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Thread ID: 55932 2005-03-23 05:41:00 Forum terms and conditions music_man (5482) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
337041 2005-03-23 05:41:00 If I was to set up a forum, can I rely on the default forum terms and conditions to make me not liable for any damages?

Do I need to put a disclaimer on? If so, where would I get one?

Thanks
music_man (5482)
337042 2005-03-23 05:49:00 If you publish something defamatory or illegal or immoral (or fattening) and someone sets lawyers on you disclaimers might not help you much. Having terms and conditions under which people can post to your forum which forbid some sorts of content might show "good intentions". But if you publish the content, you are responsible for it. If you can get signed agreement to the terms from all users, that's all very well, but as the publisher you are the one who would get the nasty letters. Apart from anything else, you are the one easiest found. ;) Graham L (2)
337043 2005-03-23 05:56:00 So you mean that if someone signs up and starts posting abusive, threatening etc messages then I am held responsible? music_man (5482)
337044 2005-03-23 06:14:00 Yep. You're the publisher. This is one of the many reasons I don't like pseudonymns. They seem to make some people imagine that they are very brave and tough.

From time to time there are silly claims of some absolute right to "free speech" here. The moderators have been abused for removing offensive matter. IDG owns this site and would be the main victim in legal action. (I'm sure that the writers would be brought into any such case if possible, and they would discover just how expensive free speech can be).

Of course I'm not a lawyer. I do have some pride. :p But I think I've given a reasonable summary.
Graham L (2)
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