History Main / IDoNotOwn

In the strange realm of RealPersonFic, disclaimers of this type have the additional purpose of clarifying that the work of fiction is indeed a work of fiction, and not a report of true events and an attempt to libel the people represented. It's not copyright infringement these authors need to worry about, but rather defamation. (The disclaimer doesn't work here either, [[http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/10/06/obscene_publication_girls_aloud/ at least in England]].)

So this all begs a question: if almost every fan fic, fan art, etc. infringes on copyright, disclaimers or not, then why is it still so prolific? Because of SturgeonsLaw; a good ninety percent of this fan stuff is utter crap. It's not nearly good enough to even dent the revenues of the original work -- this realization goes back to ''Series/{{Star Trek|TheOriginalSeries}}'' fan magazines in the 1970s (which, incidentally, also the origin of this sort of disclaimer). What ''can'' lose the rights holder money, though, is the terrible publicity from suing a fanfic author; even people who have never seen the original work before would certainly not check it out if they thought the rights holder was a jerk. In fact, most rights holders don't mind fanfic because it helps consolidate the fan community in general; those who do are rare enough to be listed on FanworkBan, and many of them have more ethical than legal reasons to do so. Rights holders tend to be more proactive where the fan work can actually lose them revenue (like homemade video games), but they tend to start with a Cease and Desist order in those cases in the hopes that the parties can reach a mutually acceptable conclusion.

Regardless, it's generally accepted from both sides these days that the original creators can and should look the other way when it comes to people creating fan work of their original content. Thus, the disclaimers are more of a tradition than an attempt at actual legality. They are often used to show gratitude to the original creators for giving us the original work; some compare them to Creator/{{Homer}}'s invocation of the muse. Some authors also use them to clearly demarcate which elements of their story are canonical and which are invented (''e.g.'' "I don't own any of these characters, except my AuthorAvatar"). As such, people frequently use vague, cutesy, or parodic disclaimers, along these lines:

FanFic writers frequently see the need to begin their fiction with statements that look sort of like the page quote, usually as part of the FanficHeader. These disclaimers are not only completely useless -- or even counterproductive -- from a legal point of view, but also generally redundant, especially if posted on a website like Website/FanFictionDotNet which already includes its own well-written legal disclaimers.

This kind of disclaimer comes from a misunderstanding of [[UsefulNotes/{{copyright}} copyright law]]; fanfic writers seem to believe that it's concerned with [[UsefulNotes/{{Plagiarism}} taking credit for someone else's work]],[[note]]High school English class is a particular culprit, as teachers will often admonish plagiarism by pointing out that it's also copyright infringement, but students don't grasp that there's technically a difference between the two.[[/note]] so as long as [[MostFanficWritersAreGirls she]] is explicit that she didn't create the characters or setting, she's not taking credit for the work and is thus home free. The problem is that copyright law is concerned with protecting the original author's rights, whether or not the fanfic writer takes credit for the work; you can be liable for copyright infringement as long as they lose money because of your work. (This can happen even if you don't charge for your fanfic; the rights holder can argue that he could have written your story just as easily and charged money for it, except your free version is there, so he can't.) Some fanfic authors try to head off legal consequences by pointing out that they have little, no, or ''negative'' assets; this never works because rights holders don't care about your assets so much as protecting their ''own'' assets and stopping you from doing further damage.

The point is that this kind of disclaimer doesn't really improve your legal situation if you're a fanfic writer. It may even [[NotHelpingYourCase make it worse]]; if you admit that you don't own the work, it's much harder to claim that you didn't realize it was copyrighted by someone else. And "willful infringement" of copyright -- ''i.e.'' you've been told that you're violating copyright, but keep doing it anyway -- leads to ''triple'' damages, and if you point out from the start that you don't own the work, you may be ''starting'' at willful infringement. (On the other hand, the disclaimer also implies that you think what you're doing is legal, so then that's not "willful infringement". You see why good lawyers are so expensive?)

So why is FanFic so prolific if almost all of it infringes on copyright, disclaimers or not? Because of SturgeonsLaw; a good 90 percent of this fanfic is utter crap. It's not nearly good enough to even dent the revenues of the original work -- this realization goes back to ''Series/{{Star Trek|TheOriginalSeries}}'' fan magazines in the 1970s (incidentally, also the origin of this sort of disclaimer). What ''can'' lose the rights holder money, though, is the terrible publicity from suing a fanfic author. In fact, most rights holders don't mind fanfic because it helps consolidate the fan community in general (those who do are rare enough to be listed on FanworkBan, and many of them have more ethical than legal reasons to do so). Rights holders tend to be more proactive where the fan work can actually lose them revenue (like homemade video games), but they tend to start with a Cease and Desist order in those cases in the hopes that the parties can reach a mutually acceptable conclusion.

