"The least initial deviation from the truth is multiplied later a thousand fold."

Aristotle (384-322 BC).

the "read me first" statement

Your user guide must embrace a paragraph that express necessary warnings, state the users legal rights and limit your responsibility and liability. This paragraph should have a prominent placing in the user guide, i.e. on the inside cover or the first pages in the guide. It is imperative that the statement is approved by your legal aides or - better still - by an independent expert in product liability issues. If you sell to export markets, the statement must be revised - and approved - for each new market.

Please note that warnings also must be presented prominently in connection with the product itself and not just in the user guide.

The statement must:

• Include a date of publication.

• Encourage the reader to read the document in full

• Notify the reader that the document holds important information regarding his safety and legal rights

• State which product or product range is covered by the statement and the manual it precedes.

• Limit itself to concern with a specific product or product range

WARNINGS

• Never conceal any risk connected with the product. The smallest deviation from all actual, known facts can hold disastrous consequences. Express clear and unambiguous warnings of hazards connected with the use of the product, e.g.:

• Radiation

• Corrosion

• Choking

• Electrical shock

• Sharp edges or pointy parts

• Rotating gears or chains

• Damages to the vision

• Damages to the hearing

• Fire & explosion hazards

• Interference with electronic communication

• Magnetic emission

• Any risk specially related to children should be emphasized clearly

WARRANTY

• Specify the warranty given with the product

• Specify limitations to the warranty

PRODUCTS LIABILITY

• Limit liability as much as possible within the law

DISCLAIMER

• Disclaim responsibility as much as possible within the law.

• Specifically disclaim responsibility in connection with "High Risk Activities"

• Note that in the US, some states will not accept your limitations. Hence, you must include a sentence down these outlines:

SOME JURISDICTIONS DO NOT ALLOW EXCLUSIONS OF AN IMPLIED WARRANTY, SO THIS DISCLAIMER MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU AND YOU MAY HAVE OTHER LEGAL RIGHTS THAT VARY BY JURISDICTION.

VENUE AND CHOICE OF LAW

• Specify which legislation is to be applied on legal disputes

• Specify legal language

• Specify in which country (state/county or city) legal acts will take place

ENVIRONMENTAL

• Encourage the reader to recycle

CONFORMANCE DECLARATION

• Within the European Union, apply CE logo and state the Directive to which your product conforms

THE RIGHTS OF OTHERS

• Specify ownership of trademarks used in the manual

ABOUT THIS MANUAL

• Disclaim responsibility in connection with the use of the information in the manual

• Disclaim responsibility in connection with typo’s, errors or inaccuracies in the manual

• Reserve the right to change or update information without notice

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Read more about disclaimers here.