How to Legally Protect Your Digital Product Business (So You Can Sell With Confidence)
*this post contains affiliate links
use code MELODY10 to save 10% on The Boutique Lawyer templates.
Selling digital products that you can create once and sell forever is, for many of us, a dream… until suddenly it’s not.
Let’s say you launch a new course, someone buys it, watches and then emails you asking for a refund because “it wasn’t what they were expecting.”
Or someone joins your membership, binge-downloads everything included, then files a chargeback with their bank.
Or someone decides your idea is now… their idea.
Welcome to one of the not-so-glamorous sides of having an online business.
And sadly, most creators don’t think about legal protection until they’re already in a messy situation. And by then, it’s usually too late.
The Top Legal Mistakes Creators Make
Legal systems aren’t sexy, but if you want to run your business like a CEO (whose job it is to protect the business), then having the right legal contracts on hand is an essential part of protecting your business.
Unfortunately, most digital product creators:
❌ don’t have proper Terms of Purchase (which is different than your website’s Terms & Conditions)
❌ don’t protect their IP (intellectual property) until someone copies them
❌ screenshot testimonials without permission (even private emails)
❌ put off website policies because “I’m still small.”
❌ wait until something goes wrong to get protected
❌ think legal protection is too expensive and complicated
But you don’t need to become a legal expert or spend a ton of money. You can protect yourself with the right contracts, and luckily my client The Boutique Lawyer has you covered for a fraction of the price it would be to hire a lawyer (and yes, Amber, the founder, is an actual lawyer).
So let’s walk through what you actually need and how simple it can be.
You need Terms of Purchase (yes, even for a $9 product)
Anytime someone buys something from you — a $9 guide, a $47 template, a $297 course — your Terms of Purchase are the “rules of the relationship.” They define what the buyer gets, what they don’t get, how refunds work, how long they have access, and what’s fair use.
Not to mention they also protect your peace.
No one wants a back-and-forth about refunds, expectations, or boundaries. Terms of Purchase handle all of that for you so you can get back to creating and selling.
I personally use The Boutique Lawyer’s Terms of Purchase Template because it’s written in normal-people English (not the scary kind) and it’s built for online businesses. You plug it in, customize a few lines, and you’re protected.
use code MELODY10 to save 10%
Protect your creative work before (and after) someone misuses it
If you sell templates, swipe files, scripts, frameworks, trainings — anything someone can copy or reuse — you’re selling intellectual property. And in the digital world, IP is… very borrowable.
Most creators assume people will use their content as intended. And while most do, it only takes one person copying, redistributing, or claiming your work as their own to create a mess you didn’t ask for.
That’s why it’s important to clearly state how your content can and can’t be used, and to have a plan ready if someone crosses the line.
If you ever find someone copying your work, The Boutique Lawyer’s Copyright Infringement Cease & Desist Letter gives you a professional, legally sound way to handle it without spiraling. It’s firm, clear, and written to get results — no drama required.
It’s the “I hope I never need this” template you’ll be glad to have.
If you coach in any capacity, you need terms that have your back
Whether you’re running a group program, hosting live calls, or offering 1:1 intensives, coaching can get messy quickly without clear boundaries.
Everyone hears things differently, remembers things differently, and interprets “what’s included” differently — which is exactly why solid coaching terms matter.
Clear coaching agreements protect you from scope creep, rescheduling issues, unrealistic expectations, refund drama, and those uncomfortable “I thought this was included” moments.
They also create a safer, more professional experience for your clients, because everyone knows exactly how the container works.
The Boutique Lawyer’s Coaching Bundle covers everything you need for coaching in any format — 1:1, group programs, hybrid offers, you name it.
It includes both types of coaching agreements plus a general disclaimer that protects you when you’re teaching strategy, sharing frameworks, or talking about results.
It’s straightforward, customizable, and built specifically for online coaches and creators who want their programs to feel solid, supportive, and protected.
If You Run a Membership, You Absolutely Need Solid Terms & Conditions
Memberships are a great way to generate recurring revenue, a growing community, a library of content you can keep adding to.
But memberships can also get messy fast if you don’t clearly define how everything works.
People join at different times, consume content at different speeds, forget what they agreed to, or assume support that isn’t part of the offer.
And because memberships renew automatically, misunderstandings around billing and cancellations are common.
That’s why a membership needs its own dedicated Terms & Conditions — something that protects you, protects your content, and clearly lays out what subscribers are getting (and how it all works).
The Boutique Lawyer’s Membership Terms & Conditions template is designed specifically for online memberships, subscriptions, and recurring access products. It covers everything from digital downloads and live calls to billing cycles, auto-renewals, trial periods, cancellations, and content protection — basically all the unglamorous details that keep your membership running smoothly.
These terms help you:
clearly communicate what your membership includes
set expectations for behavior, access, and communication
protect your content from misuse or sharing
outline your refund, cancellation, and renewal policies
avoid misunderstandings before they ever happen
In other words: it gives you the structure your membership needs to feel safe, organized, and sustainable before you open the doors.
And if you already have a membership? This template makes it easy to update your existing terms so everything reflects your current pricing, policies, and delivery.
If you’re running (or planning) a membership, don’t skip this step. Solid terms are what make recurring revenue feel peaceful, not stressful.
Screenshots sell (but you still need permission)
Nothing sells faster than a screenshot of someone saying, “This made me $3k this week.”
But legally, you can’t post that without permission, even if the client says, “Totally fine!”
A testimonial release gives you written consent so you can confidently use:
screenshots
reviews
names
results
…without worrying about someone changing their mind later.
The Boutique Lawyer’s Testimonial Release Template is quick, friendly, and protects both of you.
Your website needs policies, too
If you have a website and collect emails, you legally need:
a Privacy Policy
Terms & Conditions
a Disclaimer
These aren’t box-checking tasks — they’re your silent legal team. They protect you, they protect your visitors, and they keep your online business compliant.
The Boutique Lawyer’s Website Protection Bundle is written specifically for creators and digital product sellers, so you’re not stuck with generic legal jargon.
Your “Oh No” folder for when things go sideways
There’s no shame in having a plan for the moments you hope never happen.
Keep on hand:
This way you’re ready to act when someone crosses a line.
What you’ll need as you scale (your next-level legal layer)
As your business grows, you’ll eventually want:
This is the part where your business goes from “I’m figuring it out” to “Oh, I actually run a company.”
Legal protection = creative freedom
Legal protection doesn’t make your business rigid or complicated — it allows you to sell confidently and grow without anxiety.
You’ve already done the hard part: creating the offers, showing up, and serving your people. The legal foundation simply helps you protect everything you’ve built.
If you want to browse The Boutique Lawyer’s templates, you can save 10% with code MELODY10.
Protect your ideas, your time, and your revenue. Not to mention your peace. Your future self will be SO glad you did.
