changing names

[Luckylu]

Ok so I will get people who disagree and agree with me on this one, but I must say it. Thursday night I logged into the game after taking a couple hours off and BAMN my lvl 14 Sorc was not in my list.. i start to worry a little bit, knowing that ddo has constant bugs, and what do i find? I find my 32 point- lvl 14 sorc that i have had for nearly a year now with a new name.. the name of RENAMEDZZ was his name. I log in, and talk to a few friends I had online about it.. they said to type /changename and ofcourse THAT doesnt' work!!! why becuase I guess there was some infringement on a 3rd rate dc character with a similar name. Again, I have had him for nearly a year. So I contact a DM and wait about 25min. The anger swells up as it would for anyone who has been playing that long with a character you have come to love. When the DM contacts me he is very blunt that they do not have to give any reasons or explanations to my name change just that it is an infringement, and that I had to choose a new name then. I asked if I could have a token things so I could change my name when I was ready, like the /changename thing gives you. NO, I have to decide now, and again.. what do you rename yourself after having the character for a year??????
I understand that they have infringements, and all the rest and whatever though we have all seen others out there with BLATENT names, but I would not turn them in as someone has turned me in I guess. But a little courtasy to people with such long lasting names, and they do know how long we have had characters. Thank you I just wanted to air my upsetness.

Luckylu

[Jket]

top notch customer service... i think its bs too. They dont tell you they are gonna change it, you have had the toon for almost a year... and they say its a infringement all of a sudden... BS turbine give him a name change token... seriously thats just a pathetic thing to do to a customer that pays 15$ a month...

[Boldrin]

Hate to say it, but I agree with Jket

[Jket]

Hate to say it, but I agree with Jket

[Harncw]

that sux...

however what did you do for the 25 minutes that you waited for the DM?

[Luckylu]

well lets see I was UBER ****ed off, talked to a friend in private chat about it, and he tried to help me he told me about the whole /changename thing. I was trying to watch tv with my wife, but coudlnt' help but watch the screen. What did you want me to do? I didnt' know who to email or call, or even if I could. I was pretty upset as this is one of my favorite characters.

[Aranticus]

top notch customer service... i think its bs too. They dont tell you they are gonna change it, you have had the toon for almost a year... and they say its a infringement all of a sudden... BS turbine give him a name change token... seriously thats just a pathetic thing to do to a customer that pays 15$ a month...

ket, dun blame turbine. blame the person who reported it. turbine does not search thru the database for name infringement. most of the time, its because of one person reporting the name before turbine takes action.

on the same point, it doesnt mean if your name is there for 1 year, it means the name is alright. i've seen many copyright/trademark lawsuits being filed becoz the other party did not notice until later. recently, i saw a chinese made car which looked exactly like a mercedes (even had the same logo). i'm just wondering how long it'll take before mercedes take out a lawsuit

that said, i do agree. give luckylu a name respec token.

[Kregger]

I had the same problem too. Excpet they caught me in the middle of a quest. I was given a temp however and when I was ready to change they admins were more than ready to help me. as for someone reporting your name, unless its offensive I just don't see it happening.

[Luckylu]

My name was Zzod, similar to Zod from superman, NOT offensive.

[Falco_Easts]

My name was Zzod, similar to Zod from superman, NOT offensive.

OK that is just sad. If you hadn't of said I would have had no idea who Zod was or what was wrong with that name. Not as if it is a well known one.
As was said though, blame whoever reported you. Turbine wouldn't have done it on their own. Turbine are just covering their own bum from lawsuits by chainging names.

[Aranticus]

My name was Zzod, similar to Zod from superman, NOT offensive.

turbine code of conduct:

16. You may not upload or transmit copyrighted material to any aspect of the Game without the express consent of the copyright holder.

this is prolly what turbine used to rename you. zod is copyrighted, to whom i do not know. hence your name contravened this regulation and thus deem inappropiate. not offensive, but like what Falco mentioned, they are covering their behinds from potential lawsuits

[lenric]

ket, dun blame turbine. blame the person who reported it. turbine does not search thru the database for name infringement. most of the time, its because of one person reporting the name before turbine takes action.

on the same point, it doesnt mean if your name is there for 1 year, it means the name is alright. i've seen many copyright/trademark lawsuits being filed becoz the other party did not notice until later. recently, i saw a chinese made car which looked exactly like a mercedes (even had the same logo). i'm just wondering how long it'll take before mercedes take out a lawsuit

that said, i do agree. give luckylu a name respec token.

