Online Marketing Law! What's Happening?
 by: Charles Nixon III

You read that right. There's a new law in California for online marketing. This law is thanks to the California's Online Privacy Protection Act.

Who does this affect the most? This affects anyone online selling anything, operating a newsletter, or collecting data in any way from users online.

It says it's targeting "commercial," and websites that offer services online. Are you selling anything online? If not, than this doesn't affect you... yet. It will affect you when you decide to start selling something online. So read up.

If you are a web host, broadcast, or database firm you are only responsible for your privacy policy. You are not held responsible for anyone that you are hosting under you. But do inform them of this new law.

What do you have to do? You have to that the information you collect online from visitors matches up with your privacy policy. This means that you will have to be reading and reviewing your policy often to make sure that you don't come across any problems with users and how you use the information you are given.

You will also have to make that privacy policy link more visible. Cause if the users can't see it or find it than to them it most likely doesn't exist. So no more of those fine print privacy policy notes at the bottom of websites.

How long do I have? The law is in motion now. It started July 1st, 2004. You should look into moving that privacy policy link up with the rest of your links.

How do I read more about this law? I have a copy of the PDF on my website available for you to download: www.charlesnixon.com/ab_68_bill_20031012_chaptered.pdf

or you can download it at www.leginfo.ca.gov: www.leginfo.ca.gov/pub/bill/asm/ab_0051-0100/ ab_68_bill_20031012_chaptered.pdf

"It's only four pages and a pretty easy read compared to most legislation I've seen in my time." says Publisher Anne Holland