"You'd
better get a Lawyer son..."
Twice I've heard those sobering words
from other people since I started working online. Twice people have threatened
to sue me because they thought I was doing something that infringed on their
rights.
Both times I had done nothing wrong and
it was simply a misunderstanding...but you never know how it's going to turn
out.
That's why asset protection is so vital
when you own a business, especially an online business.
You'll have people from all over the
world visiting you, and you just never know what sort of attitudes, beliefs and
problems they'll bring with them.
One day you may write an article that
looks surprisingly similar to something somebody's published in an obscure
document a few years back. The author will arrive at your site, think
you've found their article and copied it word for word, and claim you've
breached their copyright.
Or one of your Newsletter subscribers
may send you a note mentioning a strategy she's been thinking about using and
ask for your opinion.
Then when you do something similar
(even though you've been setting it up for weeks anyway on your own before you
even heard from her), she'll think you stole her idea and want to drag you
though court to prove her case.
Don't think it
can't happen to you, because it can...
The majority of the general population
is unfortunately burdened with a chronic 'Lack' mentality.
Most people feel that for them to
succeed, someone else must lose out. If you 'steal' their idea,
then they have to get you back.
They don't realize that online in
particular, there is absolute abundance.
Every 'competitor' is actually a
potential joint venture partner (although if they have a 'lack' mentality, you
don't want to partner with them - I know, I've made this mistake before).
Here's the problem -
-
Every
product can be improved on and has some similarities to other competing
products.
-
Every
customer or client is not just 'theirs', although some of your competitors
will think you stole 'their' customers by selling them your product which is
similar to theirs
These customers are going to buy stuff
from all sorts of other people as well. Just because somebody buys something
from you, it doesn't mean that they are 'your' exclusive customer.
But somewhere there is probably one of
your competitors who thinks this person belongs to them, and if they feel you've
stolen their customer, they'll make it their personal mission to ruin your life.
You
have to protect yourself from these types of
people.
You need asset protection...
Before you get too far into building
your new web business, I urge you to consult a legal adviser and set up a
protective structure around yourself and your assets.
Let's hope you never need it, but if
you do and you haven't set up your asset protection structure before hand, it's
too late then.
So what do you need?
To cover myself, I have put a Privacy
Policy (including a Children's Privacy Policy) and Terms
Of Use page on all of my websites. Plus the websites are owned by a
Company/Trust Structure and not me personally. You may want to consider doing
something similar for yourself.
I used a product called Auto
Web Law to create my Terms Of Use and Privacy Policy Templates. It's
recommended by other Internet marketing pros and could be suitable for your
needs as well.
Like I said, check with your legal
adviser so you know you're covered.
And take a look at Auto
Web Law. It could save you a whole heap of heartache.
That's it for this lesson.
Keep up the great work building your
new site, and I'll be back next week.