Poll

Should Name's be copyrighted if you thought of them?

Yeah! It's my name that I thought of, no WAY that name stealer could think of my 14-letter exotic name!
5 (17.2%)
Yes, but only if I didn't take if off a website or something
5 (17.2%)
Maybe, it depends if I think that they copy'd me
4 (13.8%)
No. A name is a name, nothing more
13 (44.8%)
No! It's a common name get over yourself!
2 (6.9%)

Total Members Voted: 29

Voting closed: May 28, 2013, 12:17:31 am

Author Topic: Name-Stealers  (Read 13999 times)

Offline Lokiisboss

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Name-Stealers
« on: May 18, 2013, 12:17:31 am »
I have had random people walk up to me, poof, come back and steal a few of my character's name's, markings, and other things that help identify the character. For example, I'll just be sitting there in Ficho or on another public map with a character named Feirya, Karasko or Loptaic and then a few minutes later, someone with the same exact name will walk by. It makes me very angry that someone thinks they can simply steal my creativity and credit it as their own.

*Hanging out with friends and goofing off, then see's someone with the same exact name as me*
<Loptaic(Me)> Oi! Why did you copy my name?
<Loptaic(Other person)> wut r u talking abut this is my nam3 irl!!1!
<Loptaic(Me)> Oh sure, your name is Loptaic in real life and I just happen to have been sitting here RIGHT before you got here.
<Loptaic(Other Person)> change ur name or else i will report u!

And then the fighting begins. It makes me VERY unhappy, what's your opinion and have you had this happen to you in the past?
« Last Edit: May 18, 2013, 12:34:50 am by Feirya »
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Offline Raxoremys

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Re: Name-Stealers
« Reply #1 on: May 18, 2013, 12:59:55 am »
It's a tricky issue in most cases. If someone very obviously just copied your name, markings, colours and everything, then tried to pass it off as theirs, then it's not so nice. Worse if it's a name you made up and doesn't exist anywhere other than your character. I've never had it happen to me, but I suppose if it did I wouldn't say anything. However if the copier started with me and tried to say I had cloned their character, then I would have no trouble telling them what's what.
If someone happens to have a similar looking character to mine with nothing else the same, I assume that we both just have good taste. After all, many of my characters are the same browns and tans that fit into the realistic category, and I can't expect to be the only player who likes those colours.

Offline FieldsForever

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Re: Name-Stealers
« Reply #2 on: May 18, 2013, 01:26:48 am »
If they are stealing the appearance along with the name of your character than that's not okay. But just a name? You may think your thoughts are original from everyone else but they're not. You can't copyright names and it would be extremely ridiculous if you could. My name would probably be Whgftyb Jugfuv. How stupid would that be. I am extremely grateful to not have that name. I'm sure Rose and Bob where original names when they came to be. Stop being so possessive over names. Anyways, names don't make us original and creative. Our characters and their personalities do. As for me I really don't care if I happen to see someone with the same name as me or I see someone who has the same name as my character as well as the same appearance. Not that I don't think my own names are original and creative in their own ways. I put thought into them, I took time to come up with the perfect names for my characters too. I wouldn't stay up for an entire week making sure no one else is stealing my name. When I was a tot I thought I created the name Packie, guess what, I didn't. I stole someones name and I wasn't even aware of it. Luckily no one found out. If suddenly someone appears out of nowhere with your name it's kinda suspicious but it's no big deal, you don't own that name. I use the name Feoile as one of my character names. One time I seen someone with that exact name, no I didn't care. I just thought, oh an Irishman. There are certainly real people who own those names that you are using whether you know it or not. Just chill out, if they're trying to still your identity then block them and report them. Everything in life is reoccurring, names count. It's not like your the only person in the entirety of the universe with original thoughts. I know a lot of people on here copy one another, if they actually are knowingly coping you then, yeah, complain.  I'm sorry don't take any of this personally, I'm not trying to victimize you. I just want you to know because we have all felt like this at least once in life.


Offline Lady_Alizarin

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Re: Name-Stealers
« Reply #3 on: May 18, 2013, 01:53:53 am »
I have to agree with FieldsForever and Rax.

It's happened to me before. Most of the time it's because the person who copies your character's name and appearance just wants attention, or just wants to start an unecessary fight because they are bored and have nothing better to do. I've had people do that to me, and I just blocked them. If they start bothering you by saying that YOU were the one who copied their character, just block them. They will be out of sight, out of mind.

It's true, you CAN'T own a name. I've seen players around FH that had my irl name, but I don't say anything about it. I've seen them with the same name as some of my characters, but I say nothing about it unless they come up to me and accuse me of stealing their character's name.
Like I said, if push comes to shove, just block them. There is no point in arguing over names and character designs, no matter who came up with it first. It's just a waste of time. Don't let these people waste your time if they come up to bother you about it.
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Offline zRichtofen

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Re: Name-Stealers
« Reply #4 on: May 18, 2013, 02:01:53 am »
Floof, if someone steals your name dun care about it  :-\

But if its markings 'n stuff, THATS JUST DANG WRONG.