So these days, the disclaimers are more of a tradition than an attempt at actual legality. They are often used to show gratitude to the original creators for giving us the original work; some compare them to Creator/{{Homer}}'s invocation of the muse. Some authors also use them to clearly demarcate which elements of their story are canonical and which are invented (''e.g.'' "I don't own any of these characters, except my AuthorAvatar"). As such, people frequently use vague, cutesy, or parodic disclaimers, along these lines:

-->''All characters are owned by MutantEnemy (Creator/JossWhedon), a wonderfully creative company whose characters I have borrowed for a completely profit-free flight of fancy. Kindly do not sue me, please, as I am terrified of you. Thank you.''

* Fanfic involving Music/TheBeatles often has something like: "I do not own Music/TheBeatles. They belong to Apple Corps., EMI, and their management..." (or MPL if it's a post-Beatles [=McCartney=] fic). One Beatles fanfic has: "Please don't sue. I spent all my money on a copy of ''LetItBe.''"

-->If I owned ''VisualNovel/AceAttorney'', ''{{VideoGame/Professor Layton vs Ace Attorney}}'' would have been released in the United States already. And if I owned ''WesternAnimation/EdEddNEddy'', this would already be animated and I would be swimming in jawbreakers.\\

Of course I own everything! In fact, I am personally head in chief of the staff behind ''Gyakuten Saiban 5'', making sure it is released in the states before Japan, because fuck Japan! It's all about America, fuck yeah! … [[BrutalHonesty Nobody's believing me.]]\\

-->'''Disclaimer:''' [[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8944611/3/Naruto-The-Secret-Songs-of-the-Ninja *yawn* Been there, done that...]]
-->'''Disclaimer:''' [[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8944611/4/Naruto-The-Secret-Songs-of-the-Ninja No.]] [[NoJustNoReaction Just, no.]]
-->'''Disclaimer:''' [[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8944611/5/Naruto-The-Secret-Songs-of-the-Ninja I am not now, nor have ever been,]] [[RedScare a member of the Communist Party of Australia.]]
-->'''Disclaimer:''' [[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8944611/6/Naruto-The-Secret-Songs-of-the-Ninja Come on]] [[BringIt if you think you're hard enough!]]

* Paraphrase: "I do not own the characters in ''Series/{{House}}''. I do own the complete sets of {{DVD}}s. One cancels out the other." Found on "Casualty" by Angelfirenze, an "M"-rated Series/{{House}} "FixFic" running in an AlternateUniverse.

** ''WebVideo/HellsingUltimateAbridged'' has a different character read the disclaimer at the start of every episode. When it's Jan Valentine's turn, he stops midway and recites a disclaimer hailing the superiority of his penis.

[[AC:FanFic]]

* One ''{{Transformers}}'' fic has this disclaimer:

* From a Franchise/StarWars[=/=]{{BIONICLE}} crossover:

[[AC:Other Works]]
* The end of the first Canto of Creator/LordByron's ''Don Juan'' reads: "The first four rhymes are Southey's every line:/ For God's sake, reader! take them not for mine." Of course, this was essentially pre-Internet ''Don Juan'' FanFic, since Byron didn't own [[PublicDomainCharacter Don Juan]] either.

* [[WebVideo/AtopTheFourthWall Linkara]] generally plays this straight in his reviews; in ''ComicBook/AmazonsAttack'' reviews, he used several variations, such as:
-->"WonderWoman is ''nobody's'' property...although the copyright and trademark belong to Creator/DCComics." \\
\\
"Wonder Woman is still no one's property, but this pile of crap ''Amazons Attack'' belongs to DC Comics, and they can have it. \\
\\

* The disclaimer at the beginning of almost all [[TheAbridgedSeries Abridged Series]] goes something like: "The following is a non-profit fan-based parody. [Original work] is/are owned by [original work's creator(s) and/or studio(s)]. Please support the official release." Admittedly, most of these are added in the desperate hope that Website/YouTube won't pull down their presumably Free Use-protected parodies with accusations of copyright infringement.
** ''WebVideo/DragonBallZAbridged'' has its disclaimers narrated by a different character each time, usually someone who's about to have something nasty happen to him in the episode to follow.
** ''WebVideo/NarutoTheAbridgedComedyFandubSpoofSeriesShow'' also narrates its disclaimer with a different character each time and refers to itself as a "fan-based parody of a fan-based parody".
** Kaikisimoto's ''Anime/DigimonAdventure'' abridged series encourages viewers to "[[KeepCirculatingTheTapes support the non-existent official release.]]"
** After the removal of ''WebVideo/SailorMoonAbridged'' from Website/YouTube, that exact quote is the first thing added to the episodes, accompanied by a picture of Raye and the word "Fa**"
** ''WebVideo/HellsingUltimateAbridged'' has a different character read the disclaimer at the start of every episode. When it's Jan Valentine's turn, he stops midway and recites a disclaimer hailing the superiority of his penis.

* Fanfiction of Creator/JossWhedon's works nearly universally comes with a clever disclaimer, often "Joss is Boss" (particularly for ''Series/{{Firefly}}'' fics) and "Everything is owned by Joss Whedon" (ironically, the only one of those works he ''actually'' owns himself is ''WebVideo/DoctorHorriblesSingAlongBlong''). In particular, the fic ''([[http://www.fanfiction.net/u/122787/Meltha Meltha]]'' has this disclaimer:

So why if FanFic so prolific if almost all of it infringes on copyright, disclaimers or not? Because of SturgeonsLaw; a good 90 percent of this fanfic is utter crap. It's not nearly good enough to even dent the revenues of the original work -- this realization goes back to ''Series/{{Star Trek|TheOriginalSeries}}'' fan magazines in the 1970s (incidentally, also the origin of this sort of disclaimer). What ''can'' lose the rights holder money, though, is the terrible publicity from suing a fanfic author. In fact, most rights holders don't mind fanfic because it helps consolidate the fan community in general (those who do are rare enough to be listed on FanworkBan, and many of them have more ethical than legal reasons to do so). Rights holders tend to be more proactive where the fan work can actually lose them revenue (like homemade video games), but they tend to start with a Cease and Desist order in those cases in the hopes that the parties can reach a mutually acceptable conclusion.

* "I don't own anyone in this story, except for [[[PerverseSexualLust attractive character x]]]. He's mine! *{{glomp}}* [[Emoticon ^_^]]"

FanFic writers frequently see the need to begin their fiction with statements that look sort of like the page quote. These disclaimers are not only completely useless or even counterproductive from a legal point of view but also generally redundant, especially if posted on a website like Website/FanFictionDotNet which already includes its own well-written legal disclaimers. It should also be noted some sites require the disclaimers on individual stories in addition to the site-wide disclaimers for some reason.

The origin of this kind of disclaimer comes from a misunderstanding of the reason for copyright law as being concerned with someone [[{{Plagiarism}} taking credit for someone else's work]], and that so long as a fanfic author is explicitly making clear that [[MostFanficWritersAreGirls she]] did not create the characters or setting, then she is not taking credit so not doing any harm. Actual copyright law is concerned with potential loss of revenue to the copyright holder due to the fact that some use of their material is not generating revenue for them. Even if you don't charge for your fanfic, the rights holder can argue that they could have written your story and then charged people for it if your free version wasn't there, so you've still damaged them monetarily. This misunderstanding could have possibly come about as a result of high school English teachers' lectures on plagiarism almost always including "As well, if you plagiarise work, it's actually copyright infringement."

The point is, this kind of disclaimer does not really improve your legal situation -- A copyright-infringing fanfic with a disclaimer is still copyright-infringing. However, a vast number of rights-holders are generally tolerant of FanFic authors simply because (1) having fanfic written helps consolidate the fan community for the original work, or at least (2) most fanfics are not popular enough to dent revenues anywhere near as badly as the bad press of going after a fanfic author would. Being "not worth suing" saves more fanfic authors from legal troubles than the disclaimer does.

In fact, stating you know you are violating copyright can make the situation ''worse''. For one thing, admitting you know you are violating copyright makes it much harder to claim later that you didn't realise the work was copyrighted. Also, copyright law has one level of damages for standard infringement, but triple damages for 'willful infringement', which apply after you have been told you are violating copyright, and you keep distributing copies anyway. It is possible that stating you know you're violating copyright could make you ''start'' at willing infringement, if anyone wanted to sue. (On the other hand, the disclaimer also implies you think this is legal, so, paradoxically, it might not be 'willful infringement' at all.)

Apparently this practice dates back to ''Series/{{Star Trek|The Original Series}}'' fan magazines from the '70s, when studios were worried that the magazines would cut into their profits. Then they remembered SturgeonsLaw.

At this point, these disclaimers are more of a tradition than an attempt at actual legality. They often are used now to show gratitude for the work of the original creators; some compare them to Homer's invocation of the muse. Some authors also use them to clearly demarcate which elements of their story are canonical and which are invented (e.g., by having a disclaimer that says "I don't own any of these characters, except AuthorAvatar"). Still others use them to (fallaciously) point out the futility of suing them for infringement damages by indicating that they have little, no, or ''negative'' assets. (A note to whoever may actually think this would dissuade anyone from suing: companies sue in order to protect their ''own'' assets, not to acquire someone else's.)

In reality though most companies don't really police copyrights on fanfiction except when they are offering something the actual owner themselves could make money on (as a result home made video games are far more often policed). However in most cases Cease and Desist orders are sent ahead of suing, because of the very nature. The smarter decision of a disclaimer would be to incite your own cease and desist. If the owners see this they may be more inclined to just send you a cease and desist, however as one could obviously figure out you would still be admitting to knowing you are breaking the law and as a result could be sued if the owner wanted. But since you are already breaking the law, so might as well try to show you are willing to desist instead of just hoping you can abuse the law and avoid getting sued.

