Disclaimer Examples

A disclaimer is a statement that helps limit your business’s legal liability by clarifying what you are and are not responsible for on your website, app, or other digital properties. Businesses use disclaimers to address risks tied to their content, products, services, and third-party links.

In this guide, I’ve put together the most common disclaimer statement examples and explained how they benefit your business.

Table of Contents

1. Disclaimer Examples
2. How To Write a Disclaimer
3. Disclaimer FAQs

Disclaimer Examples

Different types of disclaimers are used to address specific risks depending on the content, services, or activities on your website.

Below is a comprehensive guide explaining some of the most common disclaimers that you might need to protect your business.

Copyright Disclaimer

A copyright disclaimer helps protect original content by stating that the content on your website or app is owned and cannot be used without permission.

Copyright is a form of protection offered by U.S. law for “original works of authorship,” defined by the U.S. Copyright Office as:

“…independently created by a human author and possesses at least some minimal degree of creativity.” 

As soon as a work is created and becomes reproducible, copyright protection automatically applies to it. Some copyright examples include creative works that come in tangible forms, like:

• Works of art
• Literature
• Music
• Choreography
• Designs
• Branding

A detailed copyright disclaimer is not legally required, but it is a strong deterrent against copyright infringement by showing users that you know the law and will defend your claim.

Your business’s copyright claim can be detailed in your terms and conditions under an intellectual property rights clause, as Termly does in the example below.

This sample disclaimer clause allows you to claim ownership of your site’s creative assets. However, notifying users of your copyright as soon as they access your site is also important.

One effective way to do this is to place a copyright notice in your site’s footer. It should be comprised of the following four parts:

1. The copyright symbol
2. The year of publication
3. The name of the copyright owner
4. The rights you wish to retain

If you don’t put what rights you wish to retain at the end of your notice, the legal assumption is that you’re maintaining all rights.

In the screenshot below, see how the copyright notice looks on Instagram’s homepage:

Putting this information in the footer of your website helps you prove that your users were aware of your intellectual property rights as soon as they accessed your site. By doing this, you will have a stronger case if a dispute goes to court.

Fair Use Disclaimer

A fair use disclaimer states that your use of copyrighted material qualifies as a legally recognized exception, such as commentary, criticism, or teaching.

Under the principle of fair use, copyrighted works can be used in certain circumstances without the permission of the copyright owner.

According to Section 107 of the Copyright Act:

“The fair use of a copyrighted work […] for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching (including multiple copies for classroom use), scholarship, or research, is not an infringement of copyright.”

To protect your business from copyright infringement claims, follow these steps:

1. State that your site may contain content not authorized for use by its owner
2. Explain how your use of this material falls under the guidelines of fair use (e.g., comment)
3. Link to Section 107 of the Copyright Act

Below, check out an example of a fair-use copyright disclaimer from a YouTube video that meets these requirements.

You can defend your use of original content with similar disclaimer language based on the category of fair use you are using copyrighted work under, and any applicable licenses.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Disclaimer

An AI disclaimer tells users when content, images, or other materials on your website were created in whole or in part using artificial intelligence.

Over the past few years, AI technology has advanced rapidly and become more accessible to everyday internet users.

For example, businesses can now use AI to create customized icons or quickly write blog posts using AI for their websites. And that’s just a few examples from a rapidly growing toolset.

As exciting as this is, the U.S. Copyright Office released an AI Policy Guidance in the Spring of 2023 stating that you must disclaim any purely AI-created materials from your copyright application. Plus, your consumers also prefer knowing the difference.

I suggest including a disclaimer on your website or app that explains which parts of your platform were created by people and which specific content, logos, or other features were made using AI.

Travelocity includes an AI disclosure in its privacy policy that explains the different ways it uses artificial intelligence and machine learning technologies across its platform, including fraud prevention, chatbot support, recommendations, and content generation.

Providing this level of transparency can help build trust with users and clarify how AI is used across your services.

