The "Thog" Server on Age of Conan -- violation?

[silvadel]

They decided to name one of their servers Thog.... Is this an issue or a nothing? Would it be enough to distract him from the ice cream and puppies store?

[Steveio]

Thog is a really generic "caveman" name. I remember a few Far Side comics using it.

It's also this guy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thog)

[silvadel]

That it also rips off marvel doesnt help their case in using it as a server name for an "Age of Conan" game -- there were many more suitable names in their own universe.

[Nerdanel]

Just imagine what it would be like if character names could be copyrighted. All sensible four-letter names would have been taken decades (or centuries!) ago. People writing today's webcomics would be using names of at least 12-letters that have to be officially registered somewhere and proven unique - and no nicknames allowed. Polish consonants would be the latest rage for increasing naming space. The most desperate would be inventing their own letters,

[Timberboar]

Just imagine what it would be like if character names could be copyrighted. All sensible four-letter names would have been taken decades (or centuries!) ago. People writing today's webcomics would be using names of at least 12-letters that have to be officially registered somewhere and proven unique - and no nicknames allowed. Polish consonants would be the latest rage for increasing naming space. The most desperate would be inventing their own letters,

This paradise you speak of brings a tear to my eye.

[NerfTW]

That it also rips off marvel doesnt help their case in using it as a server name for an "Age of Conan" game -- there were many more suitable names in their own universe.

You realize by your logic, the Order of the Stick Thog violates Marvel's copyright, seeing how he predates OotS by 30 years? In fact, the Conan universe predates OotS by quite a bit as well, which would make Rich the one "ripping off" people.

Thog is an extremely generic "dumb brute" name. nothing to see here.

[David Argall]

Well, there is a reminder that copyright is grossly overextended and costly to us. The very fact the question has to be asked whether a name violates copyright shows such laws hamper us.

[NerfTW]

Well, there is a reminder that copyright is grossly overextended and costly to us. The very fact the question has to be asked whether a name violates copyright shows such laws hamper us.

You can't copyright a name. You can trademark a name, which means nobody else would be allowed to advertise with that name, but you can't copyright it, for the obvious reason that it's not distinct.

[shadowrik]

not sure if anyone mentioned that Thog was part of hyborean lore...
http://aoc.wikia.com/wiki/Thog

[Zherog]

You can trademark a name, which means nobody else would be allowed to advertise with that name, but you can't copyright it, for the obvious reason that it's not distinct.

People could advertise with it, as long as their use of the name cannot be confused with your use of the name. For an example, there's Apple (the computer company) and Apple (the record company). Each can obviously advertise and use their name, which is trademarked.

typical disclaimer: I am not a lawyer, nor do I play one on TV

[Chronos]

Well, the Apple case is a little more complicated, now that Apple Computers has entered the music distribution business (via iTunes). I never did hear how that one got resolved. But somebody selling fruits would not get in trouble with either company for calling their products "apples".

[ABB]

This paradise you speak of brings a tear to my eye.

Oh......

my......

god.......



You....

must....

be.....

a......

(CHOKE!)

lawyer.

[Eric]

You can't copyright a name. You can trademark a name, which means nobody else would be allowed to advertise with that name, but you can't copyright it, for the obvious reason that it's not distinct.

CURRENTLY.

Here in the UK the sports industry are trying to get more intellectual property rights so that they can ensure that the results or actions in a sports game is copyright THEM and so they can get money for someone saying "Fred did a lovely hat-trick in the game, making NoName United win 4-2".

They have in the US just started turning on the broadcast flag, meaning that although you have the right to timeshift, you can't actually exercise it. Unless you pay extra.

It's all about monetising and the deathly fear accountants have that SOMEONE ELSE is making money that they could. That's, like, STEALING!

Sorry for the rant.

[Laurentio]

CURRENTLY.

Here in the UK the sports industry are trying to get more intellectual property rights so that they can ensure that the results or actions in a sports game is copyright THEM and so they can get money for someone saying "Fred did a lovely hat-trick in the game, making NoName United win 4-2".

They have in the US just started turning on the broadcast flag, meaning that although you have the right to timeshift, you can't actually exercise it. Unless you pay extra.

It's all about monetising and the deathly fear accountants have that SOMEONE ELSE is making money that they could. That's, like, STEALING!

Sorry for the rant.
"I wish you lawyers to rot in hell"*

* This content is copyrighted and trademarked by "Laurentio". Any kind of use, included but not limited to, writing, reading, thinking and even dreaming of lawyers rotting in hell, requires you to click this cheesy spam (http://laurentio.myminicity.com/tra/)
The owner of the concept doesn't actually wish lawyers to rot in hell. He prefers to save that space for people hiring lawyers for silly or egoist causes.

[Lupy]

"Lupy" is a trademark of ThatweirdkidacrossthestreetwhoplaysthatSatanicrole playinggame Inc.

And no, Names aren't copyrightable.

[Marlowe]

"Thog" is the name of a monstrous ape in the original Robert E Howard Conan story "Rogues in the house". Copywrite 1930-something.

And by the way, "King Lear" was a TOTAL rip-off of Kurosawa's "Ran"

[darktalon]

"Thog" is the name of a monstrous ape in the original Robert E Howard Conan story "Rogues in the house". Copywrite 1930-something.

And by the way, "King Lear" was a TOTAL rip-off of Kurosawa's "Ran"

If it's by Howard then it's public domain as far as EU copyright law goes. Trademarks are another issue, and if the name of OotS's Thog is trademarked then it's still probably not a violation to use it for the name of a server because there's no reasonable scope for confusion. You just wouldn't be able to call your half-orc barbarian in a webcomic Thog, which you can't do anyway because everyone would point out that you were ripping off OotS. IANAL and all that.