Organization names

Yeah you can. I do this all the time and my editor hasn't said (yet) DON'T DO THAT. These are real places and things and can exist as real places and things in your writing.

This wouldn't be a copyright issue. Copyright is broadly about protecting the ownership of artistic works from unauthorised "borrowing" (or "sampling", as glo-stick waving, bug-eyed fans of plink plink electronica would probably call it)..

Referring to something which exists therefore isn't the same as infringing copyright, at least not in Blighty. So, if your characters are in a pickle with HMRC (Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs) for failing to pay their income tax or for failing to declare brown envelopes stuffed with used twenties, you are not under any obligation to rename HMRC "the British Tax Authority".

Same goes for the Sea Scouts, the RAC, The Department of Work and Pensions, the Duchy of Lancaster and the Dagenham Girl Pipers*.

What you can't do is defame folk. Defamation isn't always that easy to prove - but some organisations (notably big commercial interests) are long on pocket and short on sense of humour.

Regards,

Peter

* Less suntanned than cheerleaders and with less blinding smiles and considerably Worse Hair, but they'd hold the line against zombie apocalypse with grace and aplomb.

I survived said:

Can I use organization names like Girl Scouts, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Special Olympics, or Die Hard Cub Fan or is this breaching TM or Copywrite I know you can use titles of other things. Just curious

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You can use the names without permission, but if you get into detail, the ice gets thinner. If the details are negative, the ice may break under you.

'She came home from her Girl Scouts meeting,' is ok.

'The Girl Scouts promotes homosexual behavior in young girls,' is not okay (even though some drug-crazed conservative politicians in the US have made such assertions).