Common Brand Name Usage

[PapaRomantic]

Good evening, friends. My WIP is to the point that OnlyFans will start to be part of the story.

The question is - would it be safe to use the OnlyFans name in the story, or should I make up a name while keep it close enough that readers will know what I'm referring to? I supposed the question could be for any copyrighted brand name of any product or service.

Thanks in advance.

 

[spiralholly]

It breaks down into a few questions:
Will you be legally harassed for using it here? No. I don't believe I've seen anyone getting a Cease and Desist letter for using a brand in their erotica. I wouldn't test that out on notoriously litigation-happy brands like the Beatles or Anne Rice's works, but you aren't profiting from its use, so the lawyers probably won't growl your way.

Will it make it easier for the reader to enjoy the story if they don't have to figure out that you're reinventing the idea of OnlyFans as JustAFan? Yes, usually. If you get hyper distracting by name-dropping products all over the place, the readers will wonder how you are getting corporate sponsorship in this venue, or more likely they'll just wander off to another story.

Are you a fan or critic of the product in question? If you have an axe to grind and it might make the characters more real for having an opinion, sure. Otherwise it's a bait and switch: 'I know I said this story was about young hicks having sex on top of moving pickup trucks, but let me tell you about DiGiorno pizza...'

 

[SimonDoom]

There's no problem with this. OF's ownership of its brand name gives it the right to prevent uses of that name that create a "likelihood of confusion." Merely using the name in a story will not do this. It's no different from having a character in your story eat a meal at McDonald's or shop at Walmart. They can't stop you from doing that, and they have no claim against you.

Nevertheless, you might choose to pick a name that is similar to, but not identical to, the real-world brand name, if it makes you feel easier. I wrote a story featuring a character who had a page on a website like this and decided to call it "OnlyFun."

 

[TheWritingGroup]

If you have OnlyFans in your story as a front for human trafficking, I'd give it a cover name.

I personally use a lot of alters for my companies, but some of that is just that I like wordplay (e. .g Target becomes Quarry, Starbucks becomes Ishmaels).

 

[liliput1]

I've read a couple stories not so long ago that used replacement names, but I'm spacing on which stories those might have been.

I was thinking earlier today that it would be sort of funny if Literotica cooked up a stable of alternate universe companies that appeared across different people's stories. No character cameos necessary, but still technically all in the same universe.

 

[TheWritingGroup]

I've read a couple stories not so long ago that used replacement names, but I'm spacing on which stories those might have been.

I was thinking earlier today that it would be sort of funny if Literotica cooked up a stable of alternate universe companies that appeared across different people's stories. No character cameos necessary, but still technically all in the same universe.

My version of Reddit is Seddit. I have said before that if other writers want to use it, they're more than welcome.

 

[anthrodisiac]

If you have OnlyFans in your story as a front for human trafficking, I'd give it a cover name.

I personally use a lot of alters for my companies, but some of that is just that I like wordplay (e. .g Target becomes Quarry, Starbucks becomes Ishmaels).

The usage depends a lot. If it's incidental, it's probably not a big deal. But anything that could be considered a negative portrayal or potentially libel you might want to use an alt, just to play it safe. Personally, anytime something is used that isn't a public place or shows up in a story more than just as an aside, I use an alt.

 

[liliput1]

The usage depends a lot. If it's incidental, it's probably not a big deal. But anything that could be considered a negative portrayal or potentially libel you might want to use an alt, just to play it safe. Personally, anytime something is used that isn't a public place or shows up in a story more than just as an aside, I use an alt.

One of the giveaways in movies for years was that Apple wouldn't let people give the bad guy an iPhone, so if you know where to look the 'good guy' with an Android phone ends up being the surprise traitor.

 

[IWroteThis]

I don't believe I've seen anyone getting a Cease and Desist letter for using a brand in their erotica.

You wouldn't, unless it was your story. Even then, you probably wouldn't get it directly. It would be sent to Literotica as the one hosting the content.

I'm not saying it's likely to happen. I'm just saying that if it happened, it would happen quietly in the background.

 

[liliput1]

You wouldn't, unless it was your story. Even then, you probably wouldn't get it directly. It would be sent to Literotica as the one hosting the content.

I'm not saying it's likely to happen. I'm just saying that if it happened, it would happen quietly in the background.

One of the arguments I think has some bearing is that many stories are set in a world where certain consequences of spontaneous acts are sort of glossed over. So if you're writing a universe where STDs don't exist then why would the rest of society be exactly the same?

