Crookfur wrote:IIRC using the name of an RL business is pretty much a no-no.
Doing so does theoretically expose the site to litigation and whilst a lot of it infringement on ns flys under the radar, the site does get noticed as the whole UN thing illustrated.
Secondly like using any RL thing it just leads to arguments about who owns what and who gets to use the RL name. In a closed rp where you are playing qatar then yeah it's to be expected that there is a Qatar Airways in your nation) but in the wild world of open NS, well you ain't going to be rhe only Qatar.
Using ye olde trick of a similar but slightly changed name is probably a far more safe and useful approach, possibly more fun too. Pater or katar airways would probably be close enough.
I was waiting for more feedback from NS staff to refute this, but they are legitimately busy. It's a tough topic and a definite
gray area. I did actually inquire about the issue to my barrister friend who is experienced in patent/copyright law. Basically, it all boils down to will Max stand by players utilizing his site? From precedent, the ultimate answer is
MAYBE. Fair use/parody is a thing. When there's no possible gain to the player, that is a factor, but the fact that Max can generate revenue from the site makes things a bit awkward as they can go after him with legitimate reason, if not the player using the site. A counter example to the Allevia one is the UN vs WA controversy. A C&D (cease and desist) letter was sent and Max and Co. abided rather than tangle in the courts with a major world organization's legal team.
While a company and its legal team can easily be shot down in a court for trying to go after someone who is acting in good faith and not trying to steal IP for their own profit, but simply making a parody; that doesn't mean they won't attempt it as a legal tactic to shut down the entity/persons infringing on their IP. While it may be frivolous, it is still likely to make that person mocking (or paying tribute) to the IP hesitate as they have to spend effort and money to fight a suit, and likely hire legal counsel to represent them in court. Even if the suit brought is bogus and more than likely to be thrown out. It has to go to a judge for that to happen. Hence why C&D letters usually work even if there's not much of a substantial case to back them, because it's not worth the hassle for the 'little guy' to fight it and show up in court.
So, in that regard, if someone goes out of their way to rip from RL companies, that puts the site in needless jeopardy and Max and Co. should not have to go to bat for them. Coincidentally using a company name as a nation name is one thing, while deliberately using a corporate name for a 'fake' corporation is a bit of a different issue.
tl;dr version: Just don't. Even if you have the best intentions. Make up something different, but maybe similar and you avoid having the site we love have to deal with unnecessary legal BS. It really can come down to just changing a few letters or less.
EDIT: I should also mention that Max has written more than one book using RL company names in a satirical manner.
Syrup anyone?
Jennifer Government? However, you're not Max. That's his choice to take on those companies should they take issue with it. Not really your choice to do that for Max and NS, unless you use your own platform aside from NS.
Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2021 10:20 pm