Can I be sued for portaying a real person on screen

[derek smith]

A Short Film which I'm involved in. One scene is taking the micky out of a well known semi famous person...It has someone playing the person as himself....Are you legally allowed to do this...Or could you still do it, but slightly change the name??? The person in question, would most likely take offence to it, so need to be sure were not leaving ourselves open to be sued

thanks

 

[Sweetie]

If you are genuinely concerned, consult a lawyer.

The answer will depend on your jurisdiction, your situation, the famous person and probably a whole plethora of other angles that I've never considered.

 

[Aspiring Mogul]

You have to consult an entertainment lawyer, especially one who is familiar with defamation law, and you will have to pay a consultation fee.

 

[WalterB]

Law & Order Special Victims once had an episode about a famous popstar having a paradise for kids at his mansion. He was falsely accused by golddiggers, later new accusations surfaced. A search lead to a secret room that made everyone wonder, but they couldn't make the case...
The star happened to be a bit strange and somewhat pale.
I don't remember the name of this character: it wasn't the name of an existing popstar and the episode ended just like always: the coicidence disclaimer:
"all events and charaters are fiction, any resemblance to real persons and event are coincidence...." (or something like that)

So, I guess it is about the way you present it.
If you are doing journalism/documentary and you can proof what you say you can use real events... that is like newsgathering, but I guess there has to be a greater good involved:
Nixon could be exposed (Watergate), but your neighbours' strange but legal bedroom hobbies are protected by privacy laws.
Lying about someone and damaging his/her reputation is always illegal.

Anyway:
for real legal advice go to a lawyer, not to IT.

 

[sfoster]

The pedantic answer is that yes you can be sued for almost anything.
Whether they win the lawsuit or not is another matter..

 

[directorik]

The person in question, would most likely take offence to it, so need to be sure were not leaving ourselves open to be sued

You are absolutely, without question open to be sued.

Here in the States anyone can sue for anything. Is that true
in the UK?

 

[derek smith]

You are absolutely, without question open to be sued.

Here in the States anyone can sue for anything. Is that true
in the UK?

Don't think it's as extreme in the UK, but then, you don't want to tempt fate....Going to contact an entertainment solicitor (lawyer) this afternoon...Was briefly told by a Producer I know, that as long as the Event the Character is involved in, is something that the real person was never involved in, and don't use the same name, then you can get away with it...Our Short Film is a Comedy take on the Christmas Nativity, so I'm pretty sure he wasn't born then