In the U.S., satirical writing, even if it makes reference to real people and even if those references are defaming, is protected speech.
But according to Harvard Law professor Bruce Hay, there are established standards for determining whether or not content is comedic and not criminally libelous - standards that can get tricky when your business is predicated on deceiving your readers.
"The question a court would ask is whether the average reader would think the article was factual or satirical," he says.
For example, a recent Spoof was turned down that alleged Obama was levying a Fat Tax - I mean can you fcking believe that? And Spoof is already covered with ubiquitous disclaimers! No doubt a fat spoof editor took umbridge!
Now when you submit a spoof to spoof you are rolling the dice as to whether you will get a real editor or a fake spoof editor who will reject a story based on his/her personal behavior idiosyncrocies (like in idiot)
Michael Spoof the editor in chief said in response: "At Spoof -we like to keep it Spoofy!"
