Introduction
I recently had a problem with some images uploaded to one of the blogs, I was able to remove the images before any harm was done.
This got me thinking about protecting myself, my blogs has a Terms of Use page and a Privacy Policy however users are not required to agree to them before posting. I decided I would implement some sort of system to amend this problem.
Issues
- I am running a mature blog with over 200 users and 23 blogs already on the system so I needed some way of getting them to agree to my terms.
- I didn’t want to slow the sign up process by adding another check box.
Solution
The WordPress Terms of Use plugin, yes I know there are many other options out there to do this however this plugin takes a slightly different approach. Instead of making the user agree to the Terms of Use when they join the site this plugin makes them agree to the terms and conditions the first time they login. The reason for doing this is that you can be installed WordPress Terms of Use plugin on a mature blog and existing members will be able to agree to the Terms of Use the next time they log in. In addition the new users are presented with a nice fully customizable welcome message after they agree to your Terms to help them get started using WordPress.
Features
- Works for both New Blogs and New users.
- Customizable Open Source Terms of Use agreement.
- Customizable Open Source Privacy Policy.
- Customizable Welcome Message.
- Can be integrated into a mature blog.
- Support for both WordPress and WordPress MU.
- No changes need to be made to the Sign up process.
Screenshots
Installation
WordPress MU
- Download the terms-of-use.zip
- Extract the files.
- Copy the ‘terms-of-use.php’ and ‘terms-of-use’ directory into ‘/wp-content/mu-plugins/’
- If you want to use WordPress to edit your terms of use, privacy policy and welcome message, chmod terms-of-use.txt to 0664 (make them writable).
NOTE: for additional security there is an .htaccess file included in the terms-of-use directory that douse not allow scripts to be executed from these files. This protects against code insertion.You can now login and edit your terms of use, privacy policy and welcome message via “Site Admin > Terms of Use”. - That’s it.
WordPress
- Download the terms-of-use.zip
- Extract the files.
- Copy the ‘terms-of-use.php’ and ‘terms-of-use’ directory into ‘/wp-content/ plugins/’
- If you want to use WordPress to edit your terms of use, privacy policy and welcome message, chmod terms-of-use.txt to 0664 (make them writable).
NOTE: for additional security there is an .htaccess file included in the terms-of-use directory that douse not allow scripts to be executed from these files. This protects against code insertion. - You can now login and edit your terms of use, privacy policy and welcome message via “Settings > Terms of Use”.
- That’s it.
Add a Terms of Use page and a Privacy Policy page to your website.
- Create a Terms of Use page in the normal manner.
- Add the [terms-and-conditions] tag to the page.
- Create a Privacy Policy page in the normal manner.
- Add the [privacy-policy] tag to the page.
Download
Download Version 0.2 beta This is a complete stable version and is running on all my WordPress and WordPress MU blogs without a problem. If no one reports any bugs I will change the version to 1.0
Plugin Website
Vote
This plugin is nominated in the 2008 WordPress MU plugin competition, if you like this plugin please vote for it.
if i wanna to create a link to Terms of Use / Privacy policy .. in my home page or footer how can i ??
if i wanna to create a link to Terms of Use / Privacy policy .. in my home page or footer how can i ??
Thanks amr and MazZziK,
I added a filter to the plugin that allows you to add the Terms of Use and a Privacy Policy to any page content.
You can now create a Terms of Use page and a Privacy Policy page, then add a link to them in your footer or wherever you like.
See example http://mmow.biz/sign-up/terms-conditions/
See above for instructions.
mazzzika is amr :d .. i finally have a registered member access :D
thx for rapid solution
do u know anyway to add signup/login page by tag way
Is it just me or is this download link dead?
Sorry guys,
My host took the server down for maintenance, I just happened to be in the middle of a meeting/demonstration with a client when they decided to do it. Not so great timing.
Should be back up in an hour or so.
Ps, If anyone is looking for hosting I would not recommend MD hosting.
Just FYI … IX Web Hosting is HORRIBLE also.
- Jason
Still down ….
Care to e-mail it to me?
With permission from Levi, I’ve put this plugin up on my site.
Site: http://solidblog.com
Direct download link: http://solidblog.com/files/2008/10/terms-and-conditions_012_beta.zip
My host decided to move me from one server to another without informing me. Once I worked out what they had done I change all my domains to point to the new server.
The good news is that after 24 hours of propagation my site is back up and running, the download like above is now working.
- Jason I have emailed you the plugin files but there is no need for you to temporarily host the plugin for me, thanks anyway.
- A word of warning, DON’T host you site with MD web hosting.
Cheers,
Levi
I’ll take it down, but just FYI … the site is still down for me.
Hi
i was woundering if there is posible that every time the TOS and Privacy is changed. they have to agree one more time…
If not some one that ragistrated 1 year ago and actualy did read the TOS and now i have changed it..
it would be irritating for him if he had been banned becaous hi didnt know that there had been changes.. ?
sorry for my bad english im from norway
Hi Julian
I have added this exact feature to my own version of the plugin. I haven’t got around to packaging it and uploading it to http://www.ozblog.com.au yet.
I will do it this weekend, visit http://ozblog.mmow.biz/2008/09/20/wordpress-terms-of-use-plugin/ on Monday and I will have the update there for you.
Great work and very good description how to use. Thanks for posting it.
does not work well with 2.7