As such, people frequently use vague, cutesy, or parodic versions, along the lines of:

* "Stuff in this story is owned by some company, I didn't look it up."
* "I don't own [so and so], but I wish I did!"
** HateFic sometimes inverts this with [[TakeThat "I'm glad I don't own so and so."]]
* "If I owned Star Wars, Jar Jar Binks wouldn't exist."

* "Disclaimer: Everything is owned by Creator/JossWhedon." [[note]]The only one of Whedon's works that he does own is ''WebVideo/DoctorHorriblesSingAlongBlog''.[[/note]]
** "Joss Is Boss" is pretty popular among fanfics for his work, especially ''{{Series/Firefly}}''.
* "I don't own anyone in this story, except for [[[MrFanservice attractive]] [[DracoInLeatherPants character]] [[PerverseSexualLust X]]]. He's mine! *{{glomp}}* [[{{Emoticon}} ^_^]]"
* "Disclaimer: I claim dis."
* "I still don't own Discworld. I haven't even asked about it."
* "Of course I own {{Transformers}}. I own ''tons'' of Transformers. [[MerchandiseDriven I spend so much money on Transformers,]] [[CrackIsCheaper they've decided to cut out the middleman and send Hasbro my next paycheck.]] I own so many Transformers that I barely have room for... [[ComicallyMissingThePoint That's not what you meant, is it?]]"
* "All I own is a piece of chewed bubblegum and a bottle of vodka -- so, if you want to get drunk and eat pre-chewed gum, sue away!"
* "Disclaimer: If you think this is the official website of the New York Yankees, you're an idiot. Go away."
* "I own nothing."
* The disclaimer on a website devoted to the TV reality competition ''Series/TheAmazingRace'':
-->"The Amazing Race is the property of CBS Television and World Race Productions -- we don't own it, we just like to play with it."
* "RosesAreRedVioletsAreBlue / I don't own, so please don't sue."
* "I do not own Fandom X. If I did, [[[OneTruePairing Characters Y and Z]]] would totally have hooked up by now."
* "If I owned [Fandom X], don't you think I would have ''better'' things to do with my time [[SarcasmMode than write fanfiction]]?"

Sometimes there is an inversion, or subversion, such as:

* "You do realise how pointless these disclaimers are, right?"

Some (such as [[http://bobmin.fanficauthors.net/ Bobmin]]) may go even further and turn their disclaimers into short comedy sketches. This means that reading the disclaimer can help sort the good from the crud.

Note that in the strange realm known as RealPersonFic, disclaimers are used to clarify that the work of fiction is indeed a work of fiction, and not a report of true events or an attempt to libel the people represented. (Be aware that [[http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/10/06/obscene_publication_girls_aloud/ this may not necessarily work]], at least in England.)

A variant is sometimes used by fans who roleplay as fictional characters on social media such as Website/{{Twitter}}; notes in the profile such as "RP non-canon account" prevent confusing them with official {{Character Blog}}s.

Usually a part of the FanficHeader. Can get extremely Meta when someone somehow copies or associates their idea with RecursiveFanfiction. [[{{Hypocrite}} How dare you use the idea they're borrowing without permission without their permission?!]] Still, when you get found out (and you will) it's just proof that you have even less imagination and scruples than they do.

* Not quite fanfiction, but every episode of the Anime/ExcelSaga anime begins with Rikudo Koshi, the artist of the original manga, giving permission for whatever is about to happen next. (And Episode 1 begins with Excel trying to murder her own creator, but that's neither here nor there.)

* "(Yo, [[Creator/RumikoTakahashi Rumiko]]-[[UsefulNotes/JapaneseHonorifics chan]]! Borrowing the kids for a while, don't worry. I'll have them dry-cleaned before I return them. Kenko)" (From Rob "Kenko" Haynie's ''[[Manga/RanmaOneHalf Ranma]]'' fic [[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/391277 "Fair Warning"]].)

* "[[KingdomHearts Sora, Riku, and Kairi]] are copyright Lucasfilm, Inc. [[MickeyMouse Mickey]], Donald, and Goofy are copyright [[{{Troll}} Nickelodean]]." [[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4300069 This fanfic.]]
* "All characters are owned by MutantEnemy (Creator/JossWhedon), a wonderfully creative company whose characters I have borrowed for a completely profit-free flight of fancy. Kindly do not sue me, please, as I am terrified of you. Thank you." ([[http://www.fanfiction.net/u/122787/Meltha Meltha's]] disclaimer)
* "Joss is Boss" (used on uncountably many ''{{Series/Firefly}}'' fics)

* "Don't own, wish I did, no way wish can come true, end of story.....errrr, this story" --from a ''FFVII'' fanfic on aff.n
* Clell65619 generally does this for his ''Literature/HarryPotter'' fics on fanfiction.net.

