I was knocked for a loop tonight. I am constructing a website..well, actually, my son is constructing it, I am writing content.

He's pretty good. Self taught... taught himself programming codes, and I'm pretty proud of him. He's become quite proficient.

Anyway, the site is coming along fabulously. It's a site where people can go to learn new words..improve their vocabulary. It is going to have the mother of all word quizzes, and a word a day feature, all written by yours truly. We have a great, unique domain name, and the home page stands out visually real nice.

The functionality is improving and growing every day, and we may be a week or two from opening.

BUT, here comes the biggie. Tonight I gave Jonathan a break from programming, and I said let's go to the corner store and get something to drink. In the car he said to me "Dad, we need to start thinking about creating our terms of use. We have to do that so no one will sue us."

I replied: "Huh?? Sue me for what?" "For teaching them new vocabulary words?" "It's not like they are trying to rob my house and tripped on my doorstep and broke their leg on the way in. It's just a place where they can go to read and learn new words. What possible harm or injury can come from that?" He replied, "Oh, No! They can sue you for anything. They will make something up. Like some one could say. "I stayed up all night reading your website, and I was late for work the next day, and lost my job. So it's your fault and I'm taking you to court."

Then I realized that he's probably right. I'm a walking dollar sign to someone out there in internet land. probably a group of people.

So I asked him "So, how do we write it then? I don't know the first thing about legalities." He said "Oh, we either do it ourself or hire a lawyer."

A lawyer???? That hit me between the eyes.

We've spent weeks, and lots of time and brain power designing this site, and now I may not be able to put it on the web until I can come up with the money for a lawyer.

Fellows this sucks.

Does anyone here have any idea how to go about writing one's own terms of use? Does anyone here speak legalese?

I'm familiar with thousands of rare, and useful vocabulary words, but that legalese talk is just a little beyond me.

It kills me to think my baby may not get off the ground until I can come up with the dough to hire a *gasp, choke, sputter* l...a..w..y..e..r.

I just hope and pray that MagicSanta's boarder doesn't learn about you until after you get the legalistic boilerplating done.

Huh? Please explain.

Sorry, I assumed you were following Santa's story, about his boarder who is quick to sue and take advantage of people:

http://www.themagiccafe.com/forums/viewt......um=32&39

A 'boarder' implies someone who pays. He is a 'freeloader'. Thank you.

Hey Doug, just put "enter at your own risk"

No. I had not been following the story.

There is one aspect of this guy so horrific I've never publicly or privately voiced it but he did something that had I killed him I likely would have been let go.

I think I have the problem licked. I found a website where I can buy a down loadable pre-written terms of use form for a paltry ten bucks. It says and attorney would charge almost 400 bucks to draft the form.

Okay...I have something to admit. When I saw that your son was concerned that you would come up with a web site that would have people staying up all night looking at it made me giggle.

Well, I'm putting together the mother of all word tests. My goal is to have at least a thousand words on that test. At this point it's almost up to 500. So conceivably a person could stay up all night doing the test.

I have copyrighted the letters "a", "x", and "q". If you use any of these letters on your site, I will sue.

I also have trademarks for the words "tasty", "luminous", "aardvark", and "moist", so those are off limits, too. Go ahead and try to use them. My lawyer and I need the money.

LOL!!

Daffy there is a site for that will allow you to create a terms of service and privacy policy. I wrote to the instructor of a class I took for the site will post once I get it.

George P

"My goodness. That new microwave made the baked aardvark both moist and tasty... pity it also seems to be luminous!"

Sue me and I'll get Ernest Hemingway's estate on you for stealing his look!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MrasWkqkamk