Libel is pretty straightforward. If you write something with the design of defaming someone or some entity, and it is false, then it's libel. Libel and slander both cannot be claimed if the statement in question is true.
I think celebrities are also not allowed to pull the slander/libel card. If you have a 'public life', you're assumed to accept public commentary.
But dropping names in text doesn't even come close to libel if you're just making references or having characters talk or even making jokes. Those aren't a big deal. If a large portion of your book revolves around an evil Bill Gates or something, then you're pushing the line. But a character exclaimed 'He has more money than Bill Gates!' is perfectly normal, as is 'His moral obligation follows the same path as Enron' or something.
Jokes are okay. Pop culture references are fine. A lot of stuff is fine.
And yeah, if it's not, an editor will tell you so.
I think celebrities are also not allowed to pull the slander/libel card. If you have a 'public life', you're assumed to accept public commentary.
But dropping names in text doesn't even come close to libel if you're just making references or having characters talk or even making jokes. Those aren't a big deal. If a large portion of your book revolves around an evil Bill Gates or something, then you're pushing the line. But a character exclaimed 'He has more money than Bill Gates!' is perfectly normal, as is 'His moral obligation follows the same path as Enron' or something.
Jokes are okay. Pop culture references are fine. A lot of stuff is fine.
And yeah, if it's not, an editor will tell you so.