Become a Freelance Web Designer: Legal Issues

If you can't see this email, click here

Become a Freelance Web Designer Legal Issues From Jennifer Kyrnin, your Guide to Web Design / HTML As a Web designer there are a lot of legal issues you need to be aware of. The most common infraction is with copyright - either someone steals your work or you inadvertently steal theirs. But there are also issues around linking, privacy, and even kids online. I am not a lawyer, and I don't know all the relevant laws that may apply to you in your area, but here are some of the ones that most designers need to know about. Copyright Copyright on the Web Just because something is on the Web doesn't make it legal to copy it and put it on your own Web page. Are Web Designs and HTML protected by copyright? Web designers and developers work hard to create their Web pages, and it can be very infuriating to spend days or weeks on a design only to find it being used on some other site a few months later. HTML, CSS and the designs they create are protected by copyright. Free Content Might be Stolen - Don't Violate Copyright There are a lot of reprint sites available on the Web, but you should be aware that free can sometimes come with a hidden price - especially if the site is a reprinter that violates copyright. Even if you have added the content completely innocently, if you are hosting plagiarized content, you could be held liable. Always check the sources of your free content - and beware of reprint sites. Linking The Legalities of Linking Is it legal to link to sites outside your own? What are the legal ramifications to linking to other sites? Privacy Are You Invading Your Customers' Privacy? Privacy isn't always a legal issue, but it is getting more important and may become one in the future. And requiring information that may be considered private could affect how customers view your site. Privacy Policies and P3P Learn how to post your privacy policy as an XML file that is computer readable. Children and the Internet COPPA While COPPA has since been overturned, there are other laws that may be in place in your juridiction that affect how you build your websites, especially if you're building sites for children. This email is written by: Jennifer Kyrnin Web Design / HTML Guide Email Me | My Blog | My Forum   Missing a lesson? Click here. About U. is our collection of free online courses designed to help you learn a new skill, solve a problem, get something done, or just learn more about your world. Sign up now, and we will email you lessons on a daily or weekly basis. You are receiving this email because you subscribed to the About.com 'Become a Freelance Web Designer' email. If you wish to unsubscribe, please click here. About respects your privacy: Our Privacy Policy Contact Information: 249 West 17th Street New York, NY, 10011 © 2010 About.com   Advertisement