A sign of the times

[Jim]

Hi,

I was just flipping through my TiVo Now Playing List to see what I'd captured overnight and to clear out the deadwood. The description on one of the Law & Order episodes didn't ring a bell, so I started it. The first thing I saw, as I have countless times before, was white letters on a back background saying, "The following story is fictional and does not depict any actual person or event."

--Pete

Hi, Pete

I will let the cut & paste quotes below reply to your post Pete

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_persons...disclaimer

All persons fictitious disclaimer:

An all persons fictitious disclaimer is a disclaimer in which a work of fictional media states that all persons portrayed in it are completely fictitious. This is done so to avoid the possibility of legal action for libel; i.e. if a person believes that he or she receives unfair portrayal in a fictitious work (either under their real name or a made-up name), the possibility of legal action is open to them.

Such a disclaimer often reads similarly to the following:

All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
The wording of this particular disclaimer differs from jurisdiction to jurisdiction, and in particular from country to country, as does its legal effectiveness.

The disclaimer originated with the 1932 MGM movie, Rasputin and the Empress, which insinuated that the character Princess Natasha had been raped by Rasputin. Natasha's character was supposedly intended to represent Princess Irina of Russia, and the real Princess Irina sued MGM for libel. After seeing the film twice, the jury agreed that the princess had been defamed. Since this suit, many movies have used the disclaimer to protect themselves from court action.

http://www.wattpad.com/112671-funny-movie-disclaimers

Funny movie disclaimers:

"The persons and events in this production are fictitious. No
similarity to actual persons or predators, living or dead, is
intended or should be inferred." - Pitch Black (2000)

"Any resemblance to persons living, dead, or reincarnated is
purely coincidental." - What Dreams May Come (1998)

"Any similarity with persons living or dead is an accident.
Sorry." - Bad Taste (1987)

"No animals were injured during the making of this film,
although some rabbits did have their feelings hurt."
- Happy, Texas (1999)

"All characters portrayed in this film are entirely fictitious and
bare no resemblance to anyone living or dead, except for
one." - Jabberwocky (1977)

"Any references to any religious organization is purely coincidental,
and no actual Mormons were used or abused in the
filming of this picture." - Orgazmo (1997)

"No real reapers were hurt during the making of this film."
- Blade II (2002)

"No Canadians were harmed in this production."
- Canadian Bacon (1995)

"The following stunts were performed by professionals, so for
your safety and the protection of those around you,
Paramount Pictures and MTV Films insist that neither you or
your dumb little buddies attempt any of what you're about to
see." - Jackass: The Movie (2002)

"Beavis and Butthead are not real people, in fact they are not
even human. They are cartoons. Some of the things they do
can cause a person to get hurt, injured, expelled, arrested,
and possibly deported. To put it in another way, don't try this
at home." - Beavis and Butthead Do America (1996)