How do you go about using real people in writing. Do you need their permission o

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   Sarah Massonposted 13 years ago

   How do you go about using real people in writing. Do you need their permission or can you just...
   
   change their names and it's okay?

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   onegoodwomanposted 13 years ago

   I can not advise you on the legalities or even the protocol, but I would not, out of respect, write about another person, by name, without their permission.
   
   It may be different things to say, my sister, or my sister, Sarah......especially if you are writing under a pen name.
   
   I often say, " my brother", but unless you personally know me, you will not know my brother among the crowd.
   
   Again, I am not keen on legal issues, but do protect the privacy of those that you refer to.

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   moncrieffposted 13 years ago

   Writers do it either way. Just expect that some living people may be offended AND if the writing is serious enough they may bring you some headache. But as long as defamation and libel are not in question, I don't see any problems.
   
   Some people, though, prefer to be out of any written accounts, whether good or bad, especially in our Internet age, when one can easily get additional info about others..

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   theseusposted 13 years ago

   it depends on the kind of paper one is writing and if you personally know the people you are going to write about, i believe.
   
   if its an autobiography and it's meant to inspire others, then, one should get the permission of the person since its his life that is going to be made public.
   
   if one personally knows the person and he knows that he will not be offended, then, i think it's okay.

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   Sarah Massonposted 13 years ago

   Thankyou all for your comments, I was just wondering for anything I may write in the future, thanks again

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   MickSposted 13 years ago

   Nope, it's not all right to just change their names.
   If anyone can recognize themselves and they perceive what is written as being a negative portrayal, you are in danger of a libel action.
   A libel action is one of those strange quirks of the legal system where the accuser doesn't have to prove the case, the defendant has to prove innocence, usually the only defences is the ability to prove, absolutely, that what you have written is, absolutely, true.  It is best, always, to base your characters on several people.
   That is very rough and ready, you would get best advice from a solicitor, libel law is a minefield.  I'm referring to works of fiction, articles and news stories are different but still need to be reported warily and truthfully to avoid court cases.

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   Wesman Todd Shawposted 13 years ago

   I've called out some real life drug and weapons smugglers here on this site. . . . . .and that particular piece got taken out of circulation; but that might have had more to do with the extent of the realities there.

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   Jaymeyarochposted 13 years ago

   You have to change names and stipulate in a disclaimer that all persons included therein are fictional and any coinciding persons you may or may not know is a coincidence.
   
   Of course, everyone I know now wants to be in my novels, so I obtain written permission per project, so that I am protected against any future litigation for royalties or creative rights.
   
   I also include disclaimers.

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