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Business

Jenny Swift
Jenny Swift
21,999 Points
Posted by Jenny Swift
Jenny Swift
21,999 Points

terms of service for my web application

Hi, do I need a terms of service for my web application? If I don’t have one am I at risk of getting sued? What types of things could I get sued for?

If I do need a terms of service, I would like it to be in English and not legal jargon. Is this possible or is it necessary for it to be legal jargon?

Do I need a lawyer to write a terms of service? If yes, where do I look to find one please?

1 Answer

Ryan Field
PLUS
Ryan Field
Courses Plus Student 21,242 Points
Ryan Field
Ryan Field
Courses Plus Student 21,242 Points

Terms of service are written in "legal jargon" for the purpose of clarity (even though sometimes it feels like ToS text is anything but) to protect both you and your users. You can have an outline of your ToS that is written in more comprehensible language, but be aware that you will likely not be able to convey the entire ToS in 'normal' English, and that a proper ToS will, most likely, require a lawyer.

You can get into grey areas with things like users uploading content, storing private information, usage of your application by minors, and repercussions in the event of a security breach, to name but a few.

On the other hand, if it's just a small application to be used by you and your friends, you should be fine, but be aware that the larger your user base become, the more unprotected you are by not having a ToS.