Static Pages

Important informational pages

What are Static Pages?

Static Pages are informational pages that provide important information about the platform, its policies, and terms of use. These pages are typically public and accessible to all visitors, whether logged in or not.

Available Static Pages

About Page

URL: /about

The About page provides information about:

  • The platform's mission and purpose
  • Who created and maintains the platform
  • What the platform offers
  • Contact information
  • Company or organization background

When to visit:

  • Learning more about the platform before signing up
  • Understanding the platform's goals and values
  • Finding contact information

Terms of Service

URL: /terms

The Terms of Service (ToS) page outlines:

  • Legal agreement between you and the platform
  • Acceptable use policies
  • Your rights and responsibilities as a user
  • Platform's rights and limitations
  • Account termination policies
  • Dispute resolution procedures
  • Disclaimers and liability limitations

When to review:

  • Before creating an account
  • When the terms are updated
  • If you have questions about acceptable use
  • Before reporting content or issues

Important: By using the platform, you agree to abide by the Terms of Service.

Privacy Policy

URL: /privacy

The Privacy Policy explains:

  • What personal data is collected
  • How your data is used
  • Who has access to your information
  • How data is stored and protected
  • Your data rights (access, deletion, portability)
  • Cookie and tracking policies
  • Third-party data sharing (if any)
  • Compliance with privacy laws (GDPR, CCPA, etc.)

When to review:

  • Before creating an account
  • If you have privacy concerns
  • When exercising your data rights
  • When the policy is updated

Accessing Static Pages

From the Footer

Static pages are typically linked in the site footer:

  • Scroll to the bottom of any page
  • Look for "About", "Terms", and "Privacy" links
  • Click to view the full page

Direct URLs

You can also visit pages directly:

  • About: yourplatform.com/about
  • Terms: yourplatform.com/terms
  • Privacy: yourplatform.com/privacy

During Signup

You may encounter these pages during account creation:

  • Terms and Privacy are often linked in the signup form
  • Some platforms require explicit agreement to terms
  • Review these before completing registration

Agreement System

Tracking Agreements

The platform tracks when you agree to terms and privacy policies:

  • Agreement is recorded when you sign up
  • Timestamp of when you agreed is saved
  • Ensures you've accepted the current terms

Policy Updates

When terms or privacy policies are updated:

  • You may be asked to review and agree to new terms
  • An notification or prompt may appear
  • Continued use may constitute acceptance
  • Major changes are typically communicated via email

Managing Static Pages (Admin Only)

Editing Content

Platform administrators can update static page content:

Location: app/controllers/static_controller.rb and app/views/static/*.html.erb

To update a page:

  1. Edit the corresponding view file
  2. Update HTML and text content
  3. Save changes
  4. Deploy to production

Best Practices for Updates

  • Version your terms and privacy policies with dates
  • Highlight what changed in updates
  • Notify users of significant changes
  • Keep historical versions for reference
  • Ensure legal compliance

Legal Considerations

When updating legal pages:

  • Consult with legal counsel for terms and privacy policies
  • Ensure compliance with applicable laws (GDPR, CCPA, etc.)
  • Include effective dates for policy changes
  • Provide notice period for major changes
  • Archive old versions

Common Elements

What's Typically Included

About Page:

  • Platform description
  • Mission statement
  • Team information
  • Contact details
  • Company history or background

Terms of Service:

  • User obligations
  • Prohibited activities
  • Content ownership and licensing
  • Account termination rights
  • Disclaimers and limitations of liability
  • Governing law and jurisdiction

Privacy Policy:

  • Data collection practices
  • Data usage and processing
  • Data sharing and disclosure
  • User rights (access, deletion, portability)
  • Security measures
  • Cookie policy
  • Contact for privacy inquiries

User Rights and Responsibilities

Your Rights

Based on the Privacy Policy, you typically have the right to:

  • Access your personal data
  • Correct inaccurate information
  • Request deletion of your data
  • Export your data
  • Opt-out of certain data uses
  • Withdraw consent

Your Responsibilities

According to the Terms of Service, you're responsible for:

  • Providing accurate information
  • Keeping your account secure
  • Following community guidelines
  • Respecting others' rights
  • Not engaging in prohibited activities
  • Reporting violations

Exercising Your Rights

Data Access Requests

To request a copy of your data:

  • Contact the platform administrator
  • Use the contact information in the Privacy Policy
  • Specify what data you want to access
  • Provide verification of your identity

Data Deletion Requests

To request deletion of your data:

  • Delete your account through account settings (if available)
  • Or contact the platform administrator
  • Understand what data will be retained (e.g., for legal compliance)
  • Note that some data may need to be kept for legal/business reasons

Opting Out

To opt-out of certain data uses:

  • Adjust your account privacy settings
  • Manage email notification preferences
  • Contact support for additional opt-out options

Additional Static Pages

Your platform may include additional static pages:

FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

  • Common questions and answers
  • Troubleshooting tips
  • Feature explanations

Help or Support

  • How to get help
  • Contact information
  • Support hours

Pricing (if applicable)

  • Subscription plans
  • Feature comparisons
  • Billing information

Compliance and Legal

GDPR Compliance

For European users, the Privacy Policy should address:

  • Lawful basis for processing
  • Data retention periods
  • International data transfers
  • Rights of data subjects
  • Data protection officer contact

CCPA Compliance

For California users, the Privacy Policy should include:

  • Categories of data collected
  • Business or commercial purposes
  • Right to know, delete, and opt-out
  • Non-discrimination

Best Practices for Users

Review Regularly

  • Read the Terms and Privacy Policy before signing up
  • Review them periodically
  • Check for updates when notified
  • Understand your rights and obligations

Ask Questions

  • Contact support if something is unclear
  • Don't agree to terms you don't understand
  • Seek legal advice if needed

Stay Informed

  • Watch for policy update notifications
  • Understand how your data is used
  • Know your rights
  • Report concerns promptly

Troubleshooting

Can't Find a Static Page?

  • Check the footer for links
  • Try the direct URL (e.g., /about, /terms, /privacy)
  • Use the site search if available
  • Contact support for help

Page Not Loading?

  • Refresh the page
  • Clear your browser cache
  • Try a different browser
  • Report the issue if it persists

Content Unclear?

  • Contact support for clarification
  • Request plain-language explanations
  • Seek legal advice for important matters

Related Documentation