The CBB :: View topic - Anna, Rosalie and the Law

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#1: Anna, Rosalie and the Law Author: Katherine, Location: London, UK

Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 11:42 am
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Not like that - although that is an idea. Just a couple of drabble questions.

Does Anna have a second name?

We have talked a lot about how overworked Rosalie is. However, I am having trouble listing the jobs she had to do.
My third question is a bit more tricky. I don't want to say too much as I don't want to give the plot away but I want to have a well-known person in my drabble. I am just worried in legal terms in case they were to take it into their head to sue or something. They would be acting in a way which, if anyone believed it was true, would mean that they could sue for libel. But it's fiction. No one would believe that they'd really do that. We use each other all the time in drabbles but this is a bit different. What's the deal with using real people in fiction? I would hate to be the caouse of the CBB being sued!

#2: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 11:54 am
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Anna is one of the many members of the Pfeifen family!

Rosalie had to open/sort out the post, type letters for Hilda and the School in general, possibly do bookkeeping and payroll which are never mentioned, and it seems that she also had to sort out the timetables. Plus typing general stuff e.g. form lists and dormitory lists.

No idea on the legal stuff, I'm afraid. Er, could you use a false name which would make it clear who the person was without actually using their name, if that makes sense!

#3: Re: Anna, Rosalie and the Law Author: Mia, Location: London

Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 11:54 am
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Katherine wrote:

Not like that - although that is an idea. Just a couple of drabble questions.

Does Anna have a second name?

We have talked a lot about how overworked Rosalie is. However, I am having trouble listing the jobs she had to do.
My third question is a bit more tricky. I don't want to say too much as I don't want to give the plot away but I want to have a well-known person in my drabble. I am just worried in legal terms in case they were to take it into their head to sue or something. They would be acting in a way which, if anyone believed it was true, would mean that they could sue for libel. But it's fiction. No one would believe that they'd really do that. We use each other all the time in drabbles but this is a bit different. What's the deal with using real people in fiction? I would hate to be the caouse of the CBB being sued!

LOL!

Anna's surname is Pfeifen - think that's the spelling.

Rosalie does a lot - she deals with timetables, form lists, presumably all the finances and admin relating to fees (or at least liaising with the schools' bookkeepers) general secretarial work for Hilda, extra secretarial lessons for some girls, the girls' fines (I suspect), ordering stationery.. will edit if I can think of more.

You could put it in St Hild's so it is in one of the private forums, and a casual observer would not see it? Or you could give them a pseudonym?

#4: Author: Katherine, Location: London, UK

Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 11:58 am
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Thought she might be a Pfeifen but wasn't sure.

Like Mia's idea to put it in St Hilds. I suppose I could also add a disclaimer saying that it clearly isn't true and is not intended as a slur on the person's character. What if she's a secret CBBer! That'd be interesting!

Thanks guys.

Last edited by Katherine on Mon Aug 21, 2006 12:24 pm; edited 1 time in total

#5: Author: jennifer, Location: Taiwan

Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 12:18 pm
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If anything, I'd guess that Rosalie was even more overworked than Anna by the Swiss days. It's a school of about 400 students, plus mistresses and staff, and Rosalie appears to

- ordering textbooks and school supplies
- handling registration/class lists/time tables/form lists/dormitory lists
- opening, reading, sorting and responding to all mail
- the usual sorting and filing of documents
- typing letters and sending out correspondance
- answering the phone, including calls from prospective parents
- handling finances
- greeting and handling visitors who appear at the school
- taking notes for staff meetings
- writing up notices
- making practical arrangements for school travel (half term trips,
reserving coaches and hotels, permission forms)
- teaching secretarial classes
- coaching sports in her spare time
- first line of defense in fielding visits from Joey

Considering that there isn't any mention of a financial officer I'm guessing that she would deal with bookkeeping, petty cash, reimbursing expenses, receipts and so on.

I'd expect that a school of that size would have at the very minimum a financial officer, an administrative assistant for the head, a head secretary and a minion or two - I could see opening, sorting reading and answering mail being one person's work, particularly when they're sorting and checking the student's mail as well.