My name (Coda) Is never usually around Feralheart (unless replacing C with a K) Coda means the Circle and the plus, or the ending in music.

If its about names, don't waste 1 minute of your life. Ain't worth it. If its markings and username, REPORT EM AND FIGHT AND IT WILL BE WORTH IT!

I saw a cub that had my name, I usually get hyper if someone uses my name, but I just tell them thats my name in real life and we both laugh XD. I seen him lots'o times in Bonfire.

Just, if someone steals your name, dun fight. Markings and user? REPORT THEM LIKE A BOSS. Sling em over to the mods like you are slaying dem creepers!

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Offline Nemena

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Re: Name-Stealers
« Reply #5 on: May 18, 2013, 03:27:32 am »
It's a very difficult situation, especially because coincidences do happen. My friend's notorious for making extraordinarily similar designs to other people, even though she's never seen their characters before! Given that there's a limited supply of markings, it's likely you'll bump into a similar critter at some point. However, if they blatantly log off in front of you and yoink your character, that's a different matter entirely!

Names, too, are pretty tricky. I certainly arched a brow when someone stole my character's name- 'Drek Avanji'. That's a bit too extraordinarily similar. However, Guay, Nemena and such are ones I'd be able to shrug aside after a bit of frowning, providing I'm not approached by them. After all, they're short enough names to be down to coincidence, too! In terms of copyrighting a name, it'd be painfully difficult. FH's a relatively small community but there's a large, expansive internet out there. Even the most obscure of my character names plucks up a good 80 results in google!

It always irks me when people accuse others of copying when they're using rather common concepts. Complaining about names like Shadow, Dark, Creed and such being stolen is akin to a black wolf accusing the other dozen black wolves of thievery! Whilst I find it a touch hurtful when something of mine's blatantly copied, sometimes you need to take a closer look to see if it really is just an innocent coincidence-- or something a little more sinister.

Even so, a polite whisper often helps when it's obvious theft, for example: "Hey, I'm upset that you've copied my character. Please could you change it?". I've had more people apologize and change than berate me, surprisingly! If all else fails, block and weep quietly in a corner move on.

« Last Edit: May 18, 2013, 03:31:36 am by Nemena »

Offline Killian

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Re: Name-Stealers
« Reply #6 on: May 18, 2013, 12:28:53 pm »
I hate people copying me, my characters name 'Killian' was the name of someone I used to know. I had never seen anyone with it in flourite before. Then one day I saw a lion with it, I didn't care much I just brushed it off. But what annoyed me was the fact that every time he saw me he would run off... He knew what he had done!! But I'm not too bothered anyway. I never thought up the name myself.

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Re: Name-Stealers
« Reply #7 on: May 18, 2013, 12:57:23 pm »
I understand you. Name stealer can be kinda annoying, but I didn't dont mind. Because if someone have the same name as you, they probably didn't know or did it purposely because they want to be well know, in other words, attention so they copy you. But in roleplays, it be annoying. Like for example, Lion king in Bonfire..There's so many Kiara,Nala,Simba..Like how they do that..Hmm? In my mind, it's probably they looking for character that can have a mate, and probably with the best role. Yeah? But I don't understand why they doing that..It quiet annoying in my opinion. Escially, in lion king. >.< Never want to be apart. (Kinda off topic) But yeah, Name-Stealers is quiet annoying, once again.

Offline Feareh

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Re: Name-Stealers
« Reply #8 on: May 18, 2013, 03:49:04 pm »
Unfortunately, name stealing really isn't a serious crime as much as actually copying the whole entire character. I have seen loads of people with the same name before, but mostly all with different looks. Is this necessarily bad, no.
However, if you suspect someone taking your character completely and refusing to change, the best thing to do is just block them since there intentions are to aggravate you.
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Re: Name-Stealers
« Reply #9 on: May 18, 2013, 03:58:55 pm »
I hate name-stealers/copiers, and character-stealers/copiers, they need to get some imagination of their own. But, then there are people with the same name, but neither copied the other, as Feareh said. This happens a lot when you use a human name, like Alfred or Joe or something, because there are going to be more than one of those in the world, even on FH :3

I've been through this name-stealing thing before, but not quite the same way... I came up with a name all by myself, and then one of my friends tells me that something "famous" is already named that and I didn't know it. >_< So then I have to ditch the name and think of a new one... That's just as annoying as people who steal your name D: But, intentional name-stealers that steal just to be annoying ARE annoying, and you should block them ^_^