I recently discovered that someone from my past is working on a book about their life. This person isn't famous or anything, but is very ambitious. I wouldn't be surprised if they were to get their work published somewhere, even if it's on a small scale. I know what my side of the story is when it comes to our "relationship",and yes I too have written about it, but have never mentioned names and have always tried to keep the focus of whatever I told more on me than on them. Since I have never read anything yet that they would have to say about our time together, I can't be too sure that they would do the same as far as 1. being honest and 2. not using my real idenity. So my question is, if they do end up saying quite clearly who I am, (if they get published or if I get mentioned at all), is there anything that I could do about it? Should I even try?
2007-03-04 15:04:17 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
There is no crime against telling the truth. Your situation is complicated by the fact that you admit that you yourself have written about it. Not using names doesn't mean that persons who know you don't know who you are talking about.
Unless he engages in libel or deliberately tries to defame you, there isn't a lot you can do. You may want to discuss the situation with an actual attorney should it come up, but not knowing the specific details of your "relationship", I can't say for sure.
Just remember, everybody and their brother wants to write an autobiography. Few of us are really that interesting to our fellow humans. Regardless of how "ambitious" he is, unless there is a serious hook to his life story, nobody is gonna care.
2007-03-05 07:40:40 · answer #1 · answered by bardsandsages 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Don't bust a gut worrying about it until it happens. Most books never get published and those that do, the publisher will always worry about permissions. Just the hint of bad publicity will make them gun shy.
So, unless we're talking about The Star or The Globe, it sounds like you're pretty safe.
2007-03-04 15:47:43 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They're publisher will most likely make them get you to sign a release before they can publish it. It all really depends on whether he's publishing it in Fiction or NonFiction. If it's Fiction, they really don't need anything.
2007-03-04 15:08:42 · answer #3 · answered by bricriu2 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You could try to sue for slander or defamation of character, but that hardly ever works unless you can prove he is lying. Since you are concerned about something that actually happened, you really don't have a case.
2007-03-04 15:10:30 · answer #4 · answered by Roman Soldier 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you threaten to sue both the author and the publisher you'll be ok. It's defamation (even if it's true), if they can't prove it.
2007-03-04 15:13:14 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The ethical thing to do is get your permission and feedback. But I'm not sure if they're legally required to do this.
2007-03-04 15:35:27 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