Because the internet is a global entity, it really matters little what country you are located in – there are various possible legal pitfalls that can affect anyone, anywhere. It is best to consider the possibilities before they occur and take steps to prevent legal complications from damaging your online business. 
Listed here are some of those possibilities and some tips to help you legally protect your online business.
Trademark Registration
Don’t build up your business only to find your ideas, products, logos, packaging, or name of the company are taken by someone else. The best protection you have is registering your trademarks. This can be accomplished online or via a visit to the office located in your state.
Registration will prevent any entities in Australia, for example, from making a profit using your trademarked identity. There is a fee to do this but you are allowed to deduct this amount from your taxes.
Social Media Risks
Do be careful of what you post online at a social media site. Once you post a photo or a status update, it is immediately visible to all your followers or friends. Should you write a defamatory comment or quote someone without their permission, you could be legally liable for damages incurred. The best way to prevent this from happening is to only post your own content and ensure that you do not denigrate anyone else. Besides… that’s just good manners.
Software And Hardware Protection
Don’t make it easy for hackers to access confidential information that could be used against you. Keep financial records well protected; if personal identities are stolen due to your negligence it is very likely that someone could sue your company and win a settlement.
Ensure that firewalls are always on and that anti-virus software is kept up to date. Use strong passwords and authentication methods. Encrypt sensitive data. Use proper security for the network server, the email server, and any device that enables communication.
Protect Your Domain Name
In Australia, for example, the auDA has authority over domain name registrations. This self-regulatory agency requires that any dot com dot au domain name registered is in some way relevant to the business, such as the company or legal name, an appropriate abbreviation or acronym, or an exact match to the trading name. It could also represent a product, service, activity, venue, or event closely associated with the organisation. These rules are in place to ensure that Australian online businesses operate ethically and do not infringe on registered trademarks and legal rights.
Keep Forums Safe And Private
If you provide an online forum for your customers or members, take steps to ensure that it is a safe environment and that each user’s information is kept private. Encourage members to create user names other than a complete given name and not to post personal information that might indicate their address or location. If a crime should occur due to information posted on a forum hosted by your company, ultimately you will be responsible in some form or another.
Undoubtedly you have worked hard to create your business. Don’t risk it by being lax about safety, security, and legal considerations, do all you can to legally protect your online business so you can worry about what’s important… building it!
About Sean Rasmussen
Hi Sean, Yet again you have come up with some very helpful info. I’ll have to register when I finish setting up my website. Should I also register for copyright protection?. Anyway thanks for the link to IP Australia.
Cheers,
Jon.
Thanks Jon. If you feel you have unique material that justifies a copyright and would benefit you over the long term, it would be something to consider for sure.
Hi Sean,
This is excellent advice. It will definitely be something to consider going forward. I think maybe more so when I start to create my own products.
When you mention that if I create a forum, I should encourage members to have user names rather than use a complete name; should we do this also? If we join forums, should we have a user name rather than our own names?
It is always wise to be safe Jazz. You never know who is out there hunting for personal information for whatever reason.
So is Sean Rasmussen your real name? lol
Great Advice Sean.
It is something I have considered with my own business, but I tend to agree with you Jazz, that it may only be necessary to register your trademark once you have created a product.
I guess if the answer to the question “Can I afford to have someone steal my idea or design” is No, then its probably worth your while to take the necessary precautions.
That’s a great way of putting it Cade…. if the answer is No, there is definitely something to think about.
Hi Sean,
your article is a very important reminder that the Internet is not a crime-free zone and that there are measures to legally protect your online business. And it starts at the very beginning when going online (software and hardware protection should be done at any stage).
Trademark and Forum protection will be an issue a little bit later for me
Thanks for these tips to help legally protect our online business. You don’t even think twice about registering your trademark offline so it shouldn’t be any different in the online community, probably even more important as you are vulnerable to the world.
Hi Sean,
I know the company name would be protected as it has to be registered with the Government Department.
I don’t think it would be a problem for me with trade names at the moment, but if I develop a product then naturally I would register it.
But do you register it in Australia, or would you have register world wide and is there different rules
Hi Sean
Your article is a wake up call in relation to Internet crime that I hadn’t really thought about. I always wondered why people had weird and wonderful names in online forums and I thought it was just a novelty so I am making sure all my passwords are tucked away.
In relation to the trademark, that is also a good reminder as I have not got to that stage yet however it is not too far away. I can see that it is important to legally protect my online business.
Very good advice thank you.
thank you for your inspiration. i like your blog.