Copyright violation -- Backwards?

Many a new player comes into the game trying to duplicate an existing hero. �Some are direct rip-offs of Marvel and DC characters, changing the name by adding an extra character or two, and have violating background information coming from the same sources. � Since the Marvel lawsuit of several years ago, NCSoft makes a good effort at identifying such characters and giving them the heave-ho by renaming the character to GENERIC , giving them a number and a blank uniform. � Some characters are in grey areas -- where one of their uniforms MIGHT remind you of a copyright even if their name doesn't. � Movie characters are also duped; The recent Avatar movie had multiple blue skinned archer characters complete with pony-tails and tails visit Paragon. � But most didn't last. �I suppose it is to be expected. � The fine print of the EULA isn't read by many, even though they have to accept it to log in. � I've seen level 50 character complain to no end when they suddenly go generic for copying a video game character. � But other people's copyrights need to be protected as well.

The other day I was on the Freedom Server and noticed a character believe I've seen long ago -- Starborn. I researched it and there is a complete alliance of groups on Guildportal based on the groups he's created. Starborn Alliance

Now the name caught my eye because Stan Lee has created a character called Starborn. Using the same name that has been in City of Hero for what? Months? Years? I'm wondering if the MMO character and the group in City will be at risk. If City of Heroes owns the copyrights to all the characters we create, could this be used to sue the Boom-Studios for copyright violation?

Considering that we have had multiple servers with hundreds of thousand users playing for years, I'm surprised this backward violation has NOT happened before. I for one will be watching to see if anything is done, one way or another...

The Central Nexus Blog

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Copyright violation -- Backwards?

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