Disclaimers (was :Re: [-Buffy-] Looking for Fan Fiction)

[sbooth@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

On Thu, 13 Jul 2000 22:37:33 -0500, you wrote:
> I'm looking for Fan Fiction to post in the "Official" Warner 
> Brother's Discussion Boards located on Talk City.
>
> I just need some info if you send this stuff to me...
>
> Is this your Original Work? Yes or No

To my understanding of the term no fanfic can be an original work
by it's very nature. The fact that it uses characters, places
and possibly situations (even just by reference) from another
piece means that it cannot be an original work.

This brings me to a question about disclaimers. I've seen a lot
of different disclaimers about ranging from on sentence (eg "I
don't own 'em, Joss does.") through to multi line jobs which list
seemingly everyone who could possibly lay calim to owning some
aspect of Buffy. Does anyone have a definitive list of who
actually owns Buffy and so should be mentioned in the disclaimer,
according to the video case for the Season 3 part 1 box set the
name "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" is owned by "The Twentieth
Centuary Fox Corporation". But do they own it all or do we need
to include other bodies?

What disclaimer would give us the best defense and is most likely
to appease FOX lawyers and keep them off our backs?

Stephen
--
Stephen Booth, Data Integration Specialist & Spoiler Slut
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