** On ''Harry Potter and the Distaff Side:'' "I own none of this. I do not own Harry Potter or any rights to his image or personality. I do not own the moon or the stars. I do not own human genders, other than my own personal original factory equipment. Honest. Nope, not me. I most certainly do not own the rights to a billion dollar literary work. Damn it."
* From another Harry Potter fic: ''"Jo owns the characters, the plot, and my soul. I own only the spaces inbetween."''
* "Written by a ''Fan of Lemony Snicket'' -- a phrase which here means 'Someone who is most certainly ''not'' Lemony Snicket and would greatly appreciate it if he did not sue her.'" ([[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2447325 This (femslash) fic.]])
* One ''Manga/DeathNote'' fic starts with something like "I do not own Light, but he probably owns me".
** Some ''Death Note'' disclaimers have something on the lines of "If I owned Death Note, X would still be alive."
*** The first and only disclaimer of ''FanFic/KiraIsJustice'' ends with, "And remember, this will be the last time you'll be seeing this."
* Subversion: "Disclaimer: Little boy..." from the Super-Ultra-Mega ''Ranma 1/2'' crossover on Ranchan's Crossing Bridges.
* Fittingly, given [[AlterEgoActing the nature of his act]], some fics involving Creator/StephenColbert have ''two'' disclaimers: one for the copyrighted fictional characters and one for any RealLife people who become involved during the course of the story (frequently reporters or political figures).
* Paraphrase from various fics: "I do not own Music/TheBeatles. They belong to Apple Corps., EMI, and their management..." (Or MPL if it's a post-Beatles [=McCartney=] fic.)
* One Beatles fanfic has: "Please don't sue. I spent all my money on a copy of ''LetItBe.''"
* "I don't own (emotion, I) RENT" -- probably half of all ''Theatre/{{RENT}}'' fanfics out there. Clever and funny the first time, [[NeverHeardThatOneBefore mildly annoying the fiftieth]].
* The end of the first Canto of Creator/LordByron's ''Don Juan'' reads: "The first four rhymes are Southey's every line:/ For God's sake, reader! take them not for mine." Of course, this was essentially pre-Internet ''Don Juan'' FanFic, since Byron didn't own [[PublicDomainCharacter Don Juan]] either.
* "VideoGame/MetalGearSolid and its characters are ©1999 Konami. Metal Gear Solid is a registered trademark of Konami Co., Ltd. This webcomic is intended as a parody. '''I'd be flattered to get sued over it, but please ''don't''."''': [[http://www.gigaville.com/ Reads the disclaimer for]] ''Webcomic/TheLastDaysOfFOXHOUND''.
* "The only thing to which I can lay legitimate claim is the personality of [[FanFic/ThePrivateDiaryOfElizabethQuatermain Elizabeth]] (who says that she is perfectly capable of owning that herself, thank you very much)."

* The disclaimer on [[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/2826076 this]] ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'' fic takes it to a ridiculous but logical conclusion: "I own nothing, which is why I'm currently sitting naked in an internet cafe. I'm getting some pretty funny looks, I can tell you."

* A now-defunct site had the following disclaimer: "I do not own [[Franchise/TheDarkTower the Gunslinger.]] Right now I'm blackmailing Creator/StephenKing to try and change that."

* "Disclaimer: Do I LOOK like Terry Pratchett?" From [[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4198895/1/Light_and_Dark here]].
* Subverted in a ''Manga/LoveHina'' fanfic: "Myuuuuu!"
* Apparently, there have been some cases of people thinking disclaimers have legal weight -- see [[http://forum.rpg.net/showthread.php?t=7985 this]] thread on rpg.net, started by someone who apparently thought you could make a RPG based on someone else's intellectual property as long as you credit them.
* Summed up pretty well at the start of ''Film/{{Dogma}}''. "Disclaimer: 1) a renunciation of any claim to or connection with; 2) disavowal; 3) a statement made to save one's own ass; 4) a foresaid word for not being blamed later."
* One fic holds that the characters (who are all human) bear no intentional resemblance to any persons living, dead, or X with X becoming something increasingly ridiculous with each chapter until coming to "author finally finishing with a running gag".
* A rather elaborate version:
-->Sing, O Muse, or speak, or dance,\\
and so your audience entrance:\\
For voice, or step, or gilded phrase -\\
each art shall mortal minds amaze.\\
But Muse, ensure whatever work\\
is safe from harmful law and clerk,\\
the legal hounds who howl at we\\
who honor creativity.\\

Who honors more an artist's skill?\\
The fan who will the soul distill\\
from artistry, and so conceive\\
new tales from what that art achieved?\\
Or one who simply reads a book\\
and even if their heart is hooked,\\
tells none, nor lets their minds be swept\\
to lands where untouched tales are kept?\\

But yet let needful words be said,\\
which still I treat with grief and dread:\\
I own the narration within,\\
but not the world it happens in.\\
It isn't hard to separate\\
my words from those I emulate.\\
What's mine is mine, what's not is not,\\
I lay no claim to other plots.\\

