{"id":203733,"date":"2021-03-18T13:41:05","date_gmt":"2021-03-18T00:41:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/?p=203733"},"modified":"2021-03-23T16:11:45","modified_gmt":"2021-03-23T03:11:45","slug":"does-my-online-business-need-a-comments-poli","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/e-commerce\/does-my-online-business-need-a-comments-poli\/","title":{"rendered":"Does My NZ Online Business Need a Comments Policy?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Comments are a good way for your business to receive customer feedback. Users may also find some worth in interacting with each other, discussing their usage of your products or services. However, if you do allow comments or other user-generated content, you should do your best to regulate this area on your website. You can do this with a comments policy<\/span>.<span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> You can incorporate <\/span>one <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">into your <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/e-commerce\/policies-procedures-nz-online-store\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">website terms of use<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> or keep as its own separate document. This article will explain:&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">what a comments policy is;&nbsp;<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">when you may need one; and&nbsp;<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">what legal issues you should know about if you accept user-generated content.<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">What Is a Comments Policy?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A comments policy is a set of guidelines for your website\u2019s visitors and users<\/span>. It <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">sets some ground rules for user conduct. If you allow harmful or abusive content in your website\u2019s comments or forums, not only would that reflect poorly on your business, you may face legal repercussions as the host of those comments.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A<span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> comments policy<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">will outline exactly what kind of comments or content you do not allow on your website. This may include personal attacks or racist and discriminatory language.&nbsp;You would also detail that you reserve the right to ban users or delete comments that go against your comments policy (or website terms of use)<\/span>,<span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> which users agree to when interacting with your site.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"box box--info box--icon\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">For example, say that you run an online marketplace, and two people get into a heated argument in the comments of a listing. You do not usually have to interfere, but if those comments turn harmful, discriminatory, or abusive, you may lose credibility as a responsible online moderator.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">When Would I Need a Comments Policy?<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Y<span style=\"font-weight: 400\">ou m<\/span>ay <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">allow users to post comments or their own content on your eCommerce website, whether through forums or in a comments section on product listings<\/span>. In that case, i<span style=\"font-weight: 400\">t would be a good idea to have a comments policy. A comments policy can <\/span>be<span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> a clause in your website terms of use <\/span>or its<span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> own fleshed-out w<\/span>ebsite <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">page. No matter its form, you could cover:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">prohibited conduct;<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">grounds for account termination;<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/e-commerce\/how-to-handle-personal-data-for-an-ecommerce-business-in-new-zealand\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">privacy issues<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">;<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">legal disclaimers limiting your liability; and<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">copyright notices.<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n<a href=\"#content-next\"\n   class=\"block p-4 mt-10 text-xl font-bold text-center text-white no-underline bg-gray-800 rounded-t-xl\">\n    Continue reading this article below the form\n    <i class=\"text-xl 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View our <a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/privacy-policy\/\" target=\"_blank\">Privacy Policy<\/a>. <\/div><div id=\"field_2452_8\" class=\"gfield gfield--type-hidden gfield--input-type-hidden gform_hidden field_sublabel_below gfield--no-description field_description_below field_validation_below gfield_visibility_visible\"  ><div class='ginput_container ginput_container_text'><input name='input_8' id='input_2452_8' type='hidden' class='gform_hidden'  aria-invalid=\"false\" value='http:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/203733' \/><\/div><\/div><div id=\"field_2452_13\" class=\"gfield gfield--type-hidden gfield--input-type-hidden gform_hidden field_sublabel_below gfield--no-description field_description_below field_validation_below gfield_visibility_visible\"  ><div class='ginput_container ginput_container_text'><input name='input_13' id='input_2452_13' type='hidden' class='gform_hidden'  aria-invalid=\"false\" value='generic_form' \/><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n        <div class='gform-footer gform_footer top_label'> <button type=\"submit\" id=\"gform_submit_button_2452\" class=\"gform_button button\" onclick=\"gform.submission.handleButtonClick(this);\" data-submission-type=\"submit\"><span class=\"gform_submit_button__text\">Submit Now<\/span><\/button> <input type='hidden' name='gform_ajax' value='form_id=2452&amp;title=&amp;description=&amp;tabindex=0&amp;theme=gravity-theme&amp;hash=8d907caff460821c366ed2411b0c45b3' \/>\n            <input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='gform_submission_method' data-js='gform_submission_method_2452' value='iframe' \/>\n            <input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='gform_theme' data-js='gform_theme_2452' id='gform_theme_2452' value='gravity-theme' \/>\n            <input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='gform_style_settings' data-js='gform_style_settings_2452' id='gform_style_settings_2452' value='' \/>\n            <input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='is_submit_2452' value='1' \/>\n            <input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='gform_submit' value='2452' \/>\n            \n            <input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='gform_currency' data-currency='AUD' value='rbaUqhnldwv6qXVjsziefmqB1gIWeXkzKomIAGNTXGk\/XmVehtIrYnX8e149qun6HRdYIXfEeOKdjsL3VV1PZ006U36fslSbxIGZmWD5ytOL06c=' \/>\n            <input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='gform_unique_id' value='' \/>\n            <input type='hidden' class='gform_hidden' name='state_2452' value='WyJ7XCIxNFwiOltcIjIyODY0N2ViMWU3NTcxZjA4YTY4NGJmMDcwMTk3Y2I0XCIsXCJiMzk3YmQ1MDBmMmFjNjk1ODE4MzdmNTBhYTA2MzQ0OFwiLFwiNGYyNGZkZGEwMzlkNDUxMWFhZGE1NGYwZmQwZmNiZTdcIixcIjUyMmJkMDE2M2I2ZmEwOTI3NDZhZjU5YTg0ZmM1NDk5XCIsXCIzODRlNjk1YjQxMTAzMWFiYmQ2ODEyMGYyZWFhMDYyNlwiLFwiYjkzNDcwNTE2MjkxOGRjZWViMjQzNzRjNmE0NGVmNTlcIixcIjQxMTliODZhMzVjYzJiMWViNDZiMmQ4NjRlNGUzZmNjXCJdfSIsIjQ3MjNiMzA2ZDIyZGVkODA2N2YyMjYyOThkYzI1ODVmIl0=' \/>\n            <input type='hidden' autocomplete='off' class='gform_hidden' name='gform_target_page_number_2452' id='gform_target_page_number_2452' value='0' \/>\n            <input type='hidden' autocomplete='off' class='gform_hidden' name='gform_source_page_number_2452' id='gform_source_page_number_2452' value='1' \/>\n            <input type='hidden' name='gform_field_values' value='' \/>\n            \n        <\/div>\n                        <\/form>\n                        <\/div>\n\t\t                <iframe style='display:none;width:0px;height:0px;' src='about:blank' name='gform_ajax_frame_2452' id='gform_ajax_frame_2452' title='This iframe contains the logic required to handle Ajax powered Gravity Forms.'><\/iframe>\n\t\t                <script>\ngform.initializeOnLoaded( function() {gformInitSpinner( 2452, 'https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/wp-content\/themes\/legalv-v6\/img\/spinner.svg', true );jQuery('#gform_ajax_frame_2452').on('load',function(){var contents = jQuery(this).contents().find('*').html();var is_postback = contents.indexOf('GF_AJAX_POSTBACK') >= 0;if(!is_postback){return;}var form_content = jQuery(this).contents().find('#gform_wrapper_2452');var is_confirmation = jQuery(this).contents().find('#gform_confirmation_wrapper_2452').length > 0;var is_redirect = contents.indexOf('gformRedirect(){') >= 0;var is_form = form_content.length > 0 && ! 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This can <a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/commercial-contracts\/enforceable-terms-and-conditions\/\">be difficult in an online space<\/a><\/span>. Therefore, <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">make sure that users have ample opportunity to read through your comments policy by displaying it prominently.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">You cannot cover everyone that visits your site<\/span>. However,<span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> you can make sure that your comments policy is easy to find. <\/span>P<span style=\"font-weight: 400\">rovide a link to your comments policy (or the larger policy containing it) at the bottom of <\/span>each<span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> page o<\/span>n<span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> your websit<\/span>e.<span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"box box--info box--icon\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If you allow other types of engagement with your website, you may get a more active acceptance.For example, if users need to create an account or link a social media account to post comments, then include a tickbox saying that they agree to abide by the rules set out in your comments policy or website terms of use.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Safe Harbour and Online Comments<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">The law provides protections for victims of bullying and harassment online, outlining legal avenues for these victims. If someone else posts harmful or harassing content on your website or comment forum, you may be legally responsible for what they say if you do not take appropriate steps.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">You can absolve yourself of this responsibility by following the \u2018safe harbour\u2019 process, which the Harmful Digital Communications Act outlines. The point of this process is to make sure you are a responsible online content host<\/span>. This includes <span style=\"font-weight: 400\">being responsive to reports of bullying or harassment and dealing with them promptly.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This is not mandatory<\/span>. However,<span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> <\/span>i<span style=\"font-weight: 400\">f you follow the safe harbour process, you can protect yourself against liability if someone uses your website comments to post harmful or discriminatory content. You need to:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">have a clear method of contact for your users;<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">ensure that making a complaint is an accessible and easy process;<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">outline what information a complaint needs (such as a name and contact details); and<\/span><\/li><li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">actively check for complaints of this nature, keeping within time frames.<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">When you receive a complaint about another user\u2019s content, you need to forward that complaint to the author within 48 hours, taking out any personal information in the complaint. They then have 48 hours to respond to the complaint and provide their counter-arguments. If they do not respond, then remove the offending content within 48 hours.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"box box--info box--icon\">\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If the author disagrees with the reasons provided for the take-down notice, you do not have to take down their comments. But, if the content goes against your comments policy or website terms of use, then you can.