Terms and Conditions for Digital Courses: What You Need to Include
When selling digital courses, Terms and Conditions (T&C) are more than just a legal formality—they’re your business’s first line of defense. These rules not only protect your intellectual property but also clarify expectations for your students, ensuring smoother transactions and minimizing disputes.
Whether you're just launching your course or refining your platform, here’s a breakdown of what to include in your T&C and why it matters.
What Are Terms and Conditions for Digital Courses?
Your Terms and Conditions (sometimes called Terms of Use) outline the rules for accessing and using your course materials. This agreement is legally binding and protects your rights as a course creator while defining what students can and cannot do with your content.
Without this document, you’re leaving your business vulnerable to copyright infringement, refund disputes, and misuse of your materials.
Essential Clauses to Include in Your Terms and Conditions
1. Intellectual Property Rights
Protecting your content is the cornerstone of your T&C. This clause should specify:
That all course materials (e.g., videos, PDFs, slides) are copyrighted and owned by you.
That students may not copy, reproduce, distribute, or share the content without your permission.
Example:
All materials provided in this course, including but not limited to videos, documents, and graphics, are protected by copyright law. Unauthorized use, duplication, or distribution is strictly prohibited.
2. Usage Rights
Clearly define how students can use your content. For example:
Materials are for personal, non-commercial use only.
Access is granted to the buyer only and cannot be shared.
Example:
Course access is limited to the purchaser and is non-transferable. Sharing login credentials, course materials, or content with others is prohibited.
3. Payment Terms
Outline the financial aspects of your course to avoid misunderstandings, such as:
Pricing and payment methods.
Whether payments are one-time or subscription-based.
Late fees or penalties for failed payments (if applicable).
4. Refund Policy
Make your refund policy crystal clear to set student expectations and avoid disputes. Consider:
Whether refunds are allowed (and under what conditions).
Non-refundable deposits or fees.
Timeframes for refund requests.
Example:
Refunds are only available within 7 days of purchase and will be granted solely at the discretion of [Your Business Name].
5. Disclaimers and Limitation of Liability
Protect yourself from legal claims by stating that:
Results from your course cannot be guaranteed.
You are not liable for decisions or outcomes based on your course materials.
Example:
This course is provided for educational purposes only. [Your Business Name] is not responsible for the results achieved by participants and disclaims liability for any actions taken based on course content.
6. Termination Clause
Reserve the right to revoke access to your course if students violate the T&C.
Example:
[Your Business Name] reserves the right to terminate access to the course without notice if the Terms and Conditions are violated.
7. Governing Law
Specify which jurisdiction’s laws apply to your T&C.
Example:
These Terms and Conditions are governed by the laws of [Your State/Country].
Optional but Helpful Clauses
Privacy Policy
If you collect user data (e.g., emails, payment info), link to your Privacy Policy to comply with data protection laws like GDPR or CCPA.
Technical Support
Set boundaries for how and when you provide technical support for your course platform.
Why Terms and Conditions Are Essential
Protect Your Intellectual Property: Prevent unauthorized sharing or theft of your content.
Avoid Legal Disputes: Provide clarity and set expectations to minimize misunderstandings.
Boost Credibility: Having professional T&C demonstrates that you take your business seriously.
Next Steps: Draft Your Terms and Conditions Today
Your Terms and Conditions are the foundation of a legally sound and professional course business. Don’t leave your hard work unprotected.
✨ Need help creating customized Terms and Conditions? Contact us for expert legal support tailored to digital course creators!
ABOUT MJ MORLEY LAW PC
MJ Morley Law PC provides comprehensive legal solutions tailored for entrepreneurs and businesses at every stage of growth. From entity formation to intellectual property protection, our dedicated team is here to ensure your business thrives in a complex legal landscape. Ready to take the next step? Book a free consultation with us today or explore our services to learn more about how we can support your business goals.