The setup, back in May 2016 I created a new character I named "TrumpTower" mainly because I liked to build mini-bases in the game and be a thorn in the side of the enemy forces. The new character was made to join a few of my friends who wanted to play a different faction at that time frame.
Well, this morning I was kicked from the game by an admin which shut down the game client. When started back up I saw that my characters name was changed to "LoyalRoadRunner". I filed a support ticket not too long after seeing this and got a response back this afternoon. What is interesting is the response I got from them.
My Ticket:
I was just recently kicked out of the game by a game admin and when I logged back in I noticed my character originally named TrumpTower was changed to LoyalRoadRunner. Why did this happen because I have had that character for nearly five years and never had a single issue with any terms of service or code of conduct in that entire time? Also why was I not approached by administrators about a potential name issue within this game and given a chance to change the name to something else? I picked the name mainly for the fact I generally build bases using the construction system and it referencing a well-known building.
I'm deeply offended by this as a person who has played this game since Beta.
Their Response:
GM * (Daybreak Games)
Greetings,
Thanks for contacting Player Support. We understand that your name was changed due to a Name Violation (historical figure, copyright building). After review we will be able to offer you a rename for the affected character. Please provide us with a list of 3-5 names you'd like within guidelines, in order of preference, and we will provide the first one available to you.
Please refer to the PlanetSide 2 Naming policy: What's the PlanetSide 2 Naming Policy?
Regards, GM Daybreak Games
Now what is funny is you can't copyright something like TrumpTower or even trademark it to prevent it from being used