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Key Takeaways<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">If users can post comments or their own content on your business\u2019 website, then it may be a good idea to include a comments policy or similar. This would provide some rules on what users can say on your website and limit your legal responsibility if someone posts harmful or harassing content. If you would like more information or help with your business\u2019 comments policy, contact <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/online-business-ecommerce-lawyers-lp\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">LegalVision\u2019s New Zealand online business lawyers<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> on 0800 005 570, or fill out the form on this page.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Frequently Asked Questions<\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"schema-faq wp-block-yoast-faq-block\"><div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1616026794414\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>What is a comments policy?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">A comments policy is an online set of guidelines that outlines what kinds of comments you prohibit on your website.\u00a0<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1616026810085\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>When do I need a comments policy?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">It can be a good idea to have a comments policy if you have a commenting function on your website or if you have public forums. You can have a separate policy or incorporate it into your website terms of use.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1616026817536\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>What goes into a comments policy?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">Your comments policy would detail what kinds of comments are prohibited on your site, such as those that use hateful language or break the law. You would also put in any relevant legal disclaimers around copyright and liability.<\/p> <\/div> <div class=\"schema-faq-section\" id=\"faq-question-1616026824234\"><strong class=\"schema-faq-question\"><strong>Am I responsible for what people say on my website?<\/strong><\/strong> <p class=\"schema-faq-answer\">\u00a0<br \/>Generally, you are not responsible for user comments on your website. But, if you do not respond to complaints of someone being bullied or harassed on your site, then you could be potentially liable because you are the website host.<\/p> <\/div> <\/div>\n<div class=\"not-prose m-feedback-prompt\">\n    <!-- Thumbs up\/down bar -->\n    <div class=\"m-feedback-prompt__main\">\n        <div class=\"m-feedback-prompt__title\">Was this article helpful?<\/div>\n        <div>\n            <!--span class=\"m-feedback-prompt__button--text\">Thanks!<\/span-->\n            <button type=\"button\" class=\"m-feedback-prompt__button m-feedback-prompt__button--yes\"\n                    data-analytics-link=\"feedback-prompt:yes\" aria-label=\"Agree\">\n                <i class=\"fa-regular fa-thumbs-up fa-3x\"><\/i>\n            <\/button>\n            <button type=\"button\" class=\"m-feedback-prompt__button m-feedback-prompt__button--no\"\n                    data-analytics-link=\"feedback-prompt:no\" aria-label=\"Disagree\">\n                <i class=\"fa-regular fa-thumbs-down fa-3x\"><\/i>\n            <\/button>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n\n    <!-- Feedback form -->\n    <div class=\"m-feedback-prompt__form\">\n        <div class=\"m-feedback-prompt__form--thanks \">\n            <div>Thanks!<\/div>\n            <p>\n                We appreciate your feedback \u2013 your submission has been successfully received.            <\/p>\n        <\/div>\n        <form id=\"contact-form\" class=\"m-feedback-prompt__form--form\" action=\"\" method=\"post\">\n            <input type=\"hidden\" id=\"authenticity_token\" name=\"authenticity_token\" value=\"659eb7d5d9\" \/><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"_wp_http_referer\" value=\"\/api\/wp\/v2\/posts\/203733\" \/>            <input value=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/e-commerce\/does-my-online-business-need-a-comments-poli\/\" type=\"hidden\" name=\"currenturl\"\n                   id=\"currenturl\">\n            <input value=\"Does My NZ Online Business Need a Comments Policy?\" type=\"hidden\" name=\"currenttitle\"\n                   id=\"currenttitle\">\n            <label>\n                <!-- display on thumbs-up -->\n                <span class=\"m-feedback-prompt__feedback m-feedback-prompt__feedback--yes\">\n                    Can you tell us <span class=\"font-semibold\">why<\/span> you found it helpful?\n                <\/span>\n\n                <!-- display on thumbs-down -->\n                <span class=\"m-feedback-prompt__feedback m-feedback-prompt__feedback--no text-lg\">\n                    How can we better improve this article?\n                <\/span>\n                <textarea name=\"feedbackmessage\" id=\"feedbackmessage\" required><\/textarea>\n            <\/label>\n\n            <div class=\"m-feedback-prompt__form--error\" id=\"form-submit-error\"><\/div>\n            <button id=\"submit-contact-form-button\" type=\"submit\" name=\"commit\" class=\"m-feedback-prompt__form--submit\"\n                    data-analytics-link=\"feedback-prompt:submit\">\n                Submit            <\/button>\n        <\/form>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Comments are a good way for your business to receive customer feedback. Users may also find some worth in interacting with each other, discussing their usage of your products or services. However, if you do allow comments or other user-generated content, you should do your best to regulate this area on your website. You can<a href=\"https:\/\/legalvision.co.nz\/e-commerce\/does-my-online-business-need-a-comments-poli\/\">Continue reading <span class=\"sr-only\">&#8220;Does My NZ Online Business Need a Comments Policy?&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13236,"featured_media":869,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","editor_notices":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[24,25,237,443,462,569],"class_list":["post-203733","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-e-commerce","tag-startup","tag-small-business","tag-privacy-policy","tag-e-commerce-business","tag-disclaimers","tag-website-terms-of-use"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.1.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Does My NZ Online Business Need a Comments Policy? 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