Real-life Institutions and Businesses in modules

Bedrockbrendan · September 29, 2010, 10:04:57 AM

I am working on a module set in Boston, and want to use some real Universities, Businesses (Dunkin Donuts, Real-life Hotels) as locations in the investigation. Does anyone know the rules governing this (defamation issues, trademark issues, etc). This would be for a counter terrorism investigation with our Terror Network line (so it is a touchy subject).

flyingmice · September 29, 2010, 11:58:51 AM

Quote from: BedrockBrendan;407445I am working on a module set in Boston, and want to use some real Universities, Businesses (Dunkin Donuts, Real-life Hotels) as locations in the investigation. Does anyone know the rules governing this (defamation issues, trademark issues, etc). This would be for a counter terrorism investigation with our Terror Network line (so it is a touchy subject).

IANAL, but if you portray the institutions/companies as bad guys - as opposed to individuals in the companies - you might get in some trouble. If Achmed the Merciless works for Dunkin Donuts, it's not the company, it's him. If Dunkin Donuts is controlled by Achmed, and the coffee contains slow-acting cumulative bio toxins - I hope not because I''m drinking some right now - that may be another story.

BTW, I can't even conceive of Boston without Dunks. It would be like New York without subways.

-clash

Settembrini · September 29, 2010, 12:34:20 PM

As Berlin is now blessed with sveral Dunkin Donuts:
Why is the coffee so fucking THIN? Aren't they supposed to be famous for coffee?

Joey2k · September 29, 2010, 01:11:41 PM

Quote from: Settembrini;407453As Berlin is now blessed with sveral Dunkin Donuts:
Why is the coffee so fucking THIN? Aren't they supposed to be famous for coffee?

I concur with this assessment. I think the only reason people like their coffee so much is because they try to serve it loaded with cream and sugar by default.

flyingmice · September 29, 2010, 01:18:07 PM

Quote from: Settembrini;407453As Berlin is now blessed with sveral Dunkin Donuts:
Why is the coffee so fucking THIN? Aren't they supposed to be famous for coffee?

Yes, but it's classic American coffee, lightly roasted, sweet, nutty, and full of caffeine. It is a perfect example of American coffee. Dark roasted coffee, as most Europeans prefer it, has less caffeine, as roasting breaks it down while imparting a stronger flavor. I like both, actually, but European coffee is best after dinner, and American coffee is best in the mornings. When I was in Prague, the coffee just wouldn't wake me up at all, though it was delicious. Dunks has a dark coffee, but I don't think it is nearly as good as their regular coffee.

-clash

flyingmice · September 29, 2010, 01:34:24 PM

Quote from: Technomancer;407455I concur with this assessment. I think the only reason people like their coffee so much is because they try to serve it loaded with cream and sugar by default.

Not around here, where Dunks is based. If you just ask for coffee, you get no sugar and no cream. I don't know about Florida. I always figured the only reason they were in Florida at all was to cater to the exiled New Englanders. For example - in my experience, if you ask for iced coffee anywhere south of the Mason Dixon line, they will look at you like you have three heads, and give you a cup of piping hot coffee and a glass full of ice cubes, then stare fascinated as you try to figure out what to do with the mess. Sort of like people stare fascinated at an anaconda trying to eat a deer. Dunks was built on their wonderful iced coffee, and that just wouldn't wash with southerners.

-clash

ggroy · September 29, 2010, 02:07:40 PM

To avoid problems, I would be inclined to make parodies of known institutions and businesses.

In the video game "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City", they had stuff like:

- Hooker Inn Express (parody of Holiday Inn)
- Escobar International Airport
- parody of stuff from the movies Scarface, Carlito's Way, and the tv show Miami Vice
- El Banco Corrupto
- Gash (parody of The Gap)

Bedrockbrendan · September 29, 2010, 03:37:28 PM

Quote from: flyingmice;407457Yes, but it's classic American coffee, lightly roasted, sweet, nutty, and full of caffeine. It is a perfect example of American coffee. Dark roasted coffee, as most Europeans prefer it, has less caffeine, as roasting breaks it down while imparting a stronger flavor. I like both, actually, but European coffee is best after dinner, and American coffee is best in the mornings. When I was in Prague, the coffee just wouldn't wake me up at all, though it was delicious. Dunks has a dark coffee, but I don't think it is nearly as good as their regular coffee.

