Basic Website Terms of Use

The Basic Website Terms and Conditions are designed for simple, non-interactive websites that provide straightforward content and do not include e-commerce features or online contact tools. They are best suited to websites operated by individuals or micro businesses.

At a glance

• For simple websites with no online sales or contact tools
• Accepted by visitors through use of the site
• Covers operator information, intellectual property, disclaimers, liability, and acceptable use
• Includes a clause prohibiting scraping and text and data mining
• Links to suitable privacy policies and alternative website terms where needed

Use these terms for a simple website with no online sales or contact features

These terms are intended for websites where visitors access content only and do not interact with the site through ordering, enquiries, live chat, or similar tools.

The terms are designed to be accepted through use, so visitors are deemed to accept them as soon as they begin using the site.

Cover operator details, content use, and key legal protections

The terms include important information about the website operator, including company registration details, trading address, and details of any relevant regulatory bodies or associations.

For certain trades and professions, website operators may be required by law to provide additional information. Members of regulated professions should include professional titles, links to professional rules, and other relevant details. Those details are not included in this template, and anyone working in a regulated profession should seek professional advice.

Intellectual property rights, including copyright, are protected by the terms. The template includes two alternative versions of the intellectual property clause, allowing a choice between a more restrictive approach and a more flexible approach to saving and copying material from the site.

The terms also cover links to and from the site, disclaimers, liability, viruses and security, acceptable use, and how personal information is used. The liability provisions distinguish between consumers and business users.

Include restrictions on scraping and AI-related data use

This template includes a clause prohibiting scraping and text and data mining, including practices commonly used in the development and training of AI models. The clause is intended to make those activities a direct breach of the site’s terms of use.

It is also recommended that technical measures are used to help protect website content from scraping and text and data mining.

Pair these terms with the right privacy policy and choose other website terms where needed

The terms refer to other policies that may also apply, such as a privacy policy.

If your website collects only minimal technical or contact details, the most suitable companion document is the Basic Limited Data Website Privacy Policy. If your website collects broader personal data but does not use cookies, the alternative is the Basic No Cookies Website Privacy Policy.

Alternative non-e-commerce website terms are also available where a site goes beyond a basic, static format.

• Small Business Brochure Terms and Conditions are more suitable for brochure-style websites that showcase a business without selling online. They include additional disclaimers for no online sales, general information only, separate offline or direct contracts, and possible differences between website information and actual products or services.
• Small Business Brochure (+ Contact Tools) Website Terms and Conditions include the same general framework as the brochure version but add provisions for online contact features such as contact forms or live chat. They define contact tools, set rules on acceptable and unacceptable communications, state that communications will be monitored, and confirm that personal information shared through those tools is subject to the Privacy Policy.

What these Basic Website Terms and Conditions cover

• Information about the website operator and how users can contact the operator
• Access to the site and changes to the site or the terms
• Intellectual property rights and permitted use of site content
• Scraping, text and data mining restrictions
• Links to and from the site
• Disclaimers, liability, and security provisions
• Acceptable use, personal information, and law and jurisdiction

Basic Website Terms of Use is part of Business . Just £38.50 + VAT provides unlimited downloads from Business for 1 year.