sales pitch is based in part on someone being able to make income when they buy your product. You need to specifically advise that not everyone will make money.
COMMANDMENT #5: Be cautious with “Results Claims” in your sales copy where you claim that your product will deliver specific results. You must also advise that it will not deliver the same results to everyone and may not deliver any results to some.
COMMANDMENT #6: Be cautious with “Earnings Claims” in your sales copy where your sales pitch is based on your own financial success or the success of others who have bought the product. You must also tell folks that not everyone will make money and you do not claim the results to be ‘average.’
COMMANDMENT #7: Never give misleading or deceitful information on your website and never use such information to promote a product or service. You may well end up in prison if you do.
COMMANDMENT #8: Be very careful with all information that you do not mistakenly give erroneous information. You should always advise your customers or visitors that they accept all responsibility for harm caused by bad information.
COMMANDMENT #9: Do not promote pyramid schemes, Ponzi schemes, or chain letter schemes on your website. They are all illegal. Sometimes they are hard to spot, even for professionals.
COMMANDMENT #10: Do not promote ‘cures’ for anything. The fact that it may cure a disease or problem may be true. But you must remember that nothing is true in all cases. A tremendously successful modern drug that works for 80% of cases is practically a miracle. Therefore, nothing except a miracle is a cure. Besides never using the word ‘cure’ (which is an FTC hot-button), you must advise folks that your treatment plan or supplement plan will not work for everyone – and, of course, advise them that they should only do anything after consulting with a physician or other healthcare professional.
Additional information on all these subjects and many others, as well as forms you should be using (fully licensed for your use) can be found in the book Internet Law Compliance Guide.
This information should not be construed as professional legal advice or a substitution for review of your personal situation by a competent attorney well versed in Internet law as it relates to the FTC and other regulatory agencies. Consider this just the opinion of a bright guy who is a lawyer and is a successful Internet entrepreneur.
Advice about how law enforcement and regulatory agencies deal with problems and what you can do about it is discussed in detail
The Internet Law Compliance guide provides the straightforward explanations and answers for the legal issues facing webmasters, and basic forms that meet these basic requirements. The requirements listed above are not just a good idea. They are the law. If you do business online, you must comply with them. Don’t put off dealing with these issues. Get your business set up correctly now.
To order this book along with the forms; or get more information go to http://www.internetlawcompliance.com