So guard, Calliope, and Sing!\\
The humble words which I might bring\\
would in your speech flourish and thrive,\\
in ways I could scarcely contrive.\\
And reader, if you would allow\\
just one more moment, here and now\\
to introduce my nascent glory --\\
Sit back, relax, enjoy the story!
* The disclaimer of one ''Franchise/StarWars'' fanfic includes: "Some items, such as lightsabers, Jedi robes, etc., are owned by various characters, and Anakin Skywalker was owned by Watto once, but now he's not, so if you see an undisclaimed fic about him by Watto, report it immediately."
* [[WebVideo/AtopTheFourthWall Linkara]] generally plays this straight in his reviews; in ''ComicBook/AmazonsAttack'' reviews, he used several variations, such as:
-->"WonderWoman is ''nobody's'' property...Although the copyright and trademark belong to Creator/DCComics." \\

"Wonder Woman is still no one's property, but this pile of crap ''Amazons Attack'' belongs to DC Comics, and they can have it. \\
\\
"This miserable excuse for an event comic, Amazons Attack, is property of DC Comics. At least it will be until they [[CanonDiscontinuity throw it into the trash and try to pretend it never happened]]."
* The installments of [[http://tfradio.net/ Radio Free Cyberton's]] parody of the Transformers film usually contain this: "Any resemblance to characters owned by Hasbro or Takara is hoped to go unnoticed by their attorneys. All celebrity voices impersonated... obviously." Averted in that they actually used music from the Transformers soundtrack with permission.
* [[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/4631579/33 Chapter 33]] of ''Spoiled Brats'', a ''{{Anime/Ranma|OneHalf}}'' fanfic by [=DarkFyre99=], actually quotes the first paragraph of this article (as it stood as of November 2009) as its disclaimer.
* ''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5472899/3 Phantom's Secret Diary]]'' by Anthiena has:
-->Butch Hartman says it was all his idea, so blame him. On the other hand, I think he'd say at least three words you can't say on TV if he saw this fic.
* One [[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5782108/2 chapter]] of ''FanFic/HarryPotterAndTheMethodsOfRationality'' begins "#include "stddisclaimer.h"; in fact, the first 33 chapters include a variety of humorous disclaimers, often with shoutouts to various fandoms.
** The author of said fanfic also posts this on chapter 7:
-->"Whoa. A spokesman for Rowling's literary agent said that Rowling is okay with the existence of fanfiction as long as no one charges for it and everyone's clear that the original copyrights belong to her? That's really cool of her. I had no idea. So thank you, [=JKR=], and thine is the kingdom!"
* "Do I look like I own Niall and Edward? Really? Wow, that would account for the millions of dollars I DON'T have." Chapter two of a crossover fic of Wicked Lovely and the indie band LarrikinLove, featuring Niall and said band's lead singer as a pairing, found [[http://sana-the-random.deviantart.com/art/Edward-Larrikin-X-Niall-two-158311187 here.]]
* The ''WesternAnimation/KimPossible'' CrackFic ''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/3619834/ Morning, Pumpkin]]'' features many amusing examples of this:
-->I do not own Kim Possible, or any related characters. I also do not own a 1997 Chevy Impala, but that is completely irrelevant.[[note]]There was no such car, anyway.[[/note]]\\
\\
I do not own Kim Possible, or any related characters. If I did, Dr Drakken would have a German accent (cliché I know, but really, doesn't the name "Drakken" sound German?)\\
\\
I don't own Kim Possible, or any related characters. Of course, even if I did none of you would believe me.\\
\\
I do not own Kim Possible or any related characters. Please don't tell on me.\\
\\

* The disclaimer at the beginning of almost all [[TheAbridgedSeries Abridged Series]] goes something like: "The following is a non-profit fan-based parody. [insert name of anime here] is/are owned by [insert name of anime's creator(s) and/or studio(s) here]. Please support the official release." Admittedly, most of these are added in the desperate hope that [=YouTube=] won't pull down their presumably Free Use-protected parodies with accusations of copyright infringement.
** ''WebVideo/NarutoTheAbridgedComedyFandubSpoofSeriesShow'' narrates its disclaimer with a different character each time (as well as referring to itself as a "fan-based parody of a fan-based parody"), and Kaikisimoto's Digimon Adventure abridged series encourages viewers to "[[KeepCirculatingTheTapes support the non-existent official release.]]"
*** After the removal of ''Sailor Moon Abridged'' from Website/YouTube, that exact quote is the first thing added to the episodes, accompanied by a picture of Raye and the word "Fa**"
** WebVideo/HellsingUltimateAbridged has a different character read the disclaimer at the start of every episode. When it's Jan Valentine's turn, he stops midway and recites a disclaimer hailing the superiority of his penis.
* Justified for ''[[Literature/TheDresdenFiles Dresden Files]]'' fanfiction, as the author allows fanfics if they include a proper [[http://www.jim-butcher.com/news/000354.php disclaimer.]]

-->"I own the characters of Haruhi Suzumiya… as plushies. I don't own the show."

