History Main / IMadeCopies

* Also backfires in ''Literature/TheDeadPast''. Realising there's a GovernmentConspiracy to supress the invention of the {{Chronoscope}}, they send the plans to six different publishers. A government agent points out that they've been trying to stop a chronoscope from falling into public hands because it will mean the death of privacy, but [[InformationWantsToBeFree having already distributed the information, the secret is out]] and it's far too late.

[[folder: Film]]

[[folder: Literature]]

[[folder: Live Action TV]]

[[folder: Newspaper Comics]]

[[folder: Video Games]]

[[folder:WebOriginal]]

[[folder: Western Animation]]

[[folder: Real Life]]

* ''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'': [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick were having a snowball fight and Squidward, having nothing better to do, wanted to watch. But as soon as he did, they signed a peace treaty. Squidward tore it up...
--> '''[=SpongeBob=]:''' That wasn't the peace treaty. That was a copy of the peace treaty.

* At the end of ''Flyaway'' by Desmond Bagley, the hero confronts the CorruptCorporateExecutive who's behind it all with the evidence proving him guilty of a long-ago murder, among other crimes. He hands the man a photocopy of one piece of evidence which is immediately thrown in the fireplace. The hero just laughs and says there's plenty more where that came from. In fact all the evidence he's producing are copies and the originals are with a solicitor with instructions on what to do if something happens to him.

* In Creator/AynRand's ''We the Living,'' [[spoiler: Andrei Taganov]] blackmails Pavel Syerov by threatening to send the authorities a compromising note Syerov had written. As he realizes Syerov may have him killed [[spoiler: and in any event is already contemplating suicide, though he does not admit this]], he tells Syerov that he has made copies of the compromising note and given them to friends, with instructions that they should be sent out if Syerov doesn't keep his word.

* ''Series/TheProfessionals''. In "Not A Very Civil Servant", a CorruptCorporateExecutive arranges for TheDragon to kill off an accountant who knows too much. Later the executive goes through the accountant's files and finds evidence that he had been making photocopies of every document as BetrayalInsurance. When TheDragon asks how he knew to look in the first place, the executive reveals that he's been taking exactly the same precautions against his [[TheStarscream smarter Dragon betraying him]].

When this happens with a ''character'', see ExpendableClone. Contrast NoPlansNoPrototypeNoBackup.

* ''Website/TheOnion'': One article satirizes the UnderdogsNeverLose trope by applying RealityEnsues to a summer camp comedy. It's pointed out that even if the losers managed to dump the lawyer's car in the lake, he had copies of the papers that would close the camp.

* ''Literature/TheresMoreThanOneWayHome'': [[spoiler:At Cesar's birthday party, Anna presents the treasure map Jack drew of Minotaur Island, showing what the boys were really doing there. Nora takes it away and shreds it into confetti. Then Anna announces that that was a photocopy, and the real map is still on her.

[[folder: Newspaper Comics]]
* ''ComicStrip/{{Dilbert}}'' has Mordac the Refuser telling Wally he wishes to discuss Wally's request for a computer upgrade. Mordac then proceeds to eat Wally's request right there and tells Wally they lost the paperwork. Wally proceeds to pull an entire pile of paper out of his desk saying he's glad he made seventy five extra copies.
[[/folder]]

* In an episode of ''Series/TheDrewCareyShow'', one of the episodes leading to the wedding between [[SitcomArchNemesis Mimi, Drew's arch enemy]], and his brother, Steve, she has Drew arrested for attempted murder after nearly running her over. Drew was trying shoo a bee that got into his car but she didn't believe or care, she just wanted him in prison. As it looks like Drew will be held for attempted murder, Steve comes in and reads [[NotHelpingYourCase Drew's wedding toast blasting Mimi]], but it ends with Drew stating that he's willing to put aside his personal feelings if she makes Steve happy, so Mimi decides to drop the charges. When Steve and Drew are alone, Steve confesses to writing the speech, and promises not to tell anyone if Drew agrees to read it at the reception, before Drew has chance to dispose of it, Steve says that its not the only copy he has.

* In the ''Series/BabylonFive'' episode "[[Recap/BabylonFiveS04E21RisingStar Rising Star]]," [[spoiler:Captain Sheridan]] is forced to resign his commission in exchange for amnesty for himself and his people for their role in [[spoiler:Babylon 5's rebellion against President Clark]]. This turns out to have been a {{batman gambit}} on his part, since he's now president of [[spoiler:the new Interstellar Alliance]], and so would have had to resign from [=EarthForce=] anyway to take up his new post. When he finds out, General Foote demands the agreement of amnesty back, only to learn that it's "someplace safe," but the reporters outside all have copies.
* ''Series/TheProfessionals''. In "Not A Very Civil Servant", a CorruptCorporateExecutive arranges for TheDragon to kill off an accountant who knows too much. Later the executive goes through the accountant's files and finds evidence that he had been making photocopies of every document as BetrayalInsurance. When TheDragon asks how he knew to look in the first place, the executive reveals that he's been taking exactly the same precautions against his [[TheStarScream smarter Dragon betraying him]].

!!Examples

-->--'''Chris [=McLean=],''' ''WesternAnimation/TotalDrama''

* This happens in ''WebOriginal/RWBYChibi'' when Ozpin sends Ruby on a "quest" (disproportionately dangerous errand) to retrieve the "artifact of knowledge" (his scroll) so he can delete some incriminating photos of [[NoodleIncident the faculty costume party]]. After the students start questioning whether their missions were really necessary and Ozpin runs away, Ruby reveals that she copied the photos.

* At the end of ''Flyaway'' by Desmond Bagley, the hero confronts the CorruptCorporateExecutive who's behind it all with the evidence proving him guilty of a long-ago murder, among other crimes. He hands the man a certified copy of one piece of evidence which is immediately thrown in the fireplace. The hero just laughs and says there's plenty more where that came from.

* ''Series/CloakAndDagger'': Greg Pressfield, Melissa Bowen's attorney/boyfriend, is shown making multiple copies of documents on his investigation of the Roxxon disaster and putting them in a safe in his office. [[spoiler:After a hitman hired by Roxxon [[KilledToUpholdTheMasquerade kills him and burns his office]], Tandy cuts open the safe with one of her light blades and retrieves the copies.]]

* ''Series/{{Hunter}}''. A blackmail victim pays a man for photographs of a homosexual affair, then asks if the blackmailer made copies. The blackmailer just smirks and says that if his friends call with another demand, he'll know they made copies. Unsurprisingly the victim decides to take the chance of shooting him on the spot, in the belief the blackmailer is working alone.

* Invoked in ''Film/FXMurderByIllusion F/X 2: The Deadly Art of Illusion]]''. A killer demands to know if Rollie Tyler has made any copies of the video showing him committing a murder. Tyler denies it, then 'accidentally' glances at a pile of tapes on his desk (in truth, he's only just found the evidence and hasn't had time to copy it). The killer moves to collect the tapes, giving Tyler a chance to escape.