Do I Need A Disclaimer On My Affiliate Site?

Ok, so i have another site on the way that is almost complete. It is an affiliate site recommending various products. Throughtout the site i have written in a way that suggests everything is my own opinion and is not fact. However, my question is do i need a disclaimer, or is that just for vendors only?

I was linked to a free disclaimer generator here: http://www.easyriver.com/free_disclaimer.htm

But i honestly have no idea when reading it if it makes any sense to have it on my site or not.

I have read many posts on the forum about this but can't seem to get a definitive answer.

Thanks guys

 

If you are not sure just add a little blurp at the bottom center of your page along with your copyright

 

Disclaimers are useful for deterring some legal issues. Your site wouldn't need something overly complicated, but it's always a good idea to have a disclaimer.

I've seen cases where affiliates were sued even though all they did was link to a merchant. Some people just like to sue everyone and you can't prevent them from doing so, so it's best to be prepared.

You aren't getting a definitive answer though because you aren't in a lawyer's office

 

Well i certainly don't want to be involved in any legal issues!

Is there something simple that many people use that i can just copy paste from sumwhere?

I mean what does everyone else do, there are thousands of affiliates out there...

 

Here's a privacy policy:
http://www.jensense.com/2008/03/05/...-policy-sample-for-adsense-publishers-to-use/

That disclaimer you linked to looks like a decent start.

 

Yeah just make a disclaimer page no biggie,
when affiliate marketing your subscribers may come back to you instead of the company they bought from because you reccommended the product and they trust you...
Don't lose that trust it's the key to affiliate marketing!

 

Thanks for replys so far...

I have no idea how to create a disclaimer page of my own as i would not know what needs to be said in it. I have read many of the free disclaimers that are offered on the net but they are all aimed at vendors. With stuff like this included:

'Unless otherwise stated, we or our licensors own the intellectual property rights in the website and material on the website. Subject to the licence below, all these intellectual property rights are reserved.'

Well, i don't own the images as i am an affiliate so i can't say stuff like that... Also i cant read through the whole thing editing bits of info to make it applicable with my site as it is all written in such a way that only the albert einstein's of this world can udnerstand it!

Is there not an affiliates disclaimer generator about on the net or something? I have no idea what im doing about this really. Are there certain things that must be said if you run an affiliate site?

someone please show me the way!

Thanks

 

You can always write the disclaimer in plain English, it doesn't have to be legalese. Just say like "I use affiliate links, I get paid for that" and "statements are my opinion and all content is provided for informational purposes only" etc.

Like this - http://www.shoemoney.com/disclaimer/

 

Yes, a basic disclaimer is nice to have, but if your site is relatively open about what it dies, like recommending products or something, I don't think you need anything overly complicated. In my experience people only really complain about affiliate links if the site tries to hide them.

Maybe if you have a "My Site Recommends" column, with a disclaimer link at the bottom of that column, that would work without being ugly or too obnoxious.

I'm thinking in this case about heiseidemocracy.com, since it is an affiliate with J-List, and recommends products it reviews well in the column on the lower left.

 

Wrong forum mate. Go to the legal forum and you'll have your answer.

 

Wow..I was waiting for someone to say that....Go to the legal forum....or when all else fails...just google it...you'll find plenty of advise....but as MTbiker says...keep it simple...straightforward..and youll keep your ass out of the sling.

 

Yes add a disclaimer it will take tops a day to write and save your butt

 

Thanks for all of your responses guys. On reflection it foes look like I posted this in the wrong forum! oops - I have found a few documents that have helped me out, I will show you all the site when finished so you can use it for your own etc if you wish.

 

I was looking for the exact same thing, if you can share that with us it'll be greatly appreciated.

bye

 

Hi, for all those that wanted to have a look, i have now finished my disclaimer and for anyone interested in viewing it, it can be located here:

http://www.only-honest-reviews.com/disclaimer.html

Thanks

 

That disclaimer is very good! and best of all, scary to anyone trying to abuse you.

Now the question is, what sources did you use to create it. I also have an affiliate site and I'd like to add a disclaimer to protect myself, but don't know how to create it.

Thanks!

 

I got the information thanks to another DP member on this thread below. Look down the bottom of it, 1 above my post. I uses those templates that he provided that are free and modified them slightly to make sense for my sight.

http://forums.digitalpoint.com/showthread.php?t=195894&highlight=five+legal+documents

 

I think it is safe to have a disclaimer.

 

It doesn't hurt to have a disclaimer, but they don't protect you 100%. Nothing really does.

 

Thank you very much, James Long.