CYA

Specification & Product Discussions Computers, the Internet and Networking
1

It’s a quiet day on 4specs, so I’d like to ask for volunteers for an exciting new thread - really a whole new pastime.

I am starting a collection of disclaimers found at the bottoms of email messages.

If you have one to contribute, please post it here, masking any real names so that the branch of Homeland Security charged with policing this shadowy activity does not descend upon you. We know that there are forces out there (possibly in the mountains of western Pakistan), at work, waiting to pounce on careless attorneys.

Let’s face it, my esteemed colleagues. If it weren’t for attorneys, we spec writers wouldn’t have jobs. So pitch in and honor those who keep a little bread on our tables. A little recognition is what keeps all professionals feeling warm and scuzzy.

Where is this going? I don’t know.
A prize perhaps? But what kind of a prize?
Publication perhaps? Would it sell? Specifiers cannot get enough of MasterSpec, so why should lawyers and their fans not support MasterCya?

Having spilled my intent in all this, the next message you read will be to prime the old ejector pump.

2

The information contained in this transmission may contain privileged and confidential information. It is intended only for the use of the person(s) named above. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any review, dissemination, distribution or duplication of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message. To reply to our email administrator directly, please send an email to postmaster@xxxxxxxxx.com.

WARNING: The information contained in this e-mail, and any attachment(s) thereto, is intended only for the personal and confidential use of the name recipient(s). This message and any attachment(s) thereto may contain privileged attorney-client communication(s) and/or attorney work product, and is therefore intended to be confidential. If this e-mail and any attachment has been sent to the wrong e-mail address and/or not delivered to the designated and intended recipient and/or if you have received this e-mail and any attachment in error, please return the e-mail and any attachment to this firm, and delete the e-mail and any attachment from your in, out and trash boxes.

This office uses e-mail virus protection. However, e-mail transmission cannot be guaranteed to be secure or error free, as information could be intercepted, corrupted, lost, destroyed, arrive late or incomplete, or
contain viruses. Therefore, we do not accept liability for any errors or omissions of the contents of this message which arise as a result of e-mail transmission, and you open any e-mail or attachment at your own risk. If verification of any e-mail or attachment is required, please request a hard copy. Thank you for your cooperation.

Tax Advice Disclosure: To ensure compliance with requirements imposed by the IRS under Circular 230, we inform you that any U.S. federal tax advice contained in this communication (including any attachments), unless otherwise specifically stated, was not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (1) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or (2) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any matters addressed herein.

3

-----Original Message-----
From: Ralph Liebing [mailto:rliebing@hixson-inc.com]
Sent: Tuesday, January 10, 2006 4:12 PM
To: Heineman, Tom
Subject: E-mail Endings

Thanks, Tom

Ralph Liebing

The information contained in this transmission may contain privileged and confidential information. It is intended only for the use of the person(s) named above. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any review, dissemination, distribution or duplication of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message. To reply to our email administrator directly, please send an email to postmaster@xxxxxxxxx.com.

WARNING: The information contained in this e-mail, and any attachment(s) thereto, is intended only for the personal and confidential use of the name recipient(s). This message and any attachment(s) thereto may contain privileged attorney-client communication(s) and/or attorney work product, and is therefore intended to be confidential. If this e-mail and any attachment has been sent to the wrong e-mail address and/or not delivered to the designated and intended recipient and/or if you have received this e-mail and any attachment in error, please return the e-mail and any attachment to this firm, and delete the e-mail and any attachment from your in, out and trash boxes.

This office uses e-mail virus protection. However, e-mail transmission cannot be guaranteed to be secure or error free, as information could be intercepted, corrupted, lost, destroyed, arrive late or incomplete, or
contain viruses. Therefore, we do not accept liability for any errors or omissions of the contents of this message which arise as a result of e-mail transmission, and you open any e-mail or attachment at your own risk. If verification of any e-mail or attachment is required, please request a hard copy. Thank you for your cooperation.

Tax Advice Disclosure: To ensure compliance with requirements imposed by the IRS under Circular 230, we inform you that any U.S. federal tax advice contained in this communication (including any attachments), unless otherwise specifically stated, was not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (1) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or (2) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any matters addressed herein.

4

A bit off topic, but a few years ago my wife told me a true story about email at her huge corporation:

Seems the email server was too small and needed to be upgraded, so the corporate IT people sent around new interim rules for email until the server could be upgraded, one of which was “Avoid sending overly large pdf attachments; they will be difficult for many of your collegues to open.”

Yes, you guessed it, the new interim rules for email sent out by corporate IT came in an overly large pdf attachment, which many people could not open.

5

From: Heineman, Tom[mailto:theine@bellsouth.net]
Sent: Wednesday, January 11, 2006 7:41 AM
To: Liebing, Ralph
Subject: E-mail Endings

Thanks, Ralph

Tom

The information contained in this transmission may contain privileged and confidential information. It is intended only for the use of the person(s) named above. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any review, dissemination, distribution or duplication of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message. To reply to our email administrator directly, please send an email to postmaster@xxxxxxxxx.com.

WARNING: The information contained in this e-mail, and any attachment(s)
thereto, is intended only for the personal and confidential use of the
name recipient(s). This message and any attachment(s) thereto may contain
privileged attorney-client communication(s) and/or attorney work product,
and is therefore intended to be confidential. If this e-mail and any
attachment has been sent to the wrong e-mail address and/or not delivered
to the designated and intended recipient and/or if you have received this
e-mail and any attachment in error, please return the e-mail and any
attachment to us, and delete the e-mail and any attachment from your in,
out and trash boxes.

