Do You Know Everything You Need to Know About Website Law?

Okay, so you're thinking about putting together a website with all the bells and whistles. STOP, before you go and hire someone to develop that website, make sure you know everything you need to know about website law. For starters, did you know that the person who creates your website, including the content, videos, fonts, graphics, and html source code is the owner of the copyright in that creative work--even if you paid money for it? And wait, there's more--what about Terms of Use, Privacy Statements, and those pesky little FTC rules on endorsements and testimonials? There is more to know than meets the eye. Do it right the first time.

Key Reasons You Might Want to Use an Attorney When You Build a Website

There are a lot of things you must take into consideration before you put together a website.  An attorney who understands website law can be beneficial with helping you get things done correctly—the first time around. Here are a couple of things to take into account:

• FTC Regulations:  With the intensification of ecommerce the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has implemented new regulations for conducting business online.  Some of the regulations include recent changes to endorsements and testimonials in advertising, the CAN-SPAM act which regulates email marketing, and other codes for website law that regulate ecommerce compliance.
  
  Copyright Law:  The Internet makes copying intellectual property very easy, so it is important to protect the content that you place on your website.  As a website owner and disseminator of content, you should make sure you are in compliance with US Copyright Law. If you have employees and website designers, they should be in compliance as well.  An attorney can also advise you in the event of copyright infringement on your part, or on the part of your employees.
  
  
• Trademark Law:  When you establish your business as a brand online it is important to protect your brand with trademark registration. A registered trademark establishes your credibility and protects your brand name.  When consumers see the trademark symbol next to your brand name they will instantly associate that trademark with you, your products, and/or your services. A knowledgeable trademark attorney can offer guidance on how to select a trademark that can be protected, how to protect such a mark, and advice on avoiding trademark infringement.
  
  
• Web Hosting Agreements:  A lot of web hosting companies place excessive fine print in their agreements and if you are unfamiliar with some of the tactics that are used such as bandwidth usage, you could end up inadvertently agreeing to something that will cost you in the future.  A website law attorney can review the contract with you before you sign on the dotted line.
  
  Domain Names:  Selecting and protecting your domain name is especially important since it identifies your brand name and your business. As the Internet continues to grow, there are a lot of legal issues that can transpire if you are not aware of regulations relating to the use of domains.  A competent internet attorney can advise you accordingly.
  
  Interested in someone to guide you on the legal issues relating to the internet and web site law? Why not give Francine a call, or email her. Looking forward to helping you protect your valuable creative work.
  

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