Many webmasters believe they have won a reprieve from possible prosecutions under the Bush/Ashcroft regime. I agree that the government has better more important issues to confront at this time and we will probably not see any
Federal prosecutions.
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"I say that you can design a site, which can legally protect you, and still have high conversion ratios." |
Now I also urge adult webmasters to use this time to clean up their house and learn to protect themselves from the possibility of future prosecutions. Webmasters really should look at this time as a gift and use it to the fullest to protect themselves. I would recommend that webmasters look at their sites and other sites and seriously think what potential legal problems can arise. They should then practice
WEB DESIGN WITH LEGAL IN MIND
The concept of web design with legal in mind is where you understand the problems that can arise and address as many as possible in the actual design of your website. Now I understand that many webmasters love designing their sites solely for the purpose of increasing conversion ratios and clicks. I say that you can design a site, which can legally protect you, and still have high conversion ratios. You really can have your cake and icing too in this situation.
The way to design with legal in mind is that from the inception of your websites concept you will take into account legal realities, concepts and laws.
Here are some points I discuss with clients when they plan the entry pages to their websites:
- Don't show actual sex on the front door of your site
- Add Terms Of Use And Entry Disclaimer
- 2257 Disclaimer For Each Image
- No Actual Sex On Tour Pages
- Be Careful On Use Of Extreme Language
- Require Acceptance Of Terms and conditions
- All External Links Must Have Disclaimer
- View Content For Obscenity
- Add Additional Non Adult Content
- Contact Adult Attorney For Review
- Statement that surfer is viewing web legal content
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Again, I have my clients address these issues when planning just the front doors to their websites. The actual members or picture galleries will have other legal issues that we discuss.
Each of the above web design issues has an underlying legal principal that can get the Webmaster in trouble.
If you show actual sexual intercourse on the front door of the site you are giving law enforcement a reason to consider you a "bad webmaster." Lets be honest most law enforcement officers really consider adult entertainment un-important in the big scope of crime.
You can go to any strip club in America and find at least one or more law enforcement officers enjoying good old American entertainment. As long as you don't get out of hand most officers are content to look the other way.
Now lets take these same police officers that have visited that American strip club. They find their 11-year-old son surfing the Internet and enjoying the sex scenes that you have on the front door or tour pages of your site. You are now a "bad webmaster" and these law enforcement officers may try and find a way to prosecute you.
Designing your website with legal in mind could have prevented any possibility of these law enforcement officers from ever caring about your website. That is the real key to web design with legal in mind. You want your site to convert surfers, make money and be a safe for you to operate as possible.
If you would like to down load a copy of the "Web Design with Legal in Mind Checklist", make sure to visit AdultSiteLaw.com.