Blogging Website Terms of Use

These Blogging Website Terms and Conditions are designed for websites offering a free blogging platform and blog hosting.

They are intended for acceptance through use, so visitors are deemed to accept them as soon as they start using the site. The template also includes provisions for user accounts, with an option to require acceptance during sign-up.

Best suited to platforms that host user content

This template is designed for sites where users create and share blogs, posts, and comments. It covers:

• publication and moderation of user content;
• user accounts and site access;
• the rights of both the website operator and users.

Intellectual property and sharing within the site

Users retain copyright and other intellectual property rights in their content, but grant the website operator a licence when they submit it. The template also includes provisions for reblogging and other in-platform sharing, with attribution to the original author.

Controls on conduct, links and advertising

The Acceptable Usage Policy is particularly important for blogs, posts, and comments. It sets out prohibited material and behaviour, together with sanctions for breach.

The template also includes options covering:

• links to and from the site;
• deep-linking;
• restrictions on links from unlawful or offensive websites;
• advertising that may appear on the site or in users’ blogs.

Scraping, privacy and operator protection

This template includes a clause prohibiting scraping and text and data mining, including activity commonly associated with AI training. It is intended to make such activity a direct breach of the website terms, although technical measures may also be advisable.

It also includes disclaimers and liability provisions, including a disclaimer that opinions expressed in user-generated content are those of the relevant authors, not necessarily those of the website operator. Privacy, cookies, data protection, communications, and changes to the terms are also covered.

Important information about the operator

The terms provide for key information about the website operator, including company registration details, trading address, and details of relevant regulatory bodies or associations.

Important legal point: if the operator is in a regulated trade or profession, additional information may need to be given. This template does not include profession-specific wording, so regulated professionals should take advice on what must be provided.

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