It literally wouldn't. There's one theory that a lot of the really crazy shit that happened in western history was greatly influenced by a bunch of aristocrats suffering stage 3 syphilis and were therefore officially batshit insane. You're starting to see Hollywood embrace that idea in dribs and drabs by showing scabby heads when powdered wigs get knocked off of heads.

So if for instance none of that went on would the United States even exist? So why not BookFace and MostlyFans?

 

[PapaRomantic]

To answer some of your questions - this is just a depiction of what I perceive is normal OF operation, and there's no usage that would be deemed counter to what OF content creators use it for. It will be mentioned a few times, but it's not a major component of the story.

So another question - if I name "OnlyFans" once, and then simply use OF the rest of the time, do you think OnlyFans has that locked down also? Or is it enough of a common place to shorten the name to OF to the point that it could be construed as a 'secondary name' for OnlyFans?

 

[anthrodisiac]

To answer some of your questions - this is just a depiction of what I perceive is normal OF operation, and there's no usage that would be deemed counter to what OF content creators use it for. It will be mentioned a few times, but it's not a major component of the story.

So another question - if I name "OnlyFans" once, and then simply use OF the rest of the time, do you think OnlyFans has that locked down also? Or is it enough of a common place to shorten the name to OF to the point that it could be construed as a 'secondary name' for OnlyFans?

I think you're still referring to the entity OnlyFans, even in abbreviated form, so if you have concerns about them coming after you, it's not going to be alleviated by using the name once, then abbreviations thereafter, since the abbreviations still refer to the original entity.

But this sounds like a perfectly normal case, nothing crazy, so you're probably fine.

 

[Actingup]

Something to consider is that brand names don't always travel well. What might be the go-to place in one country might be unknown in another, or might be well known but synonymous with bad coffee or American Imperialism. Making up your own brands also lets you define them and have fun with them rather than having to be careful about what you say.

 

[BobbyBrandt]

To answer some of your questions - this is just a depiction of what I perceive is normal OF operation, and there's no usage that would be deemed counter to what OF content creators use it for. It will be mentioned a few times, but it's not a major component of the story.

So another question - if I name "OnlyFans" once, and then simply use OF the rest of the time, do you think OnlyFans has that locked down also? Or is it enough of a common place to shorten the name to OF to the point that it could be construed as a 'secondary name' for OnlyFans?

As others have said, unless the brand is portrayed in a libelous fashion, you're good to go. My stories are strewn with real life brands. I have also used alternatives such a "GoodBuy" for "BestBuy". It's really up to you and what fits the story best.

But here's a possible "gotcha".

If you create a fictitious person as having an OnlyFans page, you may get readers who will go looking for it. Not finding it could come back to zing you in comments and score. Readers frequently want to believe what they read is all true, or at least plausible. They will fact-check items that they get interested in or curious about in your story.

 

[StillStunned]

Something to consider is that brand names don't always travel well. What might be the go-to place in one country might be unknown in another, or might be well known but synonymous with bad coffee or American Imperialism. Making up your own brands also lets you define them and have fun with them rather than having to be careful about what you say.

Durex has often caused confusion and/or hilarity.

 

[TheLobster]

Just call yours OnlyWindmills.

 

[StillStunned]

Just call yours OnlyWindmills.

LonelyFans.

 

[BeechLeaf]

The anthro version is OnanFins. (I don't even know what the real site is, if it's a site. But ignorance doesn't impede me.)

 

[RoyalAuthor]

My ongoing serial features an OnlyFans model who's also a Disney World influencer. A large chunk of the story takes place in the Disney parks. I have not shied away from using their names, and I doubt anyone would have a case against me - you can't trademark the existence of a location, and I'm not saying anything about the brands themselves nor am I selling my story with a huge cartoon mouse on the cover.

 

[Bazzle]

Good evening, friends. My WIP is to the point that OnlyFans will start to be part of the story.

The question is - would it be safe to use the OnlyFans name in the story, or should I make up a name while keep it close enough that readers will know what I'm referring to? I supposed the question could be for any copyrighted brand name of any product or service.

Thanks in advance.

I've used "onlyguests" hotel

https://www.literotica.com/s/onlyguests-hotel

and I have also used "Manytits" but nodded to Onlyfans in the title

https://www.literotica.com/s/spick-and-span-only-with-a-fan

 

[PapaRomantic]

I've been thinking of calling it "FanFare" with a one time explanation of what it is. Surely most readers will figure it out

 

[yowser]

An OnlyFans actual account name might be problematic, but as others have said an OnlyFans reference is not an issue. I can't imagine them coming after you. I have a story with 'Google Condom' in the title with no problems.

 

[Kumquatqueen]

LonelyFans.

JustFans?