: Can I write about an old and real person that is strongly related to a company? I'm thinking about Henri Nestlé, born in 1814 and deceased in 1890. He was the founder of the company with
I'm thinking about Henri Nestlé, born in 1814 and deceased in 1890. He was the founder of the company with the same name, located in Vevey (Switzerland).
He is going to be a not-so-important character in my story. His company would indeed have some role, at least in one chapter when the protagonist is in Switzerland.
Can I get into trouble by having him as a character in my story?
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@Tiffany377
Lostinfrance is correct, but focuses on if you're going to writing about Henri going on snuff-fueled prostitute-beating binges.
If he's just an incidental character portrayed in a neutral light and in line with his actual real-life behavior, in general you can write whatever you want.
Keep in mind that when writing about people, non-public figures (like your neighbors) are a bit touchier. People will get upset over the smallest details, so it's safer to amalgamate several peoples' traits together into a new character.
But if you're sticking to historic people that no living person has met, and the portrayal isn't too negative, you're fine either way.
Note: France and the UK have very, VERY different libel laws from the USA, and are much stricter, so no promises there.
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@Debbie451
Under the laws of the UK and countries whose legal system is derived from English Common Law, which includes the United States, the dead cannot be libelled. So in those countries using this man as a character will not get you into legal trouble, whatever you say about him. I do not know about the laws in non-Anglosphere countries.
(I assume that by "get into trouble" you mean legal trouble. An unflattering portrait of Henri Nestlé might, of course, upset any living relatives. I don't know anything about this man or what you plan to say about him, but as a general observation, I think an author ought to strive to be fair - which need not exclude criticism - to the reputation of real people, dead or alive, even if the author is safe legally whatever he or she does.)
Of course the Nestlé company still exists today. To imply that the company has been acting illegally or immorally in the present day or recent years might well be considered libellous and given certain controversies about infant formula I bet they have a vigilant legal team. However I cannot believe there would be a problem with what the company was doing in 1890 or even further back.
Please note that libel can still occur even if the reference to the person or organisation libelled is indirect, coded, or parodic.
Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer.
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