Re: legalese in manuals

[Dick Gaskill <dickg -at- AG3D -dot- COM>]

Helen,

I have the same requirements in my documentation.  As I understand it,
you can put legal information anywhere you want but it must be in a
place where the user can easily find it.  I put mine in the front matter
but I've also seen it in appendixes.  However, in the manuals where the
information was located in the appendixes, there was a clear notice in
the front matter telling the user where to find it, and it was also
included in the TOC.

One thing to remember, however, is that if your company ships software
in a sealed container of some kind (envelope, CDROM jewel-case, etc)
with a notice on the container that the user should read the terms of
the software license agreement before opening the container, you must
make that licence agreement easily findable and readable.

Regarding what you should include in your manual, talk to your company's
legal department or law firm.  Rules for placing the FCC notice are
probably on the FCC website, http://www.fcc.gov/


Dick Gaskill
Technical Publications Manager
AccelGraphics, Inc.

        ----------
        From:  Helen Cygnarowicz [SMTP:helenc -at- CYLINK -dot- COM]
        Sent:  Wednesday, April 01, 1998 1:41 PM
        To:  TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU
        Subject:  legalese in manuals

        my company manufactures products that require FCC approvals, as
well as
        approvals from other country regulation agencies. i know that
this
        information needs to be presented to our customers for every
product.

        we also provide a warranty and a license for each product
(digital
        microwave radios).

        there are also safety rules and precautions that the customers
need to know
        about.

        and of course the copyright information.

        all of this information can take up 3 to 8 pages of 9 pt
helvetica.

        1 - is there some sort of requirement that means this info MUST
be in the
        front matter?

        2 - can i limit this front matter to just the copyright and FCC
notice(s)?

        3 - can i create an appendix for all this stuff?

        4 - how does your company handle similar front matter?

        5 - is there an ISO standard about this?

        6 - should i talk to a company lawyer/attorney?

        if you prefer to respond off line, i will summarize, but there
may be
        others out there with similar questions who would profit from
your direct
        response to the listserv.

        thanx in advance for your time and help.


        Helen Cygnarowicz
        Manager, WCG Technical Publications
        A P-Com Company
        408-328-5241



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