For those of you who don't surf the main web site.. I got the information for you.
Cryptic's Naming Policy for STO
http://www.startrekonline.com/support/policies/names
Character Name Creation:
To ensure that Star Trek Online is a fun, fair, and safe environment, there are a few basic guidelines that all users are required to abide by in-game when choosing names.
Character Name, Handle, Ship, and Fleet Names May Not:
Be designed to impersonate a real life individual or entity
Be the name of any Atari or Cryptic Studios product, character, or employee (This includes Cryptic Game Masters)
Incorporate vulgar, obscene, hateful, defamatory language or imagery
Be derogatory towards racial, ethnical, cultural background, or sexual orientation
Incorporate the name or image of a religious figure or deity
Incorporate any form of religious title (i.e. "The Lord", "Rabbi")
Relate to illegal drugs or activities
Be nonsensical or gibberish (asdlkfj or Jkljkl)
Advertise any form of website, product, or service
Comprised of partial or complete sentences (e.g., Welovechicken)
Be the registered property of any other company
Character Costume Creation:
Star Trek Online offers an incredibly customizable character/costume creator. We understand that you may want to emulate, mimic or create a copy of your favorite real life or fictitious character as your Star Trek Online Captain, but we ask you be aware of the following guidelines when creating your new Captain.
While Creating your Costume:
You may not create costumes or costume/name combinations that are recognizable as the registered property of any company. (This includes things such as: comics, anime, movies, or video games.)
When creating costume combinations, you may not create the illusion or appearance that you are indecent, obscene, or nude.
If characters are found in violation of this policy it may lead to disciplinary actions against the offending account. This could include suspension from the game or possibly account termination. Any character name or name/costume combinations which are against Cryptics Policy will be changed by Cryptic Support Staff.
For the full legal documentation of this policy, please see our Terms of Use
As the GM's and Devs have stated, if you see a name in game that violates this policy, send a petition in.
Simple enough rules to follow.
Comments
It is a simple post stating the naming policy. if Jaymes Kurk violates one of the rules above, then it should be reported. If the name is vulgar or obscene, then it should be reported..
I for one want a fun, enjoyable, non offensive game where people aren't using Copywritten names because they don't wnat to use their own creative talent.
so basically, I intent so help see the rules enforced.
If you don't agree, then so be it.
Did you get permssion to use that photo?
Actually images posted on the Internat by the Copywrite holder are subject to fair use laws.
All my images come from the appropriate Studio's web sites, as such, subject to Fair Usage laws, for which I created my avatar.
Perfectly legal in every sence of the word.
If you don't believe me, check the various studio web sites and look up their fair usage policies.
No violation here.
/ignore Troll post above.
Actually, yes. Unless the person flying the ship has written consent to be using her name.
Well what if he -> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Kirk_(actor) decided to play? he could not use his real name? I gave up long ago being the name police I am to old to care about trivial things. I just want to have fun even if I have to fly with Aragorn flying in teh USS Nasgaul. Although I will report obscene and vulgar ones.
But the Orion girls do it all the time!!! How in the world is a metal bra and a piece of cloth around your waist decent!?
I can't begin to tell you how wrong you are... except that you are extremely wrong
This is in the terms and conditions of the Terminator site
You will find that sort of thing on pretty much every website. However for the purpose of forum avatars it's usually allowed to slide.
People will just treat you how name your ship. I saw a Captian (sic) Kirk, with the USS Enterprize (sic), I bet he wonders why people will not group with him.
Generally I have seen pretty good names, a couple cringe worthy ones though. I will not hesitate to report names that are obvious attempts to get around obscenity filter, but just stupid names I just let pass,
Unlike most MMORPGs where you only get one name to make a impression, STO you get 2 (or three if you count the forum name) so choose wisely.
Um, You better check the Court Cases.
an Avatar is considered a Thumbnail image.. as such :
as such, Thumbnail images, whether altered or not, constitute Fair Usage by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals.
again my avatar is completely legal..
Thanks for playing.
But is this really the time to do this? Can't we let the people at Cryptic focus on fixing the game 1st instead of them taking the time banning, suspending, warning people?
Again I totally understand the vulgar/racist names and they should be dealt with. But Cryptic dosen't need to go thru reports of people reporting people with names like Jaymes R Kyrk or Brat Favrae!!!
Let stuff settle down a little, then proceed on with your quest for justice!!!
Read on fool
Can't be used as a test case and he copyright dance goes on.
I don't think I will be able to go thru the day with this "disrespectful Avatar" on the Star Trek forums!!!
I know for sure that my game play experience will change due to this!!! WHAT A DISGRACE TO STAR TREK FANS!!!!!
Actually not true. I can name my ship Britney Spears all I want. The name cannot be reserved for all eternity because some blond bimbo becomes a famous singer. There are other individuals with the same name and it happens with names that are not obviously part of a A list celebrity will more or less belong to someone nontheless. So the names really cover specific trademark names such as "Lady GAGA" or "Maddona". Any normal name/surname combination can be disputed by anyone as being a different person to the one you think it is
You can name your ship Britney, but if someone petitions it then it's Cryptic's call (specifically the GM that picks up the ticket) as to whether you keep it.
Their naming policy specifically gives them that right and you as a customer agree to it as part of the TOS/EULA.
This isn't down to copywrite laws or trademarking, this is Cryptic's terms as the owners of the game. Same terms as Champs Online from what I remember...
So in effect like I said you dont need permission from the "celebrity". Maybe Cryptic decides to disallow the use in game but that is "their" opinion on it and not a legal decision. So before you disagree with me, make sure we are not on the same page