Can i publish a book about a celebrities personality?

[HarryW]

I'm planning on writing a book about "celebrities" personality traits that made them successful. Is this legal?

For example, could i write about Bill Clinton and his charismatic personality and how this enabled him to become successful? Is this legal? Could i use his name in the title? Could i use his picture on the book cover?

Thanks

[United Kingdom]

 

[quincy]

It is legal in both the U.S. and the United Kingdom to write a book about a celebrity. Many books about celebrities have been written.

But books about real people have also spawned a mass of lawsuits in both the U.S. and the U.K. - primarily over privacy rights, publicity rights, and defamation.

This site addresses U.S. law questions only, however, so you will need to seek out someone in the U.K. who can discuss with you the legal risks you face in writing about real people without their knowledge and consent, and how best to reduce those risks.

Good luck.