Confidentiality Disclaimer aka Email Disclaimer

A confidentiality disclaimer, also known as an email disclaimer, states that a message or its contents are intended only for specific recipients and should not be shared by others.

Digital communication offers more opportunities for confidential information to be exposed or intercepted. A confidentiality disclaimer states who the message is for, why the recipient should not forward it to others, and who they should contact if they receive it by mistake.

Email hosting company Zoho offers a sample disclaimer to include in an email signature:

Confidentiality disclaimers are commonly used in law, education, and healthcare industries that rely on the transfer of sensitive information. For example, they’re useful in situations where a business needs to ensure attorney-client privilege, safeguard sensitive personal data, or protect private health records.

If you send emails containing protected health information to U.S. medical patients, a confidentiality disclaimer is required to comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

The screenshot below shows a HIPAA email disclaimer sample from the University of Miami.

Standard disclaimer text like this can help meet HIPAA’s email precautions.

If your business sends certain confidential information by email, add a confidentiality disclaimer to all electronic communications to comply with the law or to ensure your messages are only seen by the intended audience.

Warranty Disclaimer

A warranty disclaimer states that your products, services, or content are provided “as is” without any guarantees regarding performance, accuracy, or reliability.

These statements vary depending on the nature of your business, but typically explain that a product or service is offered “as is” — implying that the customer or user accepts it in its current condition, including any unseen faults.

For websites and apps, warranty disclaimers state that the company makes no promises about the accuracy and reliability of the content it publishes. Below, see an example from our warranty disclaimer template.

This standard disclaimer wording allows you to avoid responsibility for any mistakes, errors, or omissions. This prevents users from taking legal action against your business because of a simple mistake.

Here’s a screenshot of a good example from Tumblr’s terms of service:

The disclaimer tells users that the service is provided on an “as is” and “as available” basis and that by using it, visitors accept that it may contain defects or not meet their expectations.

Another example I’ve included below comes from Amazon’s disclaimer of warranties, a suitably comprehensive statement that applies to its services and products.

All sites and apps are subject to unforeseen technical issues, and warranty disclaimers limit your liability for problems outside of your control, such as viruses or general downtime.

No-responsibility Disclaimer

A no-responsibility disclaimer states that your business is not liable for damages users may experience from relying on your content, products, or services.

Because these agreements limit your liability, they are also often referred to online as “no liability” disclaimers or “use at your own risk” disclaimers.

No-responsibility disclaimers address both tangible and intangible damages, such as physical harm caused by using a product, loss of profits or data, and defamatory comments.

Pictured below is Twitter’s terms of service, which includes a particularly detailed limitation of liability disclaimer.

This disclaimer notice explains that Twitter will not be held responsible for the content its users choose to share, which may be offensive to others.

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), which enforces UK privacy laws such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), also has a disclaimer on its site, shown below.

Because the ICO discusses compliance with privacy law, it must inform users that the information it provides is not legal advice and that the external website links are for reference only.

It’s critical to limit your business’s liability for all aspects of your operations — even for small things like linking to other websites.

Views Expressed Disclaimer

A views expressed disclaimer clarifies that opinions shared by contributors, guests, or users do not reflect the views of your business or organization.

This type of disclaimer is vital if your site allows contributions from others or provides a platform for users and guests to leave comments. It explains in legal terms that the opinion of an author you publish is not the same as that of your company or organization.

Below is an example from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) podcast disclaimer.

The FCC’s disclaimer clearly explains to users that the podcast exists to offer guidance, not to provide a strict interpretation of FCC policy.

As another example, Fox News has a disclaimer that addresses user-generated content on its message boards and forums:

The Fox News disclaimer is a good example of how a news website can benefit from the discussion generated by user-generated content while still distancing itself from the views expressed.

If you allow contributors or users to share their opinions through forums or for marketing purposes, a views expressed disclaimer is a handy weapon in your legal arsenal.

Investment Disclaimer

An investment disclaimer states that financial content is informational only and does not guarantee results or accept liability for investment decisions.