* On the poster of ''Webcomic/HowIBecameYoursRiseOfTheAgniArmy'', Jackie Diaz wrote: "...and to all you bitch ass half cocked so called artists on DA, I DON'T OWN AVATAR THE LAST AIRBENDER(c) or the original characters from it. [[CompletelyMissingThePoint never said I did]]. The art and fiction from both HIBY stories I do own. read the fine print next time you fucking morons. write about that in your forom because I know you will. And by the way I'm doing better than ever! thanks for the fame!" Class act.
* The description for [[http://youtu.be/KLRw8OL8Z8A this]] ''Manga/{{Bleach}}'' video has the following: "DISCLAIMER: blah blah blah i don't own bleach, Creator/TiteKubo does blahhhh if i did, i would've made someone toss a bucket of pink hair dye at ichigo :P"

* Sonic webcomic series Sonic Wrecks has long and detailed copyright disclaimers at the bottom of each comic, filled with shout outs and more jokes tying into the comic itself.
* A student-made film, parodying ''Angels and Demons'', mentions the plan to immediately file for bankruptcy should any company sue, thus wiping off student loans. It's posted on Youtube (it's in part four) [[http://youtu.be/lgCjNVCsFg0 here.]]
* [[http://adventurers.keenspot.com/d/0336.html This]] ''Webcomic/{{Adventurers}}'' strip: "[[VideoGame/FinalFantasyVIII Squall]] belongs to Square. [[TakeThat They can keep him.]]"
* It was actually averted on ''Roleplay/TheGunganCouncil'' for a good period of time, until the podcast added such a notification at the end of each episode.
* From [[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5548148 this]] fanfic: Disclaimer: We do not own WesternAnimation/StaticShock or it's characters…and unfortunately, during the move, I broke my coffee pot…so…I DON'T OWN A COFFEE POT EITHER!*cries*
* In the ''WesternAnimation/MyLittlePonyFriendshipIsMagic'' fanfic ''Fanfic/ItTakesAVillage'', they get insaner each chapter. Most take the "wish I did" tone, until...
-->"My ponies! Muaahahahah! Mine, all mine! M-my p-ponies! Mine? Please? Maybe one? Just a little one then? How about a background one? Aw dammit. [[BitingTheHandHumor Selfish Hasbro]]."
* From a ''VideoGame/{{Portal}}'' fanfic "[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/7991041 SEXY TIEMUU]]" describing the horrors of ''Portal'' fandom: "Disclaimer: Valve owns Portal, thank God, because look what everyone ''here'' would be doing with them if they owned it."
* From a ''Film/TheLeagueOfExtraordinaryGentlemen'' fanfiction, [[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6576577 Beyond Family]]: "I did not invent most of these characters and can't claim ownership. A large majority of them were created over one hundred years ago and belong to a number of dead Victorian writers (if they do not like what I do to their characters, they are free to haunt me)".
* For a number of Series/TinMan fanfictions by [[http://www.fanfiction.net/u/2241493 animegus farmus]], there are some rather entertaining disclaimers:

* From This [[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/6019679 Digimon fanfic]]

-->Disclaimer: I do not own the Bible, God does. I will not feel sorry for using Percy Jackson as it is evil and should not have a disclaimer.
* From a Franchise/StarWars/{{BIONICLE}} crossover: "Bionicle isn't mine. Neither is Star Wars. Otherwise I would have ended the 3D Clone Wars TV series a LONG time ago and replaced it with a Bionicle one."
* [[http://www.youtube.com/user/DagaYemar Dagayemar]], a PMV artist well-known for his My Little Disney set, usually has something like:
--> I do not own My Little Pony or Disney, but I do own this deed to the London Bridge! That guy in the trench coat over there was selling it at a ridiculous deal! I just had to give him the number to my bank account and it was all mine! Now, what to do with my new bridge?

-->I do not own Ed, Edd, n Eddy nor "that Grim show"… but the original characters are mine... Especially "The Fourth Ed"!

-->Ed, Edd, 'n Eddy belongs to…alright, you know what? Screw this! It's not like they even read these fanfics!...or do they? Um, in that case, Danny owns [=EEnE=], and Hasbro owns MLP. So, if any of them are reading this: Don't sue me bros!

* At the bottom of every page of the ''Series/DoctorWho'' fanfic archive ''Website/ATeaspoonAndAnOpenMind'' is a disclaimer reading "''Doctor Who'' and its accoutrements are the property of the BBC, and we obviously don't have any right to them. Any and all crossover characters belong to their respective creators. Alas no one makes any money from this site, and it's all done out of love for a cheap-looking sci-fi show. All fics are property of their individual authors. Archival at this site should not be taken to constitute automatic archive rights elsewhere, and authors should be contacted individually to arrange further archiving. Despite occasional claims otherwise, The Blessed St Lalla Ward is not officially recognised by the Catholic Church. Yet."

