Using Names of Chain Businesses

Allynegirl · Jul 31, 2007

I am working on a myster/thriller novel. In 5 different cities a series of murders take place in or around a certain hotel chain.

Would I need to get permission to use the name? What other problems might arise by doing this?

Or should I just make up a new name for the hotel chain?

Ideas/thoughts?

Azraelsbane · Jul 31, 2007

Personally, I'd make up a chain. That takes care of the problem all together. You shouldn't need permission to use the name of a hotel in your novel, but you need to be careful about dating it, or slandering it (maybe). Of course, I'm not sure this applies so much to hotels.

I try not to stick too many brand/chain names into my novels. I think the closest I've gotten was having my main character refer to something as a McJob.

reenkam · Jul 31, 2007

You could always make up a name that is really close to a real one. That way people could guess what you mean, but you don't run into legal problems. An example could be Hilton to Hinton...

Oberon · Jul 31, 2007

I am facing a similar problem. In my latest effort my character is an ad agent and uses brand names a lot, even making asides to the companies (New Balance. that's three mentions, NB, but I do love the shoes). I don't think it's going to be a problem, none of it is derogatory, and it's part of his professional behavior. That is going to change, but that's another story.

johnzakour · Jul 31, 2007

Make up a name. It's a lot more fun.

GeorgeK · Jul 31, 2007

So would the same apply to a university? In my latest, the MC is a grad student and I was planning to use the name to the university with the departmental building name etc. Tweak the name, or leave it the same?

MerryDay · Jul 31, 2007

I think with universities it's a 50/50 thing. A lot of people change the name, but if the place is important to your setting then just leave it. Most of the time people will figure out which one you're talking about anyway...whether you use The University of Texas or Texas University!

Scrawler · Jul 31, 2007

What I do is: make up a name if it's a negative scene, and use the real name if it's a positive or neutral thing. Everything/one is so litigious these days, I don't even want to go there.

rwam · Jul 31, 2007

How bout "call it whatever you want and let your agent figure it out when you cross that bridge" ?

javili · Jul 31, 2007

Make up a name. It's a lot more fun.

Really. Why would anybody want to use a real name for a person, bar or whatever? It's so much fun to make them up, use puns, inside references, etc.

Universities are different from businesses. My understanding on this (which I got from a bootlegger of T-shirts) is that under US laws state universities don't really have restrictive rights to their names and logos because, essentially they belong to the public. But private schools like Stanford or Yale do have such rights.

I Mexico it doesn't matter, everybody just knocks off everything and lawsuits never get anywhere. Corruption and incompetence has a bright side.

blacbird · Jul 31, 2007

You're writing fiction. You're making up most of the other stuff, I presume, so make up a business chain. Saves a lot of potential trouble and worry.

caw

Allynegirl · Aug 1, 2007

Thanks everyone! You guys are great!

Shadow_Ferret · Aug 1, 2007

blacbird said:
You're writing fiction. You're making up most of the other stuff, I presume, so make up a business chain. Saves a lot of potential trouble and worry.

caw

Actually, it's an urban fantasy set in my home city. The streets and locations are all real. I've used the name of a local sub shop. Used a real National Historic Monument. Destroyed it in the process. But I also made up the names of a coffee shop and a post office box rental place.

Using Names of Chain Businesses

Allynegirl

Wax the Cat

Azraelsbane

Agony is defeat

reenkam

aka cupcake

Oberon

johnzakour

Dangerous with a Keyboard

GeorgeK

ever seeking

MerryDay

Scrawler

Bored fanatic

rwam

javili

blacbird

Allynegirl

Wax the Cat

Shadow_Ferret

Court Jester