Legal for course creators: Terms of Use with your students (S4E85)

Legal for course creators: Terms of Use with your students (S4E85)

Author: Autumn Witt Boyd | Go-To Lawyer for Online Entrepreneurs May 6, 2019 Duration: 33:41

Terms of Use, Terms of Service… whatever you call it, you might not think of it as a contract, but it is – and an important one at that! This week's solo episode is all about this critical contract between you and your customers, students, or clients.

In this episode, you'll learn:

  • Where your TOU must be linked on your website
  • The 11 terms you should include in your TOU to protect you and your students
  • Why including more strict terms in your TOU is always better, and how you can be gentler when difficult circumstances come up
  • Why including a "refunds at our discretion" clause is a bad idea
  • How your TOU can give you a way to resolve issues with someone stealing your intellectual property, without having to file a costly copyright or trademark lawsuit

Key takeaway: Unlike your website's privacy policy, TOU are not required by law, but they are the legal foundation of your course business.  Strong TOU will put you and your customers on the same page and will save you a lot of legal headaches.

BONUS: Head over to www.awbfirm.com/course for instant access to our brand new, free masterclass, 3 Legal Protections Your Course Business is Probably Missing, and our legal checklist for course creators (plus you'll be the first to know when new episodes are live).

Resources:

Contract templates: www.awbfirm.com/contract-templates

AWB Firm Masterclass: www.awbfirm.com/course

This podcast is information, not legal advice specific to your situation.


Navigating the legal landscape of an online business often feels like deciphering a foreign language. Legal Road Map®: copyright, trademark and business law info for online entrepreneurs translates that complex language into actionable advice you can use right away. Hosted by Autumn Witt Boyd, a practicing attorney who focuses specifically on creative and digital businesses, this podcast serves as a reliable guide through the common yet confusing legal questions entrepreneurs face daily. Each episode tackles practical topics, from the essential contracts you need to protect your work and client relationships to understanding the real purpose behind website policies like terms of service and privacy notices. You’ll hear clear explanations on how copyright and trademark law applies to your original content, branding, and products, helping you secure your intellectual property without unnecessary jargon. Think of it as a regular consultation with a trusted expert, designed to demystify the law so you can make informed decisions and focus on growing your venture with greater confidence and security. Tune in for straightforward conversations that replace legal anxiety with a practical plan, making this podcast an invaluable resource for any entrepreneur building a business in the digital space.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Legal Road Map®: copyright, trademark and business law info for online entrepreneurs
Podcast Episodes
Legal for course creators - independent contractors (S4E91) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:40
You're a busy entrepreneur, and you *probably* can't handle every single task it takes to create a successful online course. You'll likely need to enlist the help of graphic designers, copywriters, videographers, and mor…
Legal for course creators - payment plan problems (S4E89) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 34:01
If you sell an online course, digital product, or do business online, you may offer payment plans to your customers. But what do you do when the customer stops paying? In this episode you'll learn: If it's possible to to…
Legal for course creators: Student problems  (S4E87) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:56
If you are providing an online course or digital products to students, members, or customers, you're bound to come across a few tricky situations sooner or later. But are you doing all you can on the front end to prevent…
Course creator interview: Jaclyn Mellone on contracts (S4E84) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:52
Go-to gal Jaclyn Mellone joins Autumn on the podcast to talk about the importance of contracts and her atypical path to running a successful online business. In this episode, you'll learn: Why new practices, without doin…
Legal for course creators: Privacy Policies & GDPR (S4E83) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:32
If you're running an online business, it's highly likely that you're collecting some form of personal information from your website visitors. But do your visitors know what happens to their data once they've given it to…
Legal for course creators: Website legal musts (S4E81) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:31
Your website is the front door to your amazing online course. But if you don't include the right legal documents on your site, it's like leaving your door wide open. In this episode, you'll learn: Which documents are req…