-clash

People have to understand as well, for us it isn't just part of the landscape. If you grew up in Boston, you grew up on dunks. I will add that I think they were better when they had the bakeries inside the individual stores (as opposed to the centralized bakeries they use now). Personally I love the coffee. It isn't meant to be a strong, european style cup. Around here it is considered the working mans coffee.

pspahn · September 29, 2010, 03:38:40 PM

Quote from: ggroy;407459To avoid problems, I would be inclined to make parodies of known institutions and businesses.

In the video game "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City", they had stuff like:

- Hooker Inn Express (parody of Holiday Inn)
- Escobar International Airport
- parody of stuff from the movies Scarface, Carlito's Way, and the tv show Miami Vice
- El Banco Corrupto
- Gash (parody of The Gap)

Favorite game evar.

I think mentioning them is fine but as clash said I'd be leery of casting the whole company in a negative light. Then again, the RPG industry is soooo far under the corporate radar that I doubt they'd bother. I say write it how you want. PDF and POD products are so easily updated that if you do receive a Cease and Desist order you can not only make the necessary changes but also include a scan of the order to show everyone you've hit the big time. :-)

Pete

Bedrockbrendan · September 29, 2010, 03:40:27 PM

Quote from: ggroy;407459To avoid problems, I would be inclined to make parodies of known institutions and businesses.

In the video game "Grand Theft Auto: Vice City", they had stuff like:

- Hooker Inn Express (parody of Holiday Inn)
- Escobar International Airport
- parody of stuff from the movies Scarface, Carlito's Way, and the tv show Miami Vice
- El Banco Corrupto
- Gash (parody of The Gap)

This is what I was going to do originally, but it is also one of my pet peeves in books, games and movies (unless it is a really biting parody). I figure, if it doesn't get us into legal trouble, using Dunkin Donuts, BU, and other local spots will add to the whole feel of the module.

In response to Clash, the villains in the book wouldn't be the companies, but a couple would work for them. The one company in the module that is going to engage in questionable practices will be fictional.

Bedrockbrendan · September 29, 2010, 03:41:42 PM

Quote from: pspahn;407468Favorite game evar.

I think mentioning them is fine but as clash said I'd be leery of casting the whole company in a negative light. Then again, the RPG industry is soooo far under the corporate radar that I doubt they'd bother. I say write it how you want. PDF and POD products are so easily updated that if you do receive a Cease and Desist order you can not only make the necessary changes but also include a scan of the order to show everyone you've hit the big time. :-)

Pete

This is where I was kind of coming from on it.

flyingmice · September 29, 2010, 03:42:26 PM

Quote from: BedrockBrendan;407469This is what I was going to do originally, but it is also one of my pet peeves in books, games and movies (unless it is a really biting parody). I figure, if it doesn't get us into legal trouble, using Dunkin Donuts, BU, and other local spots will add to the whole feel of the module.

In response to Clash, the villains in the book wouldn't be the companies, but a couple would work for them. The one company in the module that is going to engage in questionable practices will be fictional.

I think that would work fine, Brendan.

-clash

ggroy · September 30, 2010, 08:51:29 AM

Quote from: BedrockBrendan;407469This is what I was going to do originally, but it is also one of my pet peeves in books, games and movies (unless it is a really biting parody). I figure, if it doesn't get us into legal trouble, using Dunkin Donuts, BU, and other local spots will add to the whole feel of the module.

In response to Clash, the villains in the book wouldn't be the companies, but a couple would work for them. The one company in the module that is going to engage in questionable practices will be fictional.

There's the option of using real institutions and businesses for neutral background stuff, and fictional/parody names for more contentious stuff.

The trick is figuring out which institutions and businesses have a reputation for being litigious.