Post History

Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/30102
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/

So, I would categorize three possible real life organizations:

Government Agency i.e. a Government of a country controls this agency as part of it's administration.

Political Organization i.e. An organization that provides support for politicians in the election process. In non-democratic nations, this could be seen as court or national factions within the ruling single party. Also includes advocacy groups for certain issues.

Private organizations i.e. not controlled by the government or political interests but by private ownership, associations, or publicly traded stocks.

In case one, by all means, use as you see fit. In the United States, all government symbols and names are public domain, so there would be no lawsuit from the agency in question. In addition, since this is critical of an agency of the government, First Amendment Rights will prevent this. Check your local laws on what government agencies copyright status in your own country.

In case two, again, from a US perspective, let's say that the two dominant political parties are The Bull Moose Party and the Prohibition Party... if you write a character in either of those parties, they may not like it, but probably won't do anything about it. However, you could alienate readers if you paint the Prohibition Party as evil even when they're supports think otherwise. If it's not about politics, it's best to make a fictional party or just don't give the party at all (A famous character along the former line is Senator Kelly of X-Men fame. His party is never identified and his single issue he strongly supports is not a real issue, so he's hard to peg down. Pay attention in the X-men films, which include nods that he has both Republican (a news paper says Democrats respond to his speech) and Democratic leanings (He's pro-gun control and from a Democratic leaning state). Similarly, Martha Kent's party is never given despite a pro-immigrant stance (more democrat issue) and coming from a very Republican state (Kansas hasn't voted Democrat to senate since the Depression).). Again, it's not the suit, it's the readership that will get offended at taking shots at your party (or another portraying that party in a good light).

In the Third Case, unless it's window dressing, make your own. For example, if you're going to eat in a fast food burger joint during your seen, there's nothing wrong with saying McDonald's or Burger King... if you're going to comment that the corporation is an evil alien plot... might just call it "King Clown Burger". In the former, eating food is not something the company cares much about because, hey, marketing we didn't pay for is good. In the latter, you aren't marketing... you're accusing. Since this is a mystery novel, and without knowing the original organization, I think the ice is pretty thin... if not downright melting... since the politics must be some part involved in the mystery. As is, the nature of the organization is one that probably has lots of money (which translates to lawyers) and is very niche to the people involved in those things... so it's better to make your own that could sound to the non-initiate like a real organization, can ring a bell to the initiated, and doesn't offend the money... lawyers...

Original score: 0