United Nations region name change

[Jey]

Moderators,

I am posting this as a representative of the "Untied Nations" region, until recently known as the "United Nations" region. Our region's name was changed by the Moderators 4 days ago with this post by the NationStates Moderators:

Do not use the United Nations flag or its name -- they have made it quite clear they will use legal remedies if their proprietary materials (flag and name) are used on our site.

I just wanted some clarification about: why now? After nearly three years after the implementation of the World Assembly, our region has peacefully existed within the game with the understanding of the cease and desist letter from Mr. Terekhov to Mr. Barry. Surely our existence had not gone unnoticed for that long of a period of time. If there had been another letter discussing our region specifically, I completely understand, however I find that extremely unlikely.

I would also like to fully understand the effect of the cease and desist letter on user-created content within the game. If our region has to have its name changed, are we to go and edit out every single usage of "United Nations" from the Historical Resolutions pages? I would argue that user-created content that has no immediate connection to Mr. Barry should not have to be policed with this sort of censorship.

I wish the moderators had considered the impact that this change would have on a region that has for so long been proud of its name. Even our Regional Power was left to the status of a new region at "Low", as opposed to our former power of "High" that had been associated with the former name.

I appreciate any clarification that can be provided.

[Scolopendra]

Surely our existence had not gone unnoticed for that long of a period of time.

It pretty much did, sorry.

I would also like to fully understand the effect of the cease and desist letter on user-created content within the game. If our region has to have its name changed, are we to go and edit out every single usage of "United Nations" from the Historical Resolutions pages?

It's best not to mention them in a fictional sense. As for removing them from the Historical Resolutions, that's probably not a bad idea.

I would argue that user-created content that has no immediate connection to Mr. Barry should not have to be policed with this sort of censorship.

As per the cease-and-desist letter, and the legal mumbo-jumbo surrounding who exactly owns content, the UN may argue otherwise, and their lawyers are bigger than ours. Not worth the trouble.

[Jey]

I'm sure my fellow region members will understand this decision if it is apllied to all user-created content within the game, so thank you for the speedy response.

Finally, would it be possible to edit our regional power back to its higher level? I feel this would be a nice gesture by the moderators in recognition of our proud, 7 year history as an active region with several contributions to international legislation from our members.

[Person012345]

I understand you aren't lawyers, so you may not be able to answer this, but I fail to see how an organisation can claim a name as vague as the "United Nations" and have it banned entirely from something such as this. Now, I understand that the WA is supposed to be a similar organisation to the UN, and so they can claim on that being too similar, but the "United Nations" simply used as a name for a group of nations who are united is surely a descriptor and not trademark or copywritable is it?

As I say that's more of a legal question though. I'm not questioning the policy of not allowing it, just wondering if you did allow it in that sense whether they could feasibly take action (I don't think they could).

[Flibbleites]

I understand you aren't lawyers, so you may not be able to answer this, but I fail to see how an organisation can claim a name as vague as the "United Nations" and have it banned entirely from something such as this. Now, I understand that the WA is supposed to be a similar organisation to the UN, and so they can claim on that being too similar, but the "United Nations" simply used as a name for a group of nations who are united is surely a descriptor and not trademark or copywritable is it?

According to the UN it is, at least that's what the cease and desist we got from them says.

[Juskalherria]

I'd appreciate it if you'd check either the forum threads regarding the cease and desist order or the moderators logs because I know I offered to dissolve the region before and I was told that the cease and desist order did not apply to this player created region. Scolopendra, I know you've been around for awhile although I don't recall if you were a mod at the time of the letter. If you've changed your mind since that time or you have received more recent communication regarding our region in relation to the letter would you be willing to change the name of our region to something other than "Untied" rather than having me try to move all of the current nations into a new region?

[Person012345]

I understand you aren't lawyers, so you may not be able to answer this, but I fail to see how an organisation can claim a name as vague as the "United Nations" and have it banned entirely from something such as this. Now, I understand that the WA is supposed to be a similar organisation to the UN, and so they can claim on that being too similar, but the "United Nations" simply used as a name for a group of nations who are united is surely a descriptor and not trademark or copywritable is it?

According to the UN it is, at least that's what the cease and desist we got from them says.

I remain sceptical of the actual enforcability of it, but then stupider things happen in law.

[Katganistan]

Certainly it could be renamed.
There was also the matter of, I believe, flying the actual United Nations flag on the region? That certainly would not be making an argument that the region was not based on The August Body That Threatened to Sue.

[The Most Glorious Hack]

I remain sceptical of the actual enforcability of it, but then stupider things happen in law.

...their lawyers are bigger than ours. Not worth the trouble.

[Person012345]

I remain sceptical of the actual enforcability of it, but then stupider things happen in law.

...their lawyers are bigger than ours. Not worth the trouble.

I'm not questioning the policy of not allowing it, just wondering if you did allow it in that sense whether they could feasibly take action

I completely understand having it banned completely as it avoids any possibilities. Was just a theoretical.

I'll go away now.

[Unibotian WA Mission]

How'll about removing the capitalization "united nations", and using a flag that is completely different.

It's not a trademarked proper noun then it's just a common noun with an adjective. *shrugs*

[Linux and the X]

I would advise naming it "Nations That Are United".

[Mousebumples]

I would advise naming it "Nations That Are United".

Or, more simply: "Nations United."

[The Most Glorious Hack]

How'll about removing the capitalization "united nations", and using a flag that is completely different.

How about not poking a self-important global agency with far more lawyers than sense? *shrug*

[The Dharma Electorate]

--D--

[Unibot II]

*nods* Also, that just wouldn't work anyway -- "united nations" would be a title of the region, which means it is would be a proper noun by default.

[The Archregimancy]

*nods* Also, that just wouldn't work anyone -- "united nations" would be a title of the region, which means it is would be a proper noun by default.

Fortunately, this is now irrelevant as the region's name has been restored following some further behind the scenes discussion.

Just wanted to get that out there before there were more ever so slightly spammy contributions suggesting new names for the region....

[Unibot II]

*nods* Also, that just wouldn't work anyone -- "united nations" would be a title of the region, which means it is would be a proper noun by default.

Fortunately, this is now irrelevant as the region's name has been restored following some further behind the scenes discussion.

Just wanted to get that out there before there were more ever so slightly spammy contributions suggesting new names for the region....

Hey! Good to hear.