In the Digital Age, It Is Important For Businesses To Make Sure Their Online Presence Won’t Lead To Unintended Website Liability
In the digital age, even most small businesses have a website. Whether you use your website to sell products or simply advertise your services, it is important to make sure that your online presence won’t lead to unintended website liability.
Some of the most common website pitfalls revolve around intellectual property. To avoid possible exposure to a copyright or trademark litigation lawsuit, it is imperative to ensure that all content used on the website is owned by your business or properly licensed.
Many businesses learn the hard way that just because images are readily downloadable from the Internet, they are not free to use without permission. Since photographs are automatically protected by copyright when they are created, businesses must generally obtain the owner’s permission — often in the form of license — prior to using them. Many “stock” images are actually owned by licensing companies that aggressively police the Internet for images that are used without permission.
Protecting Website User Privacy
Privacy should also be a top priority, given the legal and reputational harm that can result from a data breach. While the terms will vary by industry, every business should include a detailed privacy policy on their website that addresses the various types of private data collected from users and how it will be safeguarded and used by the company in the future.
Depending on the type of business, privacy policies may also need to comply with a range of state and federal laws, such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, and the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act.
Website Legal Disclaimers
Business websites may include legal disclaimers, the specific nature of which will depend on the nature of the site and the business. The basic premises of a disclaimer is to seek to limit the liability that could arise from the website by defining the rights and responsibilities of your business and website users. Other issues typically addressed in disclaimers include advertising and links to third-party websites. Importantly, your sites may also be appropriate for the inclusion of click-on agreements with your users.
Finally, it is also important to remember that what you write online can be used against you in a lawsuit. For instance, lists of business locations, service areas, or locations of customers could impact personal jurisdiction or venue issues. In addition, statements about your products or services that are misleading or inaccurate could also result in a false advertising claim and harm your company’s credibility.
IP Infringement: What Steps Can You Take If You're Affected?
IP infringement occurs when someone uses your intellectual property without your permission or beyond the scope of the permission you granted. Common examples of IP infringement include copying a product’s patented features or using a trademarked logo in a way that is likely to confuse consumers about the source or affiliation of goods or services. […]
Public Allegations, Unfinished Investigation: What New Jersey Businesses Should Do Next
When facing public allegations of wrongdoing, companies should not let the speed of the public conversation dictate the speed of an investigation. An investigation designed to confirm a preferred narrative rather than establish the facts can create serious problems later, particularly if litigation, regulatory scrutiny, or employment claims follow. Key Takeaways When public allegations surface […]
BESS Interconnection: Managing Grid, Cost, and Schedule Risk
For battery energy storage system (BESS) developers, securing equipment and site control is only part of the development equation. A project must also connect to the electric grid, and increasingly, BESS interconnection is one of the biggest sources of schedule, cost, and contractual risk. Key Takeaways This article is Part 3 of our Battery Storage […]
Navigating Director and Officer Liability in Times of Financial Distress
Director and officer liability increases sharply when a company is in financial distress. Decisions that would draw little attention in a healthy business can later be challenged by creditors, shareholders, bankruptcy trustees, and regulators as breaches of fiduciary duty, fraudulent transfers, or oversight failures. Understanding where that exposure comes from, and how to manage it, […]
Before You Buy: Managing Real Estate and Permitting Risk for BESS Projects in New York and New Jersey
For developers pursuing battery energy storage system (BESS) projects, finding the right property is only the beginning. BESS site selection is as much a legal and transactional exercise as a real estate decision, with risk analysis central to the project’s ultimate success. Key Takeaways The core questions for BESS site selection in New York and […]
What Business Owners Get Wrong Before Meeting a Litigation Attorney
What should you expect when meeting a litigation attorney about a business dispute? You should expect to describe the dispute in your own words, hand over the most important documents, flag any deadlines or immediate threats, and leave with a clearer picture of the problem, what information is still needed, and the likely next steps. […]
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