Disclaimer

A Disclaimer is traditionally what one adds to the beginning of one's fanfiction. It usually runs along the lines of 'I do not own South Park nor any of the characters therein' and then generally what passes for a funny joke, often about how much they wished that they did own rights.
As fanfiction hovers in a grey sort of area of legality that, essentially, people like to avoid talking about, a disclaimer is a polite nod to those who actually own the program and network. It is considered courteous to include one, and actually making it amusing gets you bonus points with readers.
Disclaimers are a courtesy, not a legal requirement, so "lack of a disclaimer" is not 	
reprehensible. Claiming to own a continuum IS a taboo, even if done in an attempt to be "funny".
Category:Terminology