These disclaimers are suitable for sites that deal with all types of investments, from mutual funds to real estate.

Below, see Citigroup’s terms and conditions for a good example:

The clause above clearly states that Citibank will not be responsible for the consequences of using its investment products, including losses arising from investment risks.

An investment disclaimer also states that past performance is not indicative of future results.

Similar financial disclaimers are found on cryptocurrency websites. For example, CoinDesk’s terms and conditions include the following investment disclaimer clause:

Although CoinDesk provides information about investing in digital assets, its disclaimer states that no advice or information on the site is intended to guarantee any warranty of any kind. In a turbulent industry such as crypto, it’s important for a company to disclaim responsibility for the decisions its users make fully.

No matter how professional your services are, you should not be responsible for how your users act upon them. Investment disclaimers are just one industry example of how you can protect your specific business interests.

No Guarantee Disclaimer

A no guarantee disclaimer makes clear that your business does not promise specific outcomes from using its products, services, or information.

One of the best examples of this online comes from Wikipedia’s disclaimer:

This disclaimer explains that although Wikipedia has a team of editors, it lacks formal peer review and therefore cannot guarantee the validity of the information contained on its site.

It includes a separate clause stating that while it covers various topics, it does not constitute advice in that discipline:

If you post any informational content, a standard no-guarantee disclaimer allows you to serve as a source of industry knowledge without any obligations to your users.

The U.S. Equal Employment Commission’s disclaimer is similar:

Whatever type of website you operate, it’s valuable to include a no-guarantee disclaimer like the ones above to prevent users from taking advantage, for example, by suing over errors.

Medical Disclaimer

A medical disclaimer explains that health-related content is for informational purposes only and does not replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. These are useful for:

• Hospitals
• Pharmaceutical companies
• Healthcare organizations

See the easy-to-understand medical disclaimer that St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital includes on its website, stating that they are not a replacement for seeing a doctor:

Similarly, if you give advice or recommendations on your site that could lead to potential health risks, you might consider using a health disclaimer, especially if you run a:

• Health blog
• Gym website
• Fitness service

Below, see how fitness and lifestyle blog Jenny J Fitness uses a health disclaimer to deny responsibility on their website.

If you’re posting any medical or health information on your website or app, include this disclaimer. Hence, your users know that your service does not replace seeing an actual doctor, and establish that you’re not responsible for any harm that may occur if users follow your advice.

Affiliate Disclaimer

An affiliate disclaimer discloses that your business may earn compensation from links, endorsements, or sponsored recommendations.

Posting an affiliate disclosure is also legally required by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

This disclaimer lets your users know if you’re being compensated by the companies whose products you mention on your website or app, and it must appear on every page that includes a sponsorship, endorsement, or affiliate link.

This disclaimer is relevant for:

• Social media influencers
• Blogs with sponsored posts
• Content creators who reference affiliate products

In the screenshot below, see how Casey, the owner of the food and lifestyle blog Get On My Plate, uses a conversational tone in her affiliate disclaimer and clearly states that she receives monetary compensation whenever anyone uses the links on her site.

For more information relevant to blog owners and social media influencers, check out our blog disclaimers guide.

YouTube Disclaimer

A YouTube disclaimer helps clarify legal responsibilities tied to video content, including fair use, copyright, and no-responsibility statements.

These disclaimers are especially important if your video:

• Provides advice of any kind
• Features other people’s intellectual property
• Features your own copyrighted materials

If your video features material created by someone else, such as movie clips, you should add a fair use disclaimer in the description.

Below, see a YouTube video disclaimer example from The Cosmic Wonder.

To present its fair use guidelines, YouTube includes a link to a copyright resource in its website footer, as shown below.

In their guidelines, YouTube includes a copyright and fair use disclaimer explaining that it receives many takedown requests under copyright law and strives to protect creators, as shown in the highlighted text below.

If your website or app relies on content created by others, you can learn from YouTube’s open and accessible approach to fair use to build trust with your users.

