Free Business Directory Website Terms and Conditions Template

This document has been updated for Brexit. References to the GDPR have been removed in favour of a simpler cross-reference to a Privacy Policy. A range of Privacy Policy templates is available in our UK GDPR and Data Protection group.

These Free Business Directory Website Terms and Conditions are designed for use on websites which provide directory listing services free of charge. Such sites may be broad ranging, covering a variety of business types; or may be more specific, targeting specific industries or sectors.

These website terms and conditions are designed for acceptance through use. Rather than being required to read them and accept them using a checkbox or similar, visitors to your website are simply deemed to have accepted the terms and conditions as soon as they start using the site. Provision is also made in this document for user accounts. An option is therefore included should you wish to make acceptance of the terms and conditions a part of the account sign-up process.

Important information about the website operator is provided, including company registration details, trading address, and details of any relevant regulatory bodies or associations. It is important to note that for certain trades and professions there may be additional information that you must supply. Members of regulated professions should include professional titles, links to professional rules and other important details. Such details are not included in this template and those working in regulated professions should seek professional advice.

Intellectual property rights are given important attention in this document. IP in user content (i.e. business listings) is treated separately from the rights in the content owned by the website operator.

Under these terms, in common with most websites offering similar features, users retain the copyright (and any other IP rights) in their content, and grant a licence to you, the website operator, by submitting it to the site. Responsibility for the content of listings also remains with users.

Of further importance with respect to the posting of listings is the Acceptable Usage Policy. Applying to the use of the website in general, but in particular to listings, the policy sets out clearly the types of material and conduct that will not be accepted. Sanctions for breach are also included.

A number of options are included in this template that allow you to choose how much flexibility to give to your users when it comes to copying and saving material from your site, as well as establishing deep-links to pages within your site on other sites. More linking provisions included in the template may also help to prohibit users from establishing links to your site from sites publishing offensive or unlawful content.

An optional reference to advertising has been included, informing users that advertising may appear on the site and/or the same page as their listing, and prohibiting them from attempting to hide or remove it. A further option explains that the website operator is not responsible for the content of advertising, pointing out who is. Note that these provisions only represent a basic example and that more complex terms may apply depending upon the source of the advertising on your website.

Disclaimers and liability provisions in this document seek to protect website operators to the maximum extent deemed reasonable.

Further key clauses address internet security, data protection, privacy and cookies (integrating separate policies into the terms and conditions by reference), and communications. All parts of this template are designed to be compatible with consumer protection legislation including, but not limited to, the Consumer Rights Act 2015.

This template is duplicated in the Internet & E-Commerce group.

Optional phrases / clauses are enclosed in square brackets. These should be read carefully and selected so as to be compatible with one another. Unused options should be removed from the document.

These Free Business Directory Website Terms and Conditions contain the following clauses:

1. Definitions and Interpretation
2. Information About Us
3. Access to Our Site
4. Accounts
5. Intellectual Property Rights and Our Site
6. Listings
7. Acceptable Usage Policy
8. Links to Our Site
9. Links to Other Sites
10. [Advertising]
11. Disclaimers and Legal Rights
12. Our Liability
13. Viruses, Malware and Security
14. Privacy and Cookies
15. Data Protection
16. Communications from Us
17. Changes to these Terms and Conditions
18. Contacting Us
19. Law and Jurisdiction

 

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