Can someone write about me without my permission?

Some of the most common questions I hear from picture book biography writers: Q: Do I need permission to write a picture book biography about somebody, living or dead? A: Permission is technically not required if the biography subject is a public figure unless their estate has created a kind of legal fortress.
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Can someone write about you without your permission?

Even if everything you write about someone is completely true, you still need to consider her privacy. Invasion of privacy occurs when you publicly disclose private facts not related to public concern. As with defamation, only living people can sue for invasion of privacy.
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Can someone sue you for writing about them?

The offense of injuring a person's character, fame, or reputation by false and malicious statements.” The term covers both libel (written) and slander (spoken). Only living people can sue for defamation, so someone can't file a lawsuit against you for defamation through an estate or relatives.
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Can you write a biography about someone without their permission?

In general, anyone can write a biography of someone without their approval as long as it is accurate and you don't run afoul of the following legal principles: libel, invasion of privacy, misappropriation of the right of publicity, copyright infringement or breach of confidence.
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Why would you need someone's permission to write about something that happened in their life?

The purpose for securing these rights or the permission to use the facts of someone's life is to protect the writer and publisher from being sued for defamation, invasion of privacy, or the misappropriation of the right to publicity.
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Someone Wrote a Book About Me... WITHOUT MY PERMISSION?!



Can you write about someone without their permission if you change their name?

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.
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What is invasion of privacy?

Invasion of privacy is the intrusion of an unwanted individual or business into the private affairs of a person without consent.
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Can you write a memoir anonymously?

Can You Publish a Book Anonymously? Yes, you can publish anonymously, and many authors prefer to publish some or all of their books this way. But you should make sure that it is the right choice for you.
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What is the difference between an authorized biography and an unauthorized biography?

A: The difference between an authorized biography and an unauthorized biography is this: An authorized biography is written with the help/cooperation of the person whom the book is about and an unauthorized biography is not.
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What is true about unauthorized biographies?

Unauthorized biographies may be considered more objective but less reliable than other biographies, because they are not subject to the subject's (subjective) approval (and therefore may contain accurate information that the subject would not have authorized), but are also not privy to information or corrections known ...
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How do you get around defamation?

Know what constitutes defamation.
  1. Stick to facts; avoid opinions that could be construed as facts. ...
  2. No name-calling. ...
  3. Let readers reach their own conclusions. ...
  4. Don't retweet or link to someone else's potential defamatory material.
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How can a writer avoid defamation?

Do tell the truth
  1. Don't make claims based on assumptions or opinions. Adding “in my opinion” before a statement won't save you in a libel case.
  2. Don't embellish or exaggerate. If your book is nonfiction or memoir, then make sure it is truthful in every detail.
  3. Don't overlook invasion of privacy laws.
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Is invasion of privacy a crime?

Invasion of privacy is a tort based in common law allowing an aggrieved party to bring a lawsuit against an individual who unlawfully intrudes into his/her private affairs, discloses his/her private information, publicizes him/her in a false light, or appropriates his/her name for personal gain.
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What is it called when someone uses your name without permission?

Identity theft and identity fraud are terms used to refer to all types of crime in which someone wrongfully obtains and uses another person's personal data in some way that involves fraud or deception, typically for economic gain.
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Can you quote someone without permission?

Unfortunately, quoting or excerpting someone else's work falls into one of the grayest areas of copyright law. There is no legal rule stipulating what quantity is OK to use without seeking permission from the owner or creator of the material.
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Is Leaking someone's address illegal?

Doxing is always illegal, whether it is done against a federal employee, a state employee, or a regular person. There are federal and state laws that specifically address doxing government employees.
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Can you write a biography about someone else?

Get permission.

Once you've chosen the subject of the biography, seek permission to write about their life. While in some cases it may not be necessary (like if the subject is a public figure or deceased), getting permission will make the research portion of your writing process much easier.
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Can biography be written by someone else?

A biography is the story of events and circumstances of a person's life, written by someone other than that person. Usually, people write biographies about a historical or public figure. They can be written with or without the subject's authorization.
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Can anyone write an autobiography?

Indeed, an autobiography is testament to a life well-lived. However, some erroneously believe that an autobiography's subject must be a celebrity or wealthy person. The truth is that anyone can write an autobiography. After all, there is nothing egocentric about chronicling one's journey through life.
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What is anonymous writing?

Anonymous works are works, such as art or literature, that have an anonymous, undisclosed, or unknown creator or author. In the case of very old works, the author's name may simply be lost over the course of history and time. There are a number of reasons anonymous works arise.
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Why do people write anonymously?

Using a consistent pseudonym allows readers to group together your body of work. Publishing your work anonymously means that the reader has no context at all about the author, other than what is within the pages of that particular text.
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Can you write someone else's memoir?

Writing another person's memoir can be called writing biography rather than memoir. You are, after all, not the subject.
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What are the 4 types of invasion of privacy?

The four most common types of invasion of privacy torts are as follows:
  • Appropriation of Name or Likeness.
  • Intrusion Upon Seclusion.
  • False Light.
  • Public Disclosure of Private Facts.
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Can you sue someone for invading your privacy?

The intrusion into privacy into the personal life of another, without just cause, which can give the person whose privacy has been invaded a right to bring a lawsuit for damages against the person or entity that intruded.
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What is an example of a violation of privacy?

Some examples are: Deception - Lying about how information will be used. Violation of confidentiality - Disclosing someone's personal information without consent. Intrusion - Interference in an employee's personal life.
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