Game Products and Real People

[Andrew D. Gable]

I'm idly considering writing up a certain (no, it doesn't matter what) product, but was wondering about something. Part of the metaplot would revolve around a real person (Aleister Crowley) and playing around with his background a bit. I was wondering what the guidelines on this sort of thing are, IE if it's generally bad taste to do this. I'm imagining not. Plenty of other games do things with the backgrounds of Crowley and others.

But, in the event I would actually submit it for publication somewhere, I wouldn't want to cause me or the publisher to get sued for libel or anything either.

 

[Bagpuss]

This could help Law.com's Libel definition

note this bit...

"Libel against the reputation of a person who has died will allow surviving members of the family to bring an action for damages.

but if you make clear it is a work of fiction in the front you should have trouble.

 

[trancejeremy]

How could you possibly hurt the reputation of Aleister Crowley? It even survived an awful Ozzy Osbourne song

Plus, he's a "Public Figure", which makes things a lot less restrictive. At least in the US. The UK has stricter libel laws, for instance, Bill Clinton's autobiography had to be edited for release there

 

[S'mon]

"Libel against the reputation of a person who has died will allow surviving members of the family to bring an action for damages.

I don't believe that's true in the UK (I'm surprised it's true in USA - every State?) - though UK libel laws re living persons are very strict, yup, the defendant has to prove truth, the complainant doesn't have to prove damage.