Three worked examples below. Each one shows where the embargo line belongs, how to write it clearly and which details reduce confusion or accidental early publication.
Use the structure, then generate the correct times for your own date and markets.
Product launch
US-led technology launches are often timed around the start of the US business day, but the right moment depends on the priority markets.
Ask for agreement before sending embargoed information to a new contact. Once the recipient has agreed, place the embargo block near the top of the email and repeat it in the release document.
Before agreement
Subject: Advance news on [Product] Hi [Name], I have an announcement about [short description] that may be relevant to your coverage. It will be released on Tuesday, 15 September 2026 at: • San Francisco: 06:00 PDT • New York: 09:00 EDT • London: 14:00 BST • Berlin: 15:00 CEST • Singapore: 21:00 SGT Would you like to receive the details in advance under embargo? Best, [Name]
After agreement
Subject: Embargoed: [Company] launches [Product] Hi [Name], Thanks for confirming the embargo. The information below and attached materials are embargoed until: • San Francisco: 06:00 PDT, Tuesday 15 September 2026 • New York: 09:00 EDT, Tuesday 15 September 2026 • London: 14:00 BST, Tuesday 15 September 2026 • Berlin: 15:00 CEST, Tuesday 15 September 2026 • Singapore: 21:00 SGT, Tuesday 15 September 2026 [Headline] [First paragraph] Best, [Name]
Why this works
- The recipient accepts the embargo before receiving sensitive material.
- The weekday, date and year are included.
- The abbreviations match daylight saving on that date.
- Every listed time refers to the same moment.
Research paper
Research embargoes are normally set by the journal or publisher. Copy the stated lift moment exactly and make its source clear.
Subject: Embargoed research, lifts 19:00 BST Thursday 8 October 2026 EMBARGOED UNTIL: • London: 19:00 BST, Thursday 8 October 2026 • New York: 14:00 EDT, Thursday 8 October 2026 • Los Angeles: 11:00 PDT, Thursday 8 October 2026 • Tokyo: 03:00 JST, Friday 9 October 2026 Embargo set by: [Journal or publisher] Paper: [Title] Journal: [Journal] DOI: [DOI] Authors are available for interview from [date and time].
Why this works
- The journal or publisher is named as the source of the embargo.
- Every listed time refers to the same moment.
- Tokyo’s next-day date is shown explicitly.
- Interview availability is kept separate from the publication restriction.
Music release
Music campaigns can use either one simultaneous global publication moment or a staggered midnight-local release.
These are different models. State clearly which one applies.
Simultaneous global lift
Subject: Embargoed: [Artist] single announcement Thanks for confirming the embargo. The announcement and review coverage may be published from: • Los Angeles: 16:00 PDT, Thursday 22 October 2026 • New York: 19:00 EDT, Thursday 22 October 2026 • London: 00:00 BST, Friday 23 October 2026 • Berlin: 01:00 CEST, Friday 23 October 2026 • Tokyo: 08:00 JST, Friday 23 October 2026 Private listening link: [Link] Please do not share or publish the private link.
Midnight local release
Release timing: The track becomes available at 00:00 local time on Friday, 23 October 2026 in each market. This is a staggered release, not one simultaneous global moment. Interviews and features may be published from: 09:00 BST, Thursday 22 October 2026 Private listening link: [Link] Please do not share or publish the private link.
Why this works
- It clearly distinguishes a simultaneous lift from a midnight-local release.
- Review and feature timing are separated from platform availability.
- Private-link restrictions are stated directly.
- No local release time is presented as one global embargo moment.
What every example has in common
- One clearly defined publication moment, or a clear explanation when release timing is staggered by market.
- The full weekday, date and year where ambiguity is possible.
- Date-aware daylight saving abbreviations.
- A visible next-day or previous-day date when a market crosses midnight.
- One clear reference time in the subject line.
- The full market block near the top of the email and in the release document.
- Clear agreement before sensitive embargoed material is sent.
Build the correct block for your own date and markets with Embargo Timer, or start from a full document in the templates.