Can I be sued for using a celebrity’s name for a character in a fictional story?

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Can I be sued for using a celebrity’s name for a character in a fictional story?

I’m wanting to write a story based on
the group EXO’s overall concept of being
aliens with super powers and I want to
use their names for the characters.
Could I be sued by them or their label
if the book gets published?

Asked on December 17, 2018 under Business Law, Florida

Answers:

SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 5 years ago | Contributor

Yes, you can be: people control the use of their own names or identifies or likenesses for commercial purposes, and that goes doubly for celebraties, where a misuse or unauthorized use will be easily detected and where their names, etc. have an obvious monetary value. Make up other names and another group.


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