The IT Law Wiki
The IT Law Wiki

General[]

A disclaimer is a statement denying responsibility that is intended to prevent civil liability arising for particular acts or omissions. Disclaimers are frequently made to escape the effects of negligence. The courts may or may not give effect to the disclaimer depending on whether the law permits exclusion of liability in the particular situation and whether the acts or omissions complained of fall within the wording of the disclaimer.

Contract law[]

A disclaimer may take effect as a term of the contract between the person making the disclaimer and the person who is thereby prevented from suing. This kind of disclaimer is, for example, invariably found in the "terms and conditions" that a software user is confronted with when first installing the software. There will often be term excluding any liability for any damage that the software might cause to the rest of the user's software and hardware. By clicking "I Agree" or "I Accept" in the dialog box, users are agreeing to this disclaimer as matter of contract between themselves and the software company.

Patent law[]

A disclaimer is an express surrender to the public of an actual or potential patent right. An entire patent can be disclaimed, or any claim or claims in a patent or a terminal portion of the normal term of the patent.[1]

References[]

  1. See MPEP 1490, MPEP 2138.03, MPEP 706.03(u).

See also[]


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