I agree that luckylu should get a respec token and have some time to make the choice, but for an example of such lawsuits of infringement that come after a long time....think WWF or World Wrestling Federation...the WWF was around since before I was born, then recently in i believe 03 or something like that the WWF(world wildlife foundation) decided they wanted to be a jerk and make the WWF(wrestling) change their name...and as such we now have the WWE which I'm not even sure what stands for...I mean the WWE was around for at least a dozen years as the WWF before the wildlife foundation said anything....

[Luckylu]

So I just sent DC comics an email asking if I could have permission to use the likeness of Zod, in my name for my sorceror. If they agree then what do I do? who do i contact?

Luckylu

[lenric]

So I just sent DC comics an email asking if I could have permission to use the likeness of Zod, in my name for my sorceror. If they agree then what do I do? who do i contact?

Luckylu

Did you tell DC comics that you would be spelling it Zzod or if you get permission are you going for straight Zod?

[Luckylu]

I told them Zzod but yeah if they let me call him Zod I will.

[paul1devries]

I like your new name better: "Flamefromabove"

It is catchy - so much easier to type into a "tell" than Zzod

Also it works well when you are creating havoc with your uber "cone of cold......"

[ccheath776]

So I just sent DC comics an email asking if I could have permission to use the likeness of Zod, in my name for my sorceror. If they agree then what do I do? who do i contact?

Luckylu

If you get permission contact support using the game support link at the top.
Or post in the ingame service forum.

It is quite amazing that someone reported it in the first place.
I have a copyrighted name Terah which is the name of the main character in the novel I wrote. I have seen someone walking around with that name.
Did I report them, NO. I simply named my Character Terrah instead.
Could I have reported them, you betchya but what satisfaction would I have had?
To me its free advertising spread that name around and the more people know it the more people will know it.

Why someone felt the need to go out and report it is beyond me. Thats a bit too much power to have.

[Altarboy]

I also had a reported name after a year...but, in all fairness I deserved it.
I just think in all matters they tend to be very heavy handed. They have a knee jerk response to every inquiry "ban"... "rename" I had a couple of friends banned for a month for really weak reasons. I know there is a "code of conduct"if they keep adding up "infraction points" and banning people. Changing the name of their favorite toon etc... there will be nobody left to play. I just think there are better ways to handle ALL of this stuff ie. profanity filters(so they dont have to worry about language by playing mommy for us) The tokens would be a great idea for a name change even if they are a little over zealous in that respect. Just my 2 coppers

[ccheath776]

Ok so I will get people who disagree and agree with me on this one, but I must say it. Thursday night I logged into the game after taking a couple hours off and BAMN my lvl 14 Sorc was not in my list.. i start to worry a little bit, knowing that ddo has constant bugs, and what do i find? I find my 32 point- lvl 14 sorc that i have had for nearly a year now with a new name.. the name of RENAMEDZZ was his name. I log in, and talk to a few friends I had online about it.. they said to type /changename and ofcourse THAT doesnt' work!!! why becuase I guess there was some infringement on a 3rd rate dc character with a similar name. Again, I have had him for nearly a year. So I contact a DM and wait about 25min. The anger swells up as it would for anyone who has been playing that long with a character you have come to love. When the DM contacts me he is very blunt that they do not have to give any reasons or explanations to my name change just that it is an infringement, and that I had to choose a new name then. I asked if I could have a token things so I could change my name when I was ready, like the /changename thing gives you. NO, I have to decide now, and again.. what do you rename yourself after having the character for a year??????
I understand that they have infringements, and all the rest and whatever though we have all seen others out there with BLATENT names, but I would not turn them in as someone has turned me in I guess. But a little courtasy to people with such long lasting names, and they do know how long we have had characters. Thank you I just wanted to air my upsetness.

Luckylu

What the heck is wrong with ZZod or Zod??

Did someone see the name and become so outraged they reported it.

[muffinlad]

What was your full name, i.e. was it

Zzod Jones
Zzod Kent
Zzod Dozz

Etc. etc.