Internet Screen Names in a Book

[Holly Golightly]

What is the name of your state? California

I'm writing a book about an internet fandom that actually exists. I will need to use actual threads from the message board in order to tell the story, and I would like to use the actual screen names as well. Since the screen names are not actual names of people, can I get sued, or will I need releases in order to use them?

Thanks for any advice.

 

[divgradcurl]

Since the screen names are not actual names of people, can I get sued, or will I need releases in order to use them?

Ca you get sued? Of course you can -- anybody can sue anybody else for anything -- however, whether or not they have a real cause of action is another question altogether. In this case, using the screen names is almost certainly not going to lead to any liability to you. Screen names are like nicknames, although even more anonymous, and are unlikely to be sufficiently descriptive to point to a particular person.

Further, even real names can be used, no permission necessary, as long as what you write is true, and you don't reveal any personal infor mation that would be covered under privacy rules (like medical information, potentialy embarrasing secrets, etc.)

However, a bigger question is, do you have permission to use the threads from the forums? Unless you are the forum owner, or the forum owner has expressly stated in his or her TOS that it is okay to republish threads, you'll need permission from the forum owner to use the threads in your book, or to republish them in any way.

 

[Holly Golightly]

Thanks! I'll get permission and go forward.