The Great Zero Challenge

[Ian Batten]

On 7 Sep 2008, at 11:23, Peter Sommer wrote:
>> n
> You are right it doesn't,  and I apologise.  But much of my  
> correspondence is confidential and legall privileged which is why by  
> default I have this sig file.  I have to remember to delete it.   
> Better to cause amusement on ukcrypto, it seems to me,  than  
> professional embarassment.

My logic for stopping people using disclaimers is as follows:

There are often occasions when it's hard to tell if the disclaimer is  
`real' or not.  Were someone to attempt to enforce a disclaimer  
against my employer, I would look through our archives and Google for  
mail from that organisation where we had:

* An official order, change request or similar contractual item with a  
footer which said ``this is not an official statement''

* Something which was manifestly intended by the sender to be  
distributed widely that said ``do not distribute without permission''

* Something which said it wasn't legal advice when it was legal advice  
(this is a favourite of solicitors).

* You get the idea.

I'd then say ``since the organisation can't decide if the disclaimer  
applies, how can we as recipients be expected to?''

If this logic holds water (and lawyers I've spoken to say it's not  
entirely laughable), sending mail to mailing lists isn't just a source  
of amusement for ukcrypto-ites: it's something which might later count  
against you were you to try to enforce it.

ian