Annual tirade #422
Oct. 29th, 2007 02:32 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
dsrtaoEmail disclaimers. Do not use. Bad idea. Your company looks foolish, not professional.
If you are an exception, you are a lawyer.
If you send one to a mailing list, it looks particularly stupid to have a "you must immediately destroy this information and report it to me" disclaimer.
If you are in sales, having "The statements and opinions expressed in this e-mail do not necessarily represent those of $COMPANY" at the bottom of your message looks really foolish. Yes, I mean you.
If your company is doing this, find out why. Persuade the person who made this decision to work for a competitor. Your company will prosper.
If you are an exception, you are a lawyer.
If you send one to a mailing list, it looks particularly stupid to have a "you must immediately destroy this information and report it to me" disclaimer.
If you are in sales, having "The statements and opinions expressed in this e-mail do not necessarily represent those of $COMPANY" at the bottom of your message looks really foolish. Yes, I mean you.
If your company is doing this, find out why. Persuade the person who made this decision to work for a competitor. Your company will prosper.
(no subject)
Date: 2007-10-29 07:43 pm (UTC)For better or worse, these disclaimers are the standard. You know the companies I deal with; every single one, without exception (as far as I can tell), uses a disclaimer of some form. I've heard tell (though I can't point you at a specific instance) where these disclaimers *have* tipped the balance. Doesn't mean it makes sense, doesn't make them right. It just means that they have a reason for being there. The *lawyers* I deal with aren't bandwagon types; they really do know their jobs and have reasons for doing the things.
But I still think they're stupid in reality. Sadly, the law is not reality.