On this page
- Overview
- How to write a terms of use
- Where to publish your terms of use
- Essential components of any terms of use statement
Overview
A terms of use agreement, also referred to as "terms and conditions" or "terms of service," are legal agreements that outline the rules, regulations, and conditions that govern the use of a website.
Organizations use terms of use agreements to establish guidelines for user behavior on their websites and to mitigate legal risks.
MC Professional has partnered with Termly to help you create and publish your organization's policies on your website. As an MC Professional customer, you have special access to discounted rates with Termly.
How to write a terms of use
MC Professional can't advise you or help you write your organization's policies, but the following resources can help you create and manage policies for your organization:
As an MC Professional customer, you have special access to discounted rates with Termly.
Where to publish your terms of use
There are multiple ways to post and share your terms of use with your website's users. Please view the articles below for step-by-step instructions on each:
- Upload your terms of use document to the Media Manager feature of your account.
- Create a terms of use article and link to it wherever you'd like.
- Add a link to your terms of use in your website footer.
- Create a consent attribute in your database to track user consent for your terms of use.
- Reach out to our support team to add a policy or consent banner code snippet to your website.
Essential components of any terms of use statement
An organization's terms of use typically include several essential components that users must agree to when using the website. Here are some suggestions:
- Introduction and Acceptance: Begin with a statement that outlines the purpose of the Terms of Use and specify that by accessing or using the website, users agree to abide by these terms.
- Definitions: Define key terms used throughout the document to ensure clarity and understanding.
- User Rights and Responsibilities: Clearly outline what users are allowed to do on the website and what behaviors are prohibited. This section may cover topics such as user-generated content, account registration, and prohibited activities (e.g., spamming, hacking, etc.).
- Intellectual Property Rights: Specify the ownership of content on the website, including copyright, trademarks, and any other intellectual property rights. This section may also address how users may use the content (e.g., personal, non-commercial use only) and any restrictions on copying, distributing, or modifying content.
- Privacy Policy: Reference or include a link to the website's Privacy Policy, which outlines how user data is collected, stored, and used. Ensure compliance with relevant data protection laws, such as GDPR or CCPA.
- Disclaimers: Include disclaimers to limit the website owner's liability for certain types of damages, errors, or inaccuracies on the website. This may include disclaimers of warranties, limitations of liability, and jurisdiction-specific clauses.
- Governing Law and Dispute Resolution: Specify the governing law that applies to the agreement and the process for resolving disputes, such as arbitration or mediation.
- Changes to Terms: Reserve the right to modify the Terms of Use at any time and outline how users will be notified of changes. Users should periodically review the terms for updates.
- Termination: Explain the circumstances under which the agreement may be terminated, including reasons for suspension or termination of user accounts.
See the Society for Conservation GIS's terms of use as an example.