Website Terms of Use, Privacy Policy and Disclaimers
All relevant e-commerce and website terms and conditions have been updated to comply with the June 2014 new consumer distance selling regulations.
Websites represent an important part of many businesses and take many different forms. Some only present information while others gather it; some advertise and some sell.
By choosing and using a set of website terms of use from this subfolder, you can give users a quick and easy user manual setting out their rights and obligations as visitors, customers, data subjects or even content creators.
Some website terms of use, for example, may set out a customer’s rights; others may set out the terms of use of copyright material. Whatever the type of website however, by ensuring certainty in these matters, your customers, your website and your business are all protected.
The documents in this subfolder are also available in the Website Terms and Conditions group.
- Cookie Law Guidance Notes
- Website Acceptable Use Policy
- Sale of Goods Model Cancellation Form
- Website Privacy Policy
- Basic Website Terms of Use
- Standard Website Disclaimer
- Small Business Brochure Website Terms of Use
- Small Business Brochure (+ Contact Tools) Website Terms of Use
- Small Business Website Disclaimer
- E-Commerce (Goods - B2C) Website Terms of Use
- E-Commerce (Goods by Subscription - B2C) Website Terms of Sale
- E-Commerce (Goods - B2C) Website Terms of Sale
- E-Commerce (Goods – B2B) Website Terms of Use
- E-Commerce (Goods – B2B) Website Terms of Sale
- E-Commerce (Goods) Website Disclaimer
- E-Commerce (Services - B2C) Website Terms of Use
- E-Commerce (Services - B2C) Website Terms of Sale
- E-Commerce (Services – B2B) Website Terms of Use
- E-Commerce (Services – B2B) Website Terms of Sale
- Blogging Website Terms of Use
- Free Forums Website Terms of Use
- Forums Website Disclaimer
- Free Digital Content Website Terms of Use
- Free Digital Content + User Content Website Terms of Use
- E-Commerce (Digital Content - B2C) Website Terms of Use
- E-Commerce (Digital Content Subscription – B2C) Website Terms of Sale
- Information (non-business use) Website Disclaimer
- E-Commerce (Digital Content – B2B) Website Terms of Use
- E-Commerce (Digital Content Subscription – B2B) Website Terms of Sale
- Information (business use) Website Disclaimer
- E-Commerce (IP) Website Disclaimer
- E-Commerce (Adult Content – B2C) Website Terms of Use
- E-Commerce (Adult Content – B2C) Website Terms of Sale
- Paid Business Directory Website Terms of Sale
- Paid Classifieds Website Terms of Sale
- Free Business Directory Website Terms of Use
- Paid Business Directory Website Terms of Use
- Website Terms of Use – Free Classifieds
- Paid Classifieds Website Terms of Use
- Reviews Website Terms of Use
- Free News or Magazine Website Terms of Use
- Free News or Magazine + User Comments Website Terms of Use
- Adult Website Disclaimer
- Earnings Disclaimer
- Humour Website Disclaimer
Website Terms of Use, Privacy Policy and Disclaimers is part of Business . Just £38.50 + VAT provides unlimited downloads from Business for 1 year.
Frequently Asked Questions
What information must my website show by law?
Every business website must show clear identity details under the Electronic Commerce (EC Directive) Regulations 2002: your business name, a geographic address, an email contact, your VAT number if registered and, for companies, your registration details. The information has to be easily, directly and permanently accessible, typically in the footer or a legal notice. The website terms in this sub-folder are drafted to carry these details.
Do I need a privacy policy and a cookie banner?
If your site collects any personal data you need a privacy policy explaining what you collect, why and the visitor's rights under UK GDPR. If it sets any non-essential cookies, such as analytics or advertising, you need consent under the Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations before those cookies load, which in practice means a compliant cookie banner. Strictly necessary cookies are exempt. This sub-folder provides privacy and cookie wording.
Does my cookie banner really need a reject option?
Yes. The ICO expects a cookie banner to let people refuse non-essential cookies as easily as they accept them, so an accept-all and a reject-all option with equal prominence. Pre-ticked boxes or an accept button with the refusal buried do not give valid consent, and no non-essential cookies should load until the visitor agrees. A compliant banner is part of the cookie wording in this sub-folder.
What is the difference between website terms of use and terms and conditions of sale?
They govern different things. Website terms of use set the rules for anyone visiting or using your site, covering acceptable use, your content and intellectual property and disclaimers for the information you publish. Terms and conditions of sale govern the contract when someone actually buys, covering price, delivery, cancellation and consumer rights. A selling site usually needs both. This sub-folder provides the terms of use; sale terms sit with the goods terms of business.
If my site lets users post content or reviews, what are my obligations?
It depends on how much users can interact. If your site lets users communicate with each other, for example a forum or chat, it can be a regulated user-to-user service under the Online Safety Act 2023, with size-blind duties to assess and manage illegal content that have applied since March 2025 and are enforced by Ofcom. A simple section for comments or reviews on your own content is generally treated as limited functionality and outside those duties. If you host reviews, the fake-review ban under the 2024 Act also applies.