Can I use the names of real places in my novel?

Yes. You can make up places. Just make sure to indicate in the foreword that everything in your writing is purely a work of fiction, especially when you use the names of famous places. Otherwise, you might confuse readers – especially the young ones – if such a place exists.

Can I write about real places in fiction?

If you decide to use a real place in your fiction, make sure you know it well. Even if you do this, basing your fictional setting on a real place can help you create a stronger sense of reality. You can describe actual places, but give them new names. Shift things around to better suit your plot.

Do you need permission to use a name in a book?

First, a simple rule. If what you write about a person is positive or even neutral, then you don’t have defamation or privacy issues. For instance, you may thank someone by name in your acknowledgements without their permission. If you are writing a non-fiction book, you may mention real people and real events.

Can you write a book about a company?

Do I need the permission of a corporation to publish an article or book about it? No, and if the company has been treated fairly, you should have no legal problems. Books about corporations written without their consent include Disney War and Under the Influence: The Unauthorized Story of the Anheuser-Busch Dynasty.

Can fictional places be copyrighted?

So you cannot legally “copyright” a name, but you could definitely trademark one, and many authors do. For example, the character of Harry Potter is legally trademarked by Time Warner Entertainment, so that no other works of published literature can use the name Harry Potter or the character associated with it.

Can you use the name of a company in a book?

Editors are frequently asked whether it’s permissible for writers to mention product or business names in books. The short answer is yes. The long answer is be careful. By the nature of doing business, companies put their brands into the public forum and in fact usually appreciate publicity.

Do you need permission for an epigraph?

Epigraphs from materials that are in the public domain do not require permission. Epigraphs from copyrighted materials must either qualify as fair use or be used with the permission of the rightsholder. An epigraph must be sufficiently tied to the text that follows in order to qualify as fair use.

Where should I set my novel?

Physical location: A character’s immediate surroundings, like a room or a temple, can be important information to highlight. Physical environment: A story can be set in the natural world where characters are affected by weather conditions, climate, and other forces of nature.

Can I use a celebrity’s name in a book?

In general, yes, you can actually use real names in passing. Names of movies, writers, songs, books, celebrities, etc. What you cannot do is use actual copyrighted material: an excerpt from a book, lyrics from a song, dialog from a movie. But names do not enjoy copyright protection.

Can I use someone’s name in a book I’m writing?

Those names are usually trademarked and cannot be used in works of fiction without permission. Most authors switch up the letters or change a word so that the name is still recognizable without being sued. Do I need someone’s permission who I mention in a book I’m writing if I’m talking about my life and my experience?

Is it legal to include brand-name merchandise in a novel?

As far as I know it is perfectly legal to include brand-name merchandise and companies in your fiction so long as they are not used generically – that is it must be obvious that this is a particular brand, usually indicated by capitalizing the brand name. Kleenex instead of kleenex, for example.

Can writers mention brand name products and services in their fiction?

Writers frequently ask whether they can mention brand name products and services in their fiction. The answer is “yes,” provided that you take some common sense precautions.

Do I need a legal adviser to get my book published?

That said, if a publisher wants to buy your book, they should have a legal adviser who can clarify such matters and let you know if anything needs to be altered prior to publication.