Writing the general conditions of use (CGU) of a website can be a real headache.
And, as their writing is not a legal obligation, many website owners do not bother to create it. Serious error!
Although they are optional, general conditions still have a real legal value. So, how to write them as well as possible? How are they so important? Discover all the answers as well as a Free CGU model To simplify your life.
If you entrust your site to a service provider, consider asking him to include the writing of the CGU in the website price To avoid having to write them yourself.
What is the CGU of a website?
The general conditions of use (CGU) of a website should not be confused with General conditions of sale (CGV).
- The former are used to regulate the use of a service (in this case a website);
- The seconds are used to supervise commercial relations (sale of good, service contractetc.)
The general conditions of use are therefore the equivalent of a contract signed between the users of the site and its owner.
Thus, the two parties undertake to respect the terms of this contract: hence the need not to take it lightly.
However, for the general conditions of use to have real contractual value, it is still necessary that the users of your site have accepted them: you must therefore submit them to the agreement of your new visitors.
Read too :: Write your General Conditions of Sale
What is the interest of the CGUs for the publisher of a site?
The main interest of the general conditions of use is that they allow the publisher of the website to relieve themselves (or, at least, to limit its responsibility) in the face of a certain number of situations.
Your CGU can for example make sure:
- Whether you are not made responsible in the event of abusive or defamatory remarks made on your site by a user (it is particularly useful for sites containing a forum or cat);
- Likewise in the event of publication by a third party of content protected by copyright;
- Whether you do not have to ensure continuous operation of your site (which can therefore be interrupted to carry out maintenance or updates) …
They are also useful to clarify your use of the personal data of your visitors, in order to avoid any complaint linked to compliance with privacy.
What do the general conditions of use contain?
The general conditions of use may contain a variety of information on the website, in particular:
- The legal notices of your site ;
- The object and the scope of the T & Cs;
- The conditions of access to the site and, if necessary, of creating an account (member, customer);
- Information on the services offered on the site as well as its content;
- The methods of collecting personal user data;
- The number of your declaration to the CNIL, if applicable;
- The editor's responsibility for intellectual property;
- The responsibilities and obligations of site visitors;
- Rules relating to hypertext links;
- Applicable law and competent jurisdiction in the event of litigation.
- The rules framing any changes to the T & Cs …
E-commerce sites can also write their General Conditions of Sale (CGV) and their CGU in a single document.
Free CGU model
To simplify your life and allow you to write your general conditions of use in a jiffy, we offer you a free CGU model.
You will only have to replace the words between hooks with your own information to obtain general conditions of use containing the essential information.