Quote:
Originally Posted by ownedbycats
The "This is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons blah blah blah entirely coincidental" disclaimer always tickles me, especially in books with more fantastical elements.
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And ironically some such books have resulted in author and publisher sued and eventually the print run pulped. In one case it was totally fictional, but an important character had a rare name and the real person successfully sued.
Sometimes the suit was quite justified as the book was libel disguised as fiction. In one case the penalty was 1 penny as the jury that was what the reputation "damaged" was worth, and the costs awarded to the accuser, not defence!
Also you can't libel or slander the dead (or at least you can't be sued) and the suit will fail if reality is that it's not slander, but even generous.
Libel = Written (L for Literature).
Slander = Spoken.
Stating an obvious fact is not slander or libel, even if it's obnoxious to target.
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