Keep in mind that YouTube content creators and businesses targeting children under 13 must also comply with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA).

Social Media Disclaimers

A social media disclaimer explains the rules, limitations, and liability boundaries that apply to your business’s social media presence.

In the screenshot below, see how St. Phillips College puts a social disclaimer on their website that clarifies that they’re not responsible for anything shared or posted by third-party sources.

St. Phillip’s College also uses this clause to dictate what users can and cannot post on their social media pages.

Consider adding a similarly worded disclaimer on your website or app to protect your company from liability for content your users may post or share online.

Testimonial Disclaimer

A testimonial disclaimer explains that customer reviews reflect individual experiences and do not guarantee the same results for everyone.

This disclaimer states that the review or testimonial reflects one person’s experiences and transparently informs others whether the poster was paid or otherwise compensated for their time and opinion.

In the U.S., you are legally required by the Federal Trade Commission to have a testimonial disclaimer posted on your site if you allow your users to share reviews or endorsements of your products.

Below is an example statement from Stillwater Acupuncture clarifying that not everyone using their services has the same experience.

A testimonial disclaimer is important because it protects your business and builds trust with your users. This disclaimer helps properly set your users’ expectations and reminds them that customer reviews and testimonials are not indicative of every person’s experience.

Legal Disclaimer

A legal disclaimer states that legal information on your website is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice.

You can also explain to users that your website does not replace the services of an actual independent lawyer.

See a legal disclaimer example below from the National District Attorneys Association (NDAA) website.

For law firm websites and lawyer blogs, posting this disclaimer prevents liabilities from falling onto you. It can also be used to inform your users that accessing your website does not confer any attorney-client privilege.

How To Write a Disclaimer

You can write a disclaimer from scratch, use a template, or generate one based on your business activities and liability risks.

Whatever method you choose, be mindful of how these clauses are written, because you want as many of your users as possible to read and understand them.

Our free, downloadable disclaimer template is written in simple language and can be easily modified to address the liabilities associated with your website or app. Rather than doing everything yourself, it provides you with the bulk of the information written by our legal team and data privacy experts.

Alternatively, you can quickly create a free disclaimer by answering a few simple questions using our Disclaimer Generator. Our generator is more in-depth and does as much work for you as possible.

Post your disclaimers in your terms and conditions agreement or share them in your website’s legal section; that way, your users can always easily find the information.

Disclaimer FAQs

If you’re looking for more answers, here are some frequently asked questions we get about disclaimers.

What Is a Disclaimer?

A disclaimer is a statement that limits legal liability by explaining what your business is and is not responsible for.

Even though disclaimer statements do not necessarily prevent users from taking legal action against you, it’s an easy and inexpensive way to limit what your company can and can’t be held liable for in a court of law.

If there are any inaccuracies, vague statements, or misleading content on your website or app, even unintentionally, a disclaimer may help limit your legal liability.

Some disclaimers appear as independent, standalone pages on your site. Other times, they can be found as clauses within other legal agreements, including your:

• Terms and Conditions
• Privacy Policy
• Cookie Policy
• Acceptable Use Policy

When Do You Need a Disclaimer?

You need a disclaimer when your website, app, or business activities create liability risks that you want to clarify or limit.

If you own a business that operates online in any capacity, it’s in your best interest to have a disclaimer, especially if you:

• Run a blog
• Own an ecommerce shop
• Post legal information on your website
• Talk about medical issues or give medical advice
• Own and want to maintain your intellectual property rights
• Make content that is considered commentary, criticism, or parody
• Own a platform that allows your users to interact with one another
• Allow your users to post and share content on your website

All in all, there aren’t many websites that shouldn’t use a disclaimer. You might find any of the following types of disclaimers useful for your website or app:

• Fair use disclaimer
• Warranty disclaimer
• Copyright disclaimer
• No-responsibility disclaimer
• Affiliate disclaimer
• YouTube disclaimer
• Views expressed disclaimer
• Blog disclaimer
• Product disclaimer
• Testimonial disclaimer
• Social media disclaimer
• Intellectual property disclaimer
• Email disclaimer
• Medical disclaimer

What Are the Benefits of Disclaimers?

