When starting a blog, one of the first things you need to do is decide what rights you want to grant your readers. For example, should they be able to comment on your posts, reprint your content for their own use, or use your images without permission?
Now that you’ve decided on these rights, you need to put some guidelines in place for how they can be exercised. This is where terms and conditions come in.
A term sheet is a legal document that outlines the terms and conditions of a contract. It’s usually used when two parties are negotiating a deal, and it helps to ensure that both sides understand what they’re getting into.
Similarly, a blog Terms and Conditions document outlines the terms under which your readers can use your content. It should spell out who owns the rights to the content, what they are allowed to do with it, and any penalties for breaking the rules.
Some good things to include in a terms and conditions document are:
-Who owns the copyright to the content?
-What rights your readers have to reproduce or use the content?
-What penalties will be levied for breaking the rules?
-When will new posts be made?
-Who can comment on posts?
-Can blogs be quoted or used in other publications?
-Can bloggers sell products based on their content?
While not mandatory, it’s always a good idea to have a Terms and Conditions document posted on your blog so readers know what they are getting into before clicking “I agree”.