Help with legal page!

[hotwire132002]

I'm trying to put together a legal page, but I have no idea what the "standard" format is... does anyone know of a good template to go by or something? Otherwise, what exactly should I put on it?

Thanks for the help!

[Mechcozmo]

I'm trying to put together a legal page, but I have no idea what the "standard" format is... does anyone know of a good template to go by or something? Otherwise, what exactly should I put on it?

Thanks for the help!

I am no lawyer, but:
Please, pretty please with sugar on top don't sue us! If we broke something, we are sorry. Don't complain to us. Thank you, Legal Department.

[hotwire132002]

I am no lawyer, but:
Please, pretty please with sugar on top don't sue us! If we broke something, we are sorry. Don't complain to us. Thank you, Legal Department.

LOL, that's great!

Seriously though, any ideas for a template?

[mkrishnan]

I think if you're going to bother with a legal page, you really might want to consider counsel... but just for the sake of discussion, when you say you want a legal page, what do you mean? What do you want to accomplish with it? Are there specific potential outcomes of visitors to your site that you wish to disclaim responsibility for? Do you want to disclaim responsibility for content that doesn't belong to you or wasn't written or created by you? Are you selling something and want to limit the seller's interpretation of what you're selling?

[hotwire132002]

I think if you're going to bother with a legal page, you really might want to consider counsel... but just for the sake of discussion, when you say you want a legal page, what do you mean? What do you want to accomplish with it? Are there specific potential outcomes of visitors to your site that you wish to disclaim responsibility for? Do you want to disclaim responsibility for content that doesn't belong to you or wasn't written or created by you? Are you selling something and want to limit the seller's interpretation of what you're selling?

Mainly, I want to inform people of trademarks and copyright. What you be the best way to do that?

[mkrishnan]

Hmmm...my suggestion would be benchmarking off of other people's sites...in other words *cough* ripping *cough*. ;)

This is the one from NYTimes: http://www.nytimes.com/ref/membercenter/help/copyright.html

Or the one at CNet (look under Content on Our Sites): http://www.cnet.com/html/aboutcnet/editorial/terms.html?tag=cnetfd.ft

If you paraphrase these -- don't use any of the actual words there, but say the same things -- then you probably aren't really stealing the disclaimer text. Of course your mileage may vary...if you don't get an actual lawyer to write for your specific case....

[Mechcozmo]

Heck, just say, "The stuff on this webpage is mine (or is the Companys) and if you steal it, whooo boy, bad stuff is gonna happen to you! We are gonna sue your ass soooo bad..."

That may not be 'standard form' as you put it, but it might work.

[mkrishnan]

Heck, just say, "The stuff on this webpage is mine (or is the Companys) and if you steal it, whooo boy, bad stuff is gonna happen to you! We are gonna sue your ass soooo bad..."

That may not be 'standard form' as you put it, but it might work.

I'm personally fond of the use of the phrase "sue your ***" in as many contexts as possible. And if you don't like it, I'm gonna sue your ***.... ;)