subject: Is your Website Legal? [print this page] Is your Website Legal? Is your Website Legal?
It is an arduous task trying to keep up with and understand every legislation change that may affect you or your business. In fact, even lawyers hire researchers to keep them up to speed with everything.
However, not having time to ensure you comply with regulations will not stand up in court.
Did you know there is a whole host of legal obligations you need to adhere to if you have a website? Ask yourself these questions:
Do you have legally sound terms and conditions of sale?
Do you have website terms of use clearly visible?
Do you have a privacy policy?
Do you have a landline telephone number and physical address on display?
If you are a limited company, is your company number clearly displayed? And your VAT registration number?
Do you comply with the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) regulations concerning online marketing messages?
You may or may not know that as of 1st March 2011, some major changes are happening in relation to marketing messages on non-paid for online platforms.
Up until now, the ASA's online remit' the scope of material on which it must follow up on complaints over misleading messages and indecency - has been limited to paid-for advertisements, such as banner ads and search advertising. However, from 1st March, the remit will extend to all websites, blogs and social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook, thus affecting any business that markets via any of these means.
Who can I turn to for help?
If you feel you are in over your head and are worried about legal issues, there is a solution. Your website design team, in theory, should keep themselves up to date with relevant changes in their industry and immediately spot any potential problems. It is vital you only use a web design team that keeps itself up to date and actually cares about ensuring your online presence is fully legal.
If you use a copy writer, they should be able to write within the constraints of ASA compliance so that you don't fall foul of the rules that now ban misleading marketing messages or statements that could be construed as inaccurate or indecent.
Remember, if you wish to stay within the law when it comes to your online presence, only employ professionals who are committed to keeping themselves up to date on the latest legislation.
