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Would I get in trouble for using the name of a brand as names for characters in a book?
I'm writing a story and two of the main characters are named Olivia and Alice (Al for short). I really love these names for the characters, but when my sister read the story, she pointed out that there's a well-known fashion brand named Alice + Olivia. I really don't want to change the names of the characters, and I'm not using the names in terms of that brand. Also, those names are pretty generic, so in the off-chance that I were to publish this book, could I get in trouble for using those names?
3 Answers
- Madame MLv 74 years agoFavorite Answer
You'll be fine, unless you call the book Alice + Olivia -- I suspect the brand chose that typography very particularly to distinguish purposeful copying from accidental coincidence.
I guess you do need to be aware that your readers will link Olivia and Alice to the fashion brand. But in a few years, I'm sure it won't mean anything.
- ?Lv 64 years ago
I doubt it, they are just names, and even if your book is about a fashion chain store I doubt they'd try to get you on something called 'passing off' which is when you try to gain something (money, fame) from using their name. I'm pretty sure you'd gave no problems but if you were published, they would check all the legalities before offering the book for sale.