The benefits of using disclaimers for your business are that they limit your liabilities, are more affordable than legal fees, and are easy to create and add to your website.

Let’s go over each of these benefits in a little more detail.

Disclaimers Limit Your Liabilities

Arguably, the biggest benefit of using disclaimers on your website is that it can help limit what you’re held liable for in a court of law if a user ever pursues legal action against you.

While disclaimers can’t prevent someone from suing you or trying to take you to court, they act almost like a shield protecting your business from being held responsible for certain damages or harm users may experience while accessing your services.

Disclaimers May Help You Save Money

Another benefit of using disclaimers on your website is the cost — they’re usually cheap or free to add to your site, and they can help you save thousands of dollars in legal fees down the road.

In 2022, corporate law firms charged an average of $350 per hour, while lawyers specializing in intellectual property rights charged an average of $342 per hour. (Statista)

You can save time and money by downloading and customizing disclaimer templates and adding them to your website or app.

Disclaimers Are Easy to Create

Even though legal disclaimers may seem intimidating at first, they’re usually very easy and fast to make and add to your website, especially if you use a template or generator.

All you need to do is customize the disclaimer to match your business’s needs and details.

Can I copy someone’s disclaimer?

No, you should not copy someone else’s disclaimer because it may not reflect your business and could create legal or plagiarism issues.

Where do I put my disclaimer?

You should place your disclaimer where users can easily find it, such as on a standalone page, in your footer, or directly on relevant content.

What types of disclaimers are there?

Many types of disclaimers address liabilities for different industries, activities, and content, and the most common types of disclaimers are:

• Fair Use Disclaimer: Discloses that you are legally using copyrighted materials on your website, and with the appropriate permissions.
• Warranty Disclaimer: Explains that sellers and service providers are not responsible for possible product or service failures.
• Copyright Disclaimer: Let site visitors know that your site contains copyrighted material.
• No Responsibility Disclaimer: Informs users that you are not responsible for actions taken based on content on your website.
• Confidentiality Disclaimer: Assures users that some content, such as contact information, is only intended to be seen by certain parties.
• Affiliate Disclaimer: Discloses your participation in an affiliate program, such as Amazon Associates.
• YouTube Disclaimer: Any disclaimer found in the description of a YouTube video. Commonly, copyright disclaimers and no responsibility disclaimers double as YouTube disclaimers.
• Views Expressed Disclaimer: Specify that the opinions found on your website are not the views or opinions of your business.
• Investment Disclaimer: Informs readers that your investment commentary is informational and should not be taken as official advice.
• No Guarantee Disclaimer: Announces that your website or business makes no promises about the results of a product or service.
• Use at Your Own Risk Disclaimer: Instructs your site’s visitors to act on your content or recommendations at their own risk.
• Email Disclaimer: Any disclaimer added to the footer of an email. Most often, confidentiality disclaimers act as email disclaimers.
• Past Performance Disclaimer: States that previous results do not equal future results.
• Medical Disclaimer: Informs users that the content on the site is provided for informational purposes only and does not substitute professional medical advice or seeing a doctor.

Written by Natasha Piirainen

Natasha Piirainen is a privacy writer with a Bachelor’s Degree in English and Philosophy from Wheaton College and over 10 years of professional experience in research-driven content development.

Read all posts by Natasha Piirainen

Reviewed by Masha Komnenic CIPP/E, CIPM, CIPT, FIP

Masha Komnenic is a legal counsel and Termly’s Director of Global Privacy, who received her law degree from Belgrade University. She specializes in implementing, monitoring, and auditing business compliance with privacy regulations (HIPAA, PIPEDA, ePrivacy Directive, GDPR, CCPA, POPIA, LGPD).

Read all posts reviewed by Masha Komnenic CIPP/E, CIPM, CIPT, FIP