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An ashcan copy is a term that originated in the Golden Age of Comic Books, meant to describe a publication produced solely for legal purposes (such as trademark), which was not normally intended for distribution.
The word "ashcan" is an older synonym for wastebasket, trashcan, or other garbage receptacle. The implication is that the printed material will go straight from the printer to the trash, which was often the case. Ashcan editions frequently contained unlettered stories, unfinished art or even just whatever wastepaper had been conveniently available at the time. Their purpose was simply to justify the publisher's claim to a title, thereby preventing a competitor from publishing a similar title. Ashcans were also produced to demonstrate the publications to potential advertisers.
One well-known example is Flash Comics #1 by Fawcett Comics, which introduced Captain Thunder (later Captain Marvel). Competitors had already published a "Flash Comics" title, and created a character named "Captain Thunder", so the Flash Comics ashcan failed to claim those trademarks for the company, but it did establish a publication date for copyright purposes.
Similar practices are seen in other industries; a well-known film example is the 1994 version of The Fantastic Four, produced by Roger Corman, made only to maintain the license to the property. The movie had a $2 million budget and was not distributed.
In modern comics, "ashcan" may refer to promotional comics in the independent/self-publishing market. The term is sometimes synonymous with minicomics.
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