Here's mine:
Remember, the OCs belong to me. The plot is derived from the original game/show/film/book/whatever. Whatever doesn't happen there, I 'own' it.
Edited by nightelf37 TV Tropes Pantheon Group Members Database
It's true that these sort of "disclaimers" are quite adverse when dealing with copyright law.
However, per The Other Wiki, the non-sarcastic disclaimers could be an affirmative defense should suit be made based on trademark
Law.
Specifically, sincere disclaimers can indicate that, yes, the authors know that they are infringing from a copyright standpoint, but they also should not be confused from the authors of the original. This reduces the likelihood of confusion, which is a proof that a plaintiff must meet in a Trademark case.
Conversely, the more sarcastic disclaimers cannot provide such defense or, worse, can be seen by 9-5 legal clerks as an actual claim on the mark(s) and potentially actionable.
Ketchum's corollary to Clarke's Third Law: Any sufficiently advanced tactic is indistinguishable from blind luck.
Okay, WHAT is that Shakespeare-esque disclaimer poem from? It's BRILLIANT!
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It never had a fic to go with it, actually. I was holding it in reserve for if I ever managed to write a fanfic someday (As good as I am at coming up with ideas, I am bad at actually committing them to paper), but apparently one of my old friends I showed the WIP to stuck it on TV Tropes? I was really pissed at first, since it's only half-finished - several lines are just placeholders until I find words that don't suck - but I couldn't stay angry for long because, well. Someone thought my wordvomit was TV Tropes worthy! :)
I actually got the idea from the blurb on the page that says "some compare them to Homer's invocation of the muse". I have no clue who those 'some' are, but they were on to something - fic authors write their disclaimers not just to honor their source of inspiration, but to set the tone of the story, showcase their wit and their skill... and hell, a lot of people throw it in simply because it's expected for the format. Somehow, all the parallels added up in my brain to "Someone should write a disclaimer in the STYLE of an invocation of the Muse", and since no one else seemed to be doing it, might as well be me.
I guess this means I need to write a fanfic now. Well, Na No Wri Mo is on its way - none of the fandoms I have plot bunnies for are florid enough for this disclaimer, though. Hm...
My own personal disclamer:
There is no fic here. Anything you see which resembles a fic is a produced of your own demented imagination.
Pervert.
When I have a little time, I trope. If I have any left over, I work and sleep. Hide / Show Replies