Re: It's Your Call: Which E-mail Disclaimer is Best?

Subject: Re: It's Your Call: Which E-mail Disclaimer is Best?
From: Bruce Byfield <bbyfield -at- axionet -dot- com>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Date: Wed, 13 Jun 2001 12:58:04 -0700

John Posada wrote:
>
> > to comment is sensible. However, many corporate lawyers have the
> > mistaken belief that properly protective content can only be
> > delivered
> > with a certain set of stock phrases, or at least with a certain
> > style.
>
> And in a sense, they are right some of the time.

You're right that stock phrases are used because they have been tested,
but the key here is the word "only." It's not surprising that lawyers,
just like tech-writers, should rely on what they know words. Doing so
saves times and effort. But the proven phrases aren't always the only
legally acceptable way to express the concerns, or even the best way.


> Just like we have sets of phrases that we know are acceptable to our
> audience, they have phrases that they know are acceptable to THEIR audience.

But who is the audience? Looking back, I see an assumption in my
original comment that there are two audiences whose needs must be met:
the legal audience, and the audience of ordinary users.

A company that thinks strategically has to meet the needs of both,
rather than preferring one over the other. I've seen well-meaning
managers who want to throw away all the legalese in the name of customer
service, and I've seen conscientious lawyers who don't care if the
result is readable so long as it is legally sound. But neither is seeing
the whole picture. A company needs legal protection, so readability
can't be its only concern. At the same time, focusing on the legal side
risks alienating and even offending users. A company can't afford to
ignore either concern.

--
Bruce Byfield 604.421.7177 bbyfield -at- axionet -dot- com

"And the court gave them justice
As justice is given by well-mannered thugs."
-Geoff Pearson, "If They Come In the Morning"

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Re: It's Your Call: Which E-mail Disclaimer is Best?: From: John Posada

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