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Simple Language is important.
Table of Contents
Many people need Simple Language in order to understand everything.
Only if you understand everything, can you participate everywhere.*
One usually only comes across Simple Language on websites of public authorities. And now also on PayPal. What is Simple Language and how does it contribute to accessibility? Who is the target group? What challenges await companies like PayPal when they translate their general standard terms and conditions into Simple Language?
Are general standard terms and conditions in Simple Language really shorter and easier to understand? PayPal and Simple Language
Since the end of July, PayPal has – as the first provider in the classic finance branch ever – translated their terms of use into a legally non-binding version in Simple Language and by doing so aims to provide their services in a more accessible way.
I’ve been talking to Nicole Weyde, head of the legal department of PayPal Germany, Austria and Switzerland, about the motivations behind this decision to provide their general standard terms and conditions in Simple Language and whether this should be the general approach and adopted by other companies.
Enjoy PayTechTalk 26!
By the way: if you prefer reading to listening, take a look at the written interview (in German) with Nicole Weyde regarding general standard terms and conditions in Simple Language on the PayPal-blog.
Further information and related links:
About Nicole Weyde
Nicole Weyde has been managing the legal department at PayPal Germany, Austria and Switzerland as Director Legal since December 2016. Prior to joining PayPal, she worked as a consultant for the German team of the global campaign platform change.org. Before that, she was head of the legal department of the e-commerce platform Groupon, most recently as Associate General Counsel for Middle and Eastern Europe. Further professional positions included roles at PostCon and the Berlin-based legal firm Dorn, Krämer & Partner. Nicole Weyde studied law at the Freie Universität Berlin.
To find out why Nicole loves to read PayTechLaw, take a look at our birthday post. 🙂
About PayPal
Fueled by a fundamental belief that having access to financial services creates opportunity, PayPal (NASDAQ: PYPL) is committed to democratizing financial services and empowering people and businesses to join and thrive in the global economy. Our open digital payments platform gives PayPal’s 244 million active account holders the confidence to connect and transact in new and powerful ways, whether they are online, on a mobile device, in an app, or in person. Through a combination of technological innovation and strategic partnerships, PayPal creates better ways to manage and move money, and offers choice and flexibility when sending payments, paying or getting paid. Available in more than 200 markets around the world, the PayPal platform, including Braintree, Venmo and Xoom, enables consumers and merchants to receive money in more than 100 currencies, withdraw funds in 56 currencies and hold balances in their PayPal accounts in 25 currencies.
The PayPal General Standard Terms and Conditions in Simple Language
Here you can find the PayPal General Standard Terms and Conditions in Simple Language: https://www.paypal.com/de/webapps/mpp/ua/ua-simplified. Furthermore, users of the website (www.paypal.de/agb) can easily switch to the Simple Language version on the top of the page.
Further PayPal Links: Stories (Blog), financial information, website, Twitter
What is Simple Language? In simple language:
Simple Language is a language easy to understand.
You can speak and write it.
Simple Language is especially useful for people with learning difficulties.
But also for other people.
For instance, for people who only speak little German.**
An overview (in German) of Simple Language rules: https://www.leichte-sprache.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Regeln_Leichte_Sprache.pdf
Further information on Simple Language: https://www.leichte-sprache.org/
* Quote translated from the German website: https://www.leichte-sprache.org/leichte-sprache/
** Quote translated from the German website: https://www.leichte-sprache.org/das-ist-leichte-sprache/
Our original podcast is in German.
Titelbild / Cover picture: Copyright © PayTechLaw
