Legal Question in Intellectual Property in Georgia

I own a website which I'm hoping to turn into a professional writing site. People submit their works and we give them feedback or advice, etc. The site has only been open for a year but already we're seeing interest and contributions from some people who are influential or well known in the writing community, and this is causing the site to grow pretty well. Next month we will have a new design and we're expecting a LOT more members.

Mid last year we had an issue where a member wanted to sue us if we did not remove their work from our site. We replied saying out TOS (Terms of Service) clearly stated "While members retain copyright to their work, all members grant [website] the irrevocable permission to display their posts, topics, works, blogs, and comments". Eventually the member calmed down but this situation made us aware that our Terms of Service needed to be re-written by a legal person in order to have a chance in a court room.

Our Terms are listed in numbered point form, and are pretty self explanatory. We have definitions but I've noticed in some places they seem to conflict. They arent badly written or anything horrible, all the information is there, we just need it changed to stand up in a court room if needed. Someone also said I had combined a Privacy Policy and a Terms of Service but I don't know how to rectify that unfortunately.

I don't have an income because I'm over here on a visa which does not authorize me to have a job. I also don't make money off this site in any way, shape or form.....so I'm looking for free or <$100 help with this.

Is there anywhere or anyone I can go to to get free or very cheap help without compromising on quality? I mean if it's any repayment I would be more than happy to put a "TOS created by [Name and link]" on the bottom of the page, I just need help.

Thanks for reading.


Asked on 1/28/10, 7:16 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Glenn M. Lyon, Esq. MacGREGOR LYON, LLC, Business Attorneys

It is unlikely that you will get someone to work for you for free or even so cheaply. If it is important to you, which it should be, you will need to pay for the help you need. Otherwise, you will have to prepare them yourself and run the substantial risk that the terms will not protect you.

If you would like to discuss any issues further, please feel free to contact my office. The link to my contact information is below. Thank you.

The foregoing is general information only, not specific legal advice. No attorney/client relation has been created or should be implied.

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Answered on 2/06/10, 5:19 am


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