Using IRL Citynames/clubs

[LordInui]

Just as the title says.

Can someone sue me if I use IRL Clubnames.

I am currently writting a soccer novel, and my MC starts in a small village, in a small soccer club. I used my old soccer club as a template. At least the club name.

Is this a problem? I dont think any of them will ever see this, but I dont wanna get sued.

 

[beast_regards]

Soccer club logos are copyrighted, and their names are trademarked.

Even mentioning them could get you into the trouble.

I.e. "John visited the McDonald after the Arsenal FC's game." being mentioned offhand in the text isn't technically copyright violation....

Well, you could do it, theoretically, but it is not worth the trouble when the business finds out, doesn't like it, and could afford the lawyer.

Large soccer clubs could afford it. They have the same reasons as the businesses have. If a company notices that their name is used in the context they perceive as the damage to their brand, they could and they would sue you.

Small club in some forgotten town / village may not afford it on their tight budget, but you are relying on them never doing anything rather than being actually allowed to do something.

 

[Kenjona]

Soccer club logos are copyrighted, and their names are trademarked.

Even mentioning them could get you into the trouble.

I.e. "John visited the McDonald after the Arsenal FC's game." being mentioned offhand in the text isn't technically copyright violation....

Well, you could do it, theoretically, but it is not worth the trouble when the business finds out, doesn't like it, and could afford the lawyer.

Large soccer clubs could afford it. They have the same reasons as the businesses have. If a company notices that their name is used in the context they perceive as the damage to their brand, they could and they would sue you.

Small club in some forgotten town / village may not afford it on their tight budget, but you are relying on them never doing anything rather than being actually allowed to do something.

There is also the issue if they think they can get free advertisement from it. Some companies and business want to be just known, does not matter why or what for.

 

[beast_regards]

There is also the issue if they think they can get free advertisement from it. Some companies and business want to be just known, does not matter why or what for.

Mentioning the Coca Cola, McDonalds, or Arsenal FC in your novel isn't technically the copyright violation.
It could, however, be a trademark infringement or dilution, or defamation.

Mentioning Lionel Messi in the story may not be copyright infringement, but it's either libel or defamation

Publishers could turn down the story for things like this. They often do, as they would get in the legal proceedings first.

The novel sites could even have special rules about referencing the real world. They could ban you from mentioning New York even if it is legal otherwise, because it's their site.

 

[Hans.Trondheim]

Just as the title says.

Can someone sue me if I use IRL Clubnames.

I am currently writting a soccer novel, and my MC starts in a small village, in a small soccer club. I used my old soccer club as a template. At least the club name.

Is this a problem? I dont think any of them will ever see this, but I dont wanna get sued.

City/town names aren't protected by copyright and trademark laws.

FCs, however, even the local ones, do. So use another name and style.

 

[Kenjona]

Also as an aside, many authors when using people from the real world due to the modern setting of their novel. Make sure to change names so the person name is in some way similar but not of that actual person, for similar reasons as why you do not use trademarked/copyrighted names.
For instance John Ringo's zombie apocalypse novels have several instances of such in his writings.

 

[Lysander_Works]

It is acceptable in rare instances, but the legality of it is muddy regardless, which is why people prefer to play it safe. I have used actual locations in some upcoming chapters, but never in any manner which negatively impacts any aspect of their business, the opposite if anything (free advertising).