This office uses e-mail virus protection. However, e-mail transmission
cannot be guaranteed to be secure or error free, as information could be
intercepted, corrupted, lost, destroyed, arrive late or incomplete, or
contain viruses. Therefore, we do not accept liability for any errors or
omissions of the contents of this message which arise as a result of e-mail
transmission, and you open any e-mail or attachment at your own risk. If
verification of any e-mail or attachment is required, please request a hard
copy.
Thank you for your cooperation.

Tax Advice Disclosure: To ensure compliance with requirements imposed by the IRS under Circular 230, we inform you that any U.S. federal tax advice contained in this communication (including any attachments), unless otherwise specifically stated, was not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (1) avoiding penalties under the Internal Revenue Code or (2) promoting, marketing or recommending to another party any matters addressed herein.
6

One company I corresponded with closed its e-mails with:

“Please contact me immediately if you don’t receive this message.”

!

7

The contents of this email and any attachments to it contain confidential and/or legally privileged information from (Big Design Firm) or its affiliates. If you are not the intended recipient, or an employee or agent responsible for delivering this message to the intended recipient, be aware that any disclosure, copying, distribution, or use of the information contained herein is strictly prohibited. If you received this transmission in error, please contact the sender and destroy the material in its entirety, whether in electronic or hard copy format.

8

“NOTICE: This e-mail is from a law firm, , and is intended solely for the use of the individual(s) to whom it is addressed. If you believe you received this e-mail in error, please notify the sender immediately, delete the e-mail from your computer and do not copy or disclose it to anyone else. If you are not an existing client of , do not construe anything in this e-mail to make you a client unless it contains a specific statement to that effect and do not disclose anything to in reply that you expect it to hold in confidence. If you properly received this e-mail as a client, co-counsel or retained expert of , you should maintain its contents in confidence in order to preserve the attorney-client or work product privilege that may be available to protect confidentiality.”

… and ignore any communication, including but not limited to, information, data, words, sentences and paragraphs, that it may or may not be construed to contain, now or in the future, notwithstanding any and all previously issued notices which have not been rescinded or amended as of the date of this notice. [That’s me–do I sound like a lawyer, yet?]

9

and be sure to add:

Member FDIC, batteries not included, results may vary, licensed drivers only, prices higher west of the Rockies, no purchase necessary, close cover before striking, consult with your doctor before using, and do not puncture or incinerate.

10

also:
not intended as a toy; do not cover head with plastic; do not ingest; not available where prohibited by law; must be over 18 to purchase; not available to relatives or dependents of employees of OOOOO Company; expires April 15, 2006

11

Hey, folks-- an idea!!! Why not just go back to this format?

-----Original Message-----
From: Bozo Number 1 [mailto:bozo1@icckyepooh.com]
Sent: Tuesday, January 10, 2006 4:12 PM
To: BozO Number 2
THE CONTENT OF THIS MESSAGE IS DIRECTED
EXCLUSIVELY TO THE ADDRESSEE, AND IS OF
VALUE ONLY TO THAT PERSON AND THE SENDER.
IF YOU ARE NEITHER OF THESE PERSONS,
DELETE THIS MESSAGE, IMMEDIATELY
Subject: E-mail Endings

12

Hmmm - Clear Concise Complete!
The lawyers will never go for it!

13

Thank you Tom, this is very enlightening and amusing.

David, your post sounds much like my request at pre-bid conferences for everyone not present to raise their hand.

Works every time.

14

Here is a refreshing closing for corporate messages:

"Mo Madani / Betty Stevens
Building Codes & Standards Office, Florida Building Commission
2555 Shumard Oak Blvd., Tallahassee FL 32399-2100
betty.stevens@dca.state.fl.us
mo.madani@dca.state.fl.us
850 922-6864 (Betty)
850 921-2247 (Mo)
850 414-8436 (Fax)

“Please note: Florida has a very broad public records law. Most written communications to or from state officials regarding state business are public records available to the public and media upon request. Your e-mail communications may be subject to public disclosure.”

What a pleasure not to be dealing with the Three Stooges and their comic disclaimers at the bottom of every piece of correspondence. Instead we are in touch with good old Betty, Mo and Fax.

For them, CYA means “Caress your audience”.

15

Someone in my office received an e-mail with product information. Since the product was interesting, it was forwarded to me. But, with the disclaimer below, I am (humorously) wondering if I need to have someone purge all ones and zeros associated with that e-mail, rather than add them to our office master.

This E-mail (including attachments) is confidential and the property of Xyz Corporation, including subsidiaries (jointly and severally, “Xyz”). If you are not the intended recipient, reading, copying, disclosure or any action or forbearance based on the E-mail is prohibited. Xyz retains all copyright and other intellectual property rights and objects to misuse. IF YOU HAVE RECEIVED THIS E-MAIL IN ERROR,IMMEDIATELY CONTACT THE SENDER TO SO ADVISE OF THE ERROR AND PERMANENTLY DELETE THIS E-MAIL.

16

Based on a school text book controversy of a few years ago, I crafted this tag line for in-office e-mails:

“This e-mail contains material on Specifications. Specifications are a theory, not a fact, regarding how to document architectural design. This material should be approached with an open mind, studied carefully and critically considered.”

17

Bear in mind that in architecture, as in school textbook controversies, comments regarding intelligent design (or the lack thereof) are made at one’s own risk…

18

I am seeing this sort of footer very often:

Before printing, please think about our ENVIRONMENT

-or-

P Please consider the environment before printing this email.

-and-

e consider your need for a hardcopy before printing this email.