Writing a book...quick question.

Let's just say a person wrote a fiction book. The story has a character that is a real person and the events that happen in the book are real events (just names changed to protect people). Can that "real" person sue the author because they realize the story is about them?

Re: Writing a book...quick question.

I think there would have to be some kind of disclaimer like the movies have.

"all names and stories are fictional, any similarities are purely coincidental" or along those lines.

OK, Im a dumbas$ and read it wrong, I doubt you can sue. But who knows.
Im no help!

Message edited 8/13/2009 3:33:04 PM.

Re: Writing a book...quick question.

hmm... good question. i honestly don't know but i would think that it would be harder for the writer to prove s/he was writing a ficticious book than for the "real" person to prove that they are the topic of the story.

i mean if the writer knows this person and their life, writes a book and calls it fiction, but it really isn't... who is going to believe them?

ETA: just realized that you wrote that the names were changed. i think that would make it much harder for the "real" person to prove their case.

Message edited 8/13/2009 3:33:07 PM.

Re: Writing a book...quick question.

What about if you put something like this?

This is a work of fiction. The people, events, and circumstances depicted are fictitious and the product of the author's imagination. Any resemblance of any character to any actual person, whether living or dead, is purely coincidental.