Everything You Need to Know to Protect Your Online Business

If you’re creating digital products—whether it's a course, eBook, membership, or template—legal questions are bound to come up. From copyright concerns to refund policies, it's essential to get these things right before you sell another product.

To make it easier, I’ve pulled together every legal resource I’ve created to help you protect your business and intellectual property, all in one place. Use this guide to find the answers you need, and bookmark it for future reference as your business grows.

So, you’ve created an amazing digital product — maybe it’s a template pack, an online course, a membership, or a printable bundle. You're ready to start making sales (hello, passive income dreams!).

But before you hit publish on your sales page or drop that link in your email newsletter… let’s talk about something not-so-fun but very necessary:

You found the perfect font for your new workbook. Or maybe you’re creating a Canva template and want to add a pretty background photo. Or you’re working on a digital course and want to spice up your intro video with some music.

But here’s the problem:
Can you actually use it?
And if you do, are you breaking copyright law?

If you’ve ever wondered “Can I use this image?” or “Is this font okay for my digital product?” — you’re not alone. Most creators aren’t trying to break any rules. They just don’t know what’s allowed.

Let’s clear it up with a plain-English guide to what’s safe, what’s risky, and how to protect yourself when adding third-party content to your digital products.

you’ve already faced the dreaded question:

Can I get a refund?

Maybe it came in an email the day after a big launch. Or maybe someone downloaded your product, then asked for their money back claiming “it wasn’t what they expected.”

Refunds are one of those areas where creators often make decisions based on emotion, fear, or what they see others doing — rather than what’s actually required by law or best for business.

In this post, we’ll walk through the must-know legal basics, what to include in your digital product refund policy, and how to protect your business while still creating a great customer experience.

If you’ve been using tools like ChatGPT, Canva Magic Write, Jasper, or AI image generators to speed up your workflow or create content, you’re not alone. AI tools are everywhere, and for digital creators, they open up a world of possibilities.

You can brainstorm faster, write product descriptions in seconds, generate images for social posts, and even create full digital products with the click of a button.

But there’s a big question many creators are starting to ask:

Can I legally sell AI-generated content?

And what happens if someone else tries to copy or resell it?

This post will break down the legal risks of AI content, who owns it, and what you need to know before putting AI-generated text, images, or designs into your paid products.

When you sell digital products like templates, printables, eBooks, or swipe files, you’re not just selling a file. You’re selling permission to use that file in a specific way.

That’s what a license agreement does — it explains what your customers can and can’t do with your product. Without one, your buyers might assume they can resell, copy, or reuse your content however they want.

And that can turn into a big legal headache.

In this post, we’ll walk through how to write a digital product license agreement that protects your business, sets clear expectations, and avoids misuse of your content — without sounding like a law firm.

Running a membership site or subscription-based product is one of the smartest ways to build recurring revenue as a digital creator. Whether you offer monthly templates, weekly coaching, or access to a private community, subscriptions can be the foundation of a sustainable business.

But there’s one thing many creators don’t think about until it’s too late:

The legal side.

Membership models come with a unique set of legal requirements, especially when it comes to how you handle sign-ups, cancellations, and refunds. The FTC is cracking down on shady practices, and there’s a new rule you need to know about: Click to Cancel.

In this post, we’re breaking down the must-know legal rules for anyone running a paid membership or subscription product online.

If you're a digital product creator, chances are you’ve poured hours into building your course, designing your templates, or writing your eBook.

Now the big question:
How do you protect your work so it doesn’t get copied, resold, or misused?

This is where things like licensing, usage rights, and content protection come into play — and while it may sound overwhelming, it doesn’t have to be.

Let’s simplify what you need to know to stay protected and make things crystal clear for your buyers.

If you’re creating digital products like courses, printables, templates, or eBooks, you’ve probably had that moment of panic:

Wait... can someone steal my content?

Or maybe you’ve seen someone selling something eerily similar to your product and thought, “Can I protect this somehow?”

The short answer is yes. But there’s a lot of confusion out there around what you can copyright, what a trademark covers, and when you need to officially register something.

Let’s break it all down in simple, non-lawyer terms so you know how to protect your work and your brand without losing your mind (or your money).