#6: Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent

Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 6:09 pm
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I have had Bill Gates, Eminem, Princess Anne, the Queen and Prince Philip in my RCS series - as well as a large percentage of the CBB - no one's sued yet! Wink

#7: Author: Kat, Location: Kingston-upon-Thames/Swansea

Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 7:50 pm
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I'm sure we can rectify that, Lesley! Wink

#8: Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent

Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 7:59 pm
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*Pokes tongue out at Kat!* Wink

#9: Author: Kat, Location: Kingston-upon-Thames/Swansea

Posted: Mon Aug 21, 2006 8:11 pm
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*smiles sweetly*

Very Happy

#10: Author: Katherine, Location: London, UK

Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 10:34 am
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Lesley wrote:

I have had Bill Gates, Eminem, Princess Anne, the Queen and Prince Philip in my RCS series - as well as a large percentage of the CBB - no one's sued yet! Wink

When Liss threatens me (or worse) due to her being hauled up in court I shall quote you as my defense!

#11: Author: Mia, Location: London

Posted: Tue Aug 22, 2006 10:40 am
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Katherine wrote:

Lesley wrote:

I have had Bill Gates, Eminem, Princess Anne, the Queen and Prince Philip in my RCS series - as well as a large percentage of the CBB - no one's sued yet! Wink

When Liss threatens me (or worse) due to her being hauled up in court I shall quote you as my defense!

I suppose it depends who it is. If you searched for on Eminem on Google you'd have a lot of sites listed, but if it was a Z-lister then the CBB might show up for them to see!

I am intrigued as to who it's gonna be!

#12: Author: Kate, Location: Ireland

Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2006 11:33 pm
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There's quite a substantial amount of "real person fan fiction" on the internet and I don't think people have sued for it as long as there's a disclaimer. If it is a person who you think is likely to overreact (I'm thinking of recent internet events mentioned in COT!) maybe you should be more careful though!

#13: Author: KB, Location: Melbourne, Australia

Posted: Thu Aug 24, 2006 11:44 pm
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In all seriousness, sadly, disclaimers mean nothing in terms of an actual legal status and the authors who have pursued cases in court against fan fic writers (Ann Rice being one that springs to mind immediately) have usually won. There is incidence of people alledging slander for RP (real person) fan fic, but I can't think of specific examples at the moent.

#14: Author: jennifer, Location: Taiwan

Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2006 5:55 am
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Typically, however, I think the usual response of an public person who disapproves of a website is to request that the offending material be removed - if it isn't, then they might pursue legal action.

#15: Author: Katherine, Location: London, UK

Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2006 8:44 am
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It's okay, it's not SWMNBN!
What I have to write isn't really offensive and I don't thin you could claim you took it seriously.

#16: Author: Kate, Location: Ireland

Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2006 10:56 am
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According to wikipedia (and I know it's not the most reliable or authoritative source, but it's all I can find for the moment...):

Quote:

The law, ironically, favors RPF. The often included disclaimer in story headers, stating the work as pure fiction, distances Real Person Fiction from slander and libel, while FPF stays copyright infringement. To date, unlike traditional fan fiction, only one cease and desist letter is known to have been issued against RPF: FanDomination.Net received the letter on March 17, 2003 from a representative of one of the members of the Atlanta Braves baseball team.

#17: Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester

Posted: Fri Aug 25, 2006 11:25 am
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You'd think they'd be glad of the publicity!

#18: Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England

Posted: Mon Aug 28, 2006 12:03 pm
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jennifer wrote:

- handling registration/class lists/time tables/form lists/dormitory lists

Not to mention rearranging timetables for every third girl who needs special coaching/extra music practice, etc.

#19: Author: Ray, Location: Bristol, England

Posted: Wed Aug 30, 2006 7:59 pm
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Alison H wrote:

You'd think they'd be glad of the publicity!

Rather depends on what's being written. Some of the RPF I've seen (which is not so much RPF as RPS) is definitely borderline slanderous/libelous. It also tends to attract the serious headcases (just google Domlijah for a first class demonstration of that!) to the point where, if I was the person involved, I doubt I'd be flattered. (Then again I also know I'd be on a hiding to nothing to get it shut down and would probably go and stick my head a bucket and pretend I hadn't found it.)

There are reasons why fanfiction.net removed RPF as a category a few years back.

Ray *you can use your imagination as to what the s stands for...*

#20: Author: JayB, Location: SE England

Posted: Sat Sep 02, 2006 5:35 pm
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Kate wrote:

According to wikipedia (and I know it's not the most reliable or authoritative source, but it's all I can find for the moment...):

Quote:

The law, ironically, favors RPF.

But whose law? Is wikipedia describing US law or English/Scottish law? Or the law of some other country?

Jay B.

#21: Author: Kate, Location: Ireland

Posted: Sun Sep 03, 2006 10:26 am
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That's a very good point... I assume US law, but I don't think it said.

The CBB -> Joey's Trunk

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