Astonishingly, though they are otherwise identical, FPS and RPS don't use the same disclaimers.

[cimorene]

Dear writers of RPS:

The disclaimer that you don't own the characters, while factually true in the case of the real people you are writing about, is intended for FPS - in other words, for fandoms where there could be some question of copyright infringement. It's an odd-sounding disclaimer for a fandom where there is no question of ownership, since real people generally are not owned. The traditional disclaimer for RPS which you are looking for is that the story is not true and that you aren't connected with the real people in question; it is intended to head off accusations of libel and problems with readers who might have a hard time with the difference between fact and fiction, both of which problems are far more likely to occur with RPS than a suit for copyright infringement would be. Disclaiming that you don't own a celebrity makes just as little sense as disclaiming that your fluffy story in which Homer Simpson and Darth Vader adopt a hamster together is not true.

Thanks for your attention to this matter,
cim

Comments

[kegom.livejournal.com]

*amused*

I love those disclaimers! My favourite one is "I don't own those guys, Johnny does, and he's mean and doesn't want to share!!! *pout*"

[cimness.livejournal.com]

It's a little different for them, but Johnny still only owns the image; besides which, I doubt any of his lackeys are lj-savvy and English-fluent enough to really hunt down the tiny nests of JE badfic.

[pixxers.livejournal.com]

*snickers*

[dana-kujan.livejournal.com]

Thank you! Because some writers in one of my RPS fandoms are teh stupid. (Sorry. There's no other word for it.)

[cimness.livejournal.com]

Sad but true. I wish I could suspect they meant it ironically, but...

[bibliotech.livejournal.com]

And yet you would not believe how many times I got "You should put that you don't own them!" as a comment. Because "I don't know these people, this isn't real and it never happened" is not clear enough, I suppose. I should also clarify that I don't have cages in my basement filled with celebrities.

[cimness.livejournal.com]

Wow, the stupidity is staggering.

[bibliotech.livejournal.com]

"Despite the massive collection of people I've bought on eBay, I do not own Orlando Bloom! Yet."