Credits in books

[Alexander Von_obert <avobert -at- TWH -dot- MSN -dot- SUB -dot- ORG>]

Hello David,


* Antwort auf eine Nachricht von David Somers  an All am 20.09.96

DS> From: David Somers <David -dot- SOMERS -at- ST -dot- COM>

DS> Perhaps the same ones I would refuse to put my name in a
DS> manual: Liability.

DS> And according to European product liability
DS> legislation, a
DS> user can sue anyone who was involved in manufacturing and
DS> might be liable for
DS> his damage.  If he sues me, *I* have to prove that I am *not*
DS> guilty.

DS>  When your customers sign-orf a book don't you get them to
DS> accept all and any
DS>  liability and so take you out of the legal loop?

There are two quite different things:

- There is a treaty between my customer and me. Of course I do as you say.
- Some end-user suffers a damage and wants to sue the manufacturer or anyone
  involved in manufacturing - his or her choice.

In the latter case he could legally sue me. Then I would have to show that it
 was NOT my fault. The judge might even argue that the product was dangerous
and
 that I should not have documented it as is was, but urge the manufacturer to
 modify the design.

The easiest way to keep out of trouble is to remain out of sight.

And remember: This is law in the European Community, not in the US. The basic
 idea is that a normal consumer cannot prove who was involved in manufacturing
 and is responsible for the fault of the product. Therefore the consumer may
sue
 anyone who might be involved and the other side is to show that he is
innocent.


Greetings from Germany,
Alexander

--
Alexander von Obert, Urbanstr. 2, 90480 Nuernberg, Germany
Free-lance Technical Writer (electronics, software)
Voice +49-911-403903, Fax +49-911-403904, BBS +49-911-403905 (FIDO 2:2490/1719)