* Monty Oum's WebAnimation ''WebAnimation/{{Haloid}}''. The end credits say that the Spartan VI suit and other [[Franchise/{{Halo}} Halo/Halo 2]] material are the property of Bungie Studios and [[Franchise/{{Metroid}} Samus Aran and all likenesses]] are property of Nintendo. Later they say "Bungie and Nintendo are '''awesome''', please continue to be awesome by '''not''' suing me. This is fanart and does not profit me in any shape or form."

-->SMURFS and all character likenesses are trademarks of Peyo/IMPS Licensing (Brussels).

* Parodied by the ''{{Manga/Naruto}}'' fanfic ''NarutoTheSecretSongsOfTheNinja'' where the first chapter starts with a normal one of these before breaking off half-way through to incredulously ask what the point is of stating something every reader already knows. Chapter 2 followed up on this and each successive chapter comes up with a new joke:

** [[@/ArcaneAzmadi The author]] also did something similar in [[https://www.fanfiction.net/s/8933977/1/The-Dream-Wedding his debut short story]] where he started by declaring that he ''was'' in fact Masashi Kishimoto, a fact that had been kept from him by his parents for his own safety for his entire life, and therefore he DOES own ''{{Manga/Naruto}}'', before going on to [[DontExplainTheJoke explain that he's being sarcastic "for the terminally sarcasm-blind"]].
* The author's note to the fifth chapter of HogwartsSchoolOfPrayerAndMiracles disclaims ownership of the "original books" in these exact words.

-->'''I own nothing, not the characters, the space where this story exists, or even the eyes that you are using to read it. This is for entertainment purposes only, no money involved.'''

* ''FanFic/HarryPotterBecomesACommunist'' opens with: "I dont own HP. JKR does butt it should be owed by the stat cuz privacy property is evil lol. Workers of the world urinite! If you flam you have false consciousness."
* Technically a subversion (he ''is'' the artist) but see for yourself on comic artist Jay Fife's webpage: "All characters are copyright their respective owners. Jay Fife is copyright his parents."

* "I don't own (emotion, I) RENT" -- probably half of all ''{{RENT}}'' fanfics out there. Clever and funny the first time, [[NeverHeardThatOneBefore mildly annoying the fiftieth]].

** Webvideo/NarutoTheAbridgedComedySpoofSeriesShow narrates its disclaimer with a different character each time (as well as referring to itself as a "fan-based parody of a fan-based parody"), and Kaikisimoto's Digimon Adventure abridged series encourages viewers to "[[KeepCirculatingTheTapes support the non-existent official release.]]"

* "VideoGame/MetalGearSolid and its characters are ©1999 Konami. Metal Gear Solid is a registered trademark of Konami Co., Ltd. This webcomic is intended as a parody. '''I'd be flattered to get sued over it, but please ''don't''."''': [[http://www.gigaville.com/ Reads the disclaimer for]] TheLastDaysOfFOXHOUND.

* The disclaimer on a website devoted to the TV reality competition ''The Amazing Race'':

* The disclaimers for ''[[http://www.fanfiction.net/s/3025869 The Grim EDventures of Ed, Edd, n Eddy]]'' always refer to ''TheGrimAdventuresOfBillyAndMandy'' (one of the series involved) as "that Grim show". When OriginalCharacter Edna is added to the story, the disclaimer becomes the following:

* ZUN of ''VideoGame/{{Touhou}}'' did this in ''[[ADayInTheLimelight Curiosities of Lotus Asia]]'', not with a character or a universe (Touhou being a {{doujinshi}} series), but with a [[spoiler:GameBoy]].
-->'''Post-script to Afterword of''' '''''Deity's Tool''''': By the way, by no means am I trying to get in a fight with Creator/{{Nintendo}}.

* It was actually averted on ''TheGunganCouncil'' for a good period of time, until the podcast added such a notification at the end of each episode.

-->"WonderWoman is ''nobody's'' property...Although the copyright and trademark belong to DCComics." \\

* Summed up pretty well at the start of ''{{Dogma}}''. "Disclaimer: 1) a renunciation of any claim to or connection with; 2) disavowal; 3) a statement made to save one's own ass; 4) a foresaid word for not being blamed later."

If I owned ''Ace Attorney'', ''AceAttorneyInvestigations 2'' would have been released in the United States already. And if I owned ''Ed, Edd n Eddy'', I wouldn't be wasting my time on a fanfiction and I would actually be animating it.\\

* In one ''MythicalDetectiveLokiRagnarok'' fic, the author exclaims that her attempt to claim legal ownership of the [[Myth/NorseMythology Norse Gods]] resulted in her brother's car being blown up and her getting sued in multiple dead languages. Oh yeah, and the original mangaka's characterizations don't belong to her either.

In fact, stating you know you are violating copyright can make the situation ''worse''. Copyright law has one level of damages for standard infringement, but triple damages for 'willful infringement', which apply after you have been told you are violating copyright, and you keep distributing copies anyway. It is possible that stating you know you're violating copyright could make you ''start'' at willing infringement, if anyone wanted to sue. (On the other hand, the disclaimer also implies you think this is legal, so, paradoxically, it might not be 'willful infringement' at all.)