Legal Question in Intellectual Property in New York

Re: Privacy Protection - Real Names and Facts Used in a Playwrite

The script may be available through Samuel French, Inc. a company that publishes plays in book form, or some other publisher. The best bet would be to contact The Drama Book Shop at http://www.dramabookshop.com/NASApp/store/IndexJsp though if the play is new it is unlikely to be published as yet. If you can't obtain a copy that way, you can also contact the producer or playwright and simply request a copy, though if either suspects a potential law suit you may be waiting a long time. As part of that letter you should instruct the playwright and producer to "cease and desist" from any further exploitation or presentation of the play until the rights situation is clarified. You ask if your private life was invaded. It appears so. You may also have been defamed if, without truth, the play disparages you or presents you in a false light. In this connection, I find it strange that a writer could have made efforts to fictionalize the names, dialogue and incidents that are portrayed in the play but chose not to do so. You have the right to your own life story to the extent it is not in the public domain. While in the US a writer has significant rights of expression, this right is tempered, on occasion, by the civil rights of others as well as the obligation to avoid defaming someone. If you are not in the US, it may be more difficult to track this down. If you would like to discuss this at greater length please feel free to contact me.