4

I'm currently designing a website on which I have to include the obligatory legalese. So: copyright info, privacy policy etc. There's not a whole lot of text though, at best two paragraphs of text for each link. So I'd like to prevent creating an entirely separate page for each link because these pages would look ugly and empty with only two paragraphs of text (with my current design at least).

I was thinking of doing something like a popover or an expanding area, which would show the info when visitors click on said links, without taking them to another page.

  • Would there be any objections to doing this from an accessibility or design perspective (because I know there's kind of a taboo on popups, which are sort of related to my solution)?
  • What solution would you suggest for presenting this kind of information?
Improve this question
8
  • 3
    Could you not combine the legal/copyright/privacy/T&C/disclaimer/E&OE/cookie info/complaints/whatever info all on one page - even though you may use more than one link to get there.
    – Roger Attrill
    Nov 23, 2012 at 13:35
  • Yeah, I've thought about that. I could use anchors to redirect to a specific area on the page. Would you say that's better than a popover/expanding area?
    – user21710
    Nov 23, 2012 at 13:39
  • 3
    I'd say it's more future proof, more accessible and more mobile friendly, not to mention the element of legally critical content being available even to those with popup blockers, javascript switched off, etc... but see what others say here too.
    – Roger Attrill
    Nov 23, 2012 at 13:47
  • You also have to test with more browsers e.g. phone browsers do not always show popups which means users cannot see the legalise which might be illegal in some places.
    – mmmmmm
    Nov 23, 2012 at 14:14
  • Do users need to be able to access this information without leaving the current context, i.e. when completing a task that they would not want to abandon?
    – Matt Obee
    Nov 23, 2012 at 14:28

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
4

Since my comments above seem to present a reasonable answer, I've made it so!

I'd recommend combining the legal/copyright/privacy/T&C/disclaimer/E&OE/cookie info/complaints/whatever information onto one page (with anchor points) - even though you may use more than one link to get there. It then presents a common point of reference for all related information.

It's more future proof (more easily maintained and extended), more accessible, and more mobile friendly, not to mention the element of legally critical content being available even to those with popup blockers, javascript switched off, etc.

Improve this answer
2
  • Some good points here! I think it belongs as a comment more than an answer though. ;)
    – JonW ♦
    Nov 23, 2012 at 17:00
  • @JonW - haha - you're a one you are. (Whatever that means!)
    – Roger Attrill
    Nov 23, 2012 at 17:07
2

For mobile browsers, I wouldn't count on it being visible at all if you did a popover, which defeats the purpose of putting important context inside your popovers... and actually reinforces something important, which is if it's important, don't hide it, whether in a popover, tooltip, or otherwise.

Popovers, tooltips, collapsing / expanding areas, etc. are meant as reinforcements of information the user should already have -- so if you insist on doing it, I certainly wouldn't make it the only way to read that information.

Improve this answer

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct.