Do the names of people in memoirs have to be changed? Couldn't anyone (a person in the memoir) essentially come out and say that you're lying just because they think what was written makes them look bad?
2007-11-14 09:39:09 · 4 answers · asked by Annie G 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
You would have to obtain a signed release to use their names. Even if you are changing their names, it would be to your advantage to let them know briefly what the memoir was about and how they would be used in it and have them sign a statement. Sometimes, briefly veiled people are easily recognizable. For instance, if you live in a small town and you change the name of your best friend, everyone is going to know who you are writing about anyway. The best thing to do is to contact a literary attorney up front and discuss the concept of the book and how you intend to portray people. He or she can advise you on how to proceed. There are such things as implied identifications, too. And people can and have sued on such grounds successfully.
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They're, Their, There - Three Different Words.
Careful or you may wind up in my next novel.
Pax - C
2007-11-14 10:01:39 · answer #1 · answered by Persiphone_Hellecat 7 · 4⤊ 1⤋
They would have to be changed unless those people give their permission for you to use their names. You would also need a good attorney who specializes in literature publication.
2007-11-14 17:45:08 · answer #2 · answered by **KELLEY** 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They would have changed unless you asked those peoples' permission. You can't just go around and write someone's name because it's wrong and sometimes, they might get offended and don't want to be known.
2007-11-14 20:24:19 · answer #3 · answered by alexis w 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Identity theft!
2007-11-14 17:46:26 · answer #4 · answered by grits 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