Hey there, There are many threads on here dealing with references to McDonalds, Coke etc in novels, but what about the use of Time magazine. In my novel the primary antagonist–a rising politician–receives universal attention, and there’s a part of the novel when I throw him on the front of Time magazine to show his rise. Just say the novel got published–a huge if–what is the legality of this? Does Time magazine have to give the ok, or what? Thanks for your time.
You don't need approval from Time magazine, as a rule. If you are somehow defaming them (or if they think you are) then I suppose you could run into an issue.
Shouldn't be a problem. All throughout Allan Drury's "Advise and Consent", he not only mentioned real publications, but attributed editorial comments to them.
it's done all the time and is perfectly 'legal'... just don't give them any reason to sue you for libel, is all... anyone wanting to be a published writer of anything should study up on copyright basics: www.copyright.gov
