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Muhammad523yesterday at 11:46 PM3 repliesview on HN

Many legal documents use "may" to say you must. That's why i hate legalese...


Replies

pixl97today at 12:48 AM

Hmm, that's annoying, I'd take may as "CAN"

show 1 reply
LoganDarktoday at 4:15 AM

Legal documents use "may" to allow for something. Usually it only needs to be allowed so that it can happen. So I read terms of service and privacy policies like all "may" is "will". "Your data may (will) be shared with (sold to) one or more of (all of) our data processing partners. You may (will) be asked (demanded) to provide identity verification, which may (will) include (but is not limited to) [everything on your passport]." And so on.

dolebirchwoodtoday at 1:41 AM

I don't know what terrible lawyers were hired to draft these "many" documents, but please share some examples.