Privacy policy - terms and conditions

[CC123]

Hi,

I'm in the process of launching an online clothing brand.

Do I need to arrange for a solicitor to create me a privacy policy and the terms and conditions, or can I use another website as a template and just adjust so that it fits mine?

Tia

 

[obscure]

The content of most websites is protected by copyright. Copying their T&C and then adjusting them would be an infringement of copyright. Given that T&C are generally similar and, if you change them significantly, it is possible that they may not realise - but the longer the terms are up on your site the greater the chance of getting caught and the greater the penalty becomes. All to save a few £ in the short term.

Also, do you know enough about the law to know what T&C you actually need for your site or if the changes you make are legally valid?

Conclusion
T&C are there to protect your business. If it turns out they are not legally binding, not suitable for your needs or result in you getting sued for infringement then they haven't really protected you.

 

[CC123]

Thank you for your reply!

I will contact a solicitor and hopefully they will be able to do one for me.

 

[Nochexman]

Dan Marchant is absolutely right, of course, and I would not contradict his advice, but if it was my start-up business, and I probably didn't have a lot of money to begin with, I'd borrow the privacy policy from another similar website - with appropriate wording changes, after all, you should understand any policy you have on your website, and make a note to self to review this question in six months time. If you are starting-up focus on making a sale - everything else is a distraction. Good luck!

 

[TotalWebSolutions]

There are templates available for this and depending on the ecommerce platform you use they could be included (Shopify for example has a T's and C's generator).

 

[Deleted member 59730]

you should understand any policy you have on your website, and make a note to self to review this question in six months time.

Write a list of what terms you want and then write them out assuming your customers are stupid idiots. Keep writing until you are certain there are no misunderstandings. Beware of solicitors who just use a bought in template.

 

[CC123]

Thank you everyone! Some great advice.

I may have a go at doing my own using a template and then have a solicitor look over it to check I haven't missed anything crucial.

 

[Businessquotes]

Hi CC123,

Read the guide from the ICO on Privacy policies - Google ICO Privacy Policy Advice. Understanding your privacy policy is equally as improvident as having one, there will be times in the future when it will come into play. Ripping someone else's off could leave you wide open in the future as you have no idea if their PP was ripped off from somewhere else and is legally correct. GDPR is also coming so most PP's will be amended in May. Use the ICO guide to write your own then get a solicitor to review it, this should keep the costs down.

 

[CC123]

Thank you! I will do that.

 

[Businessquotes]

No problem - let us know how you get on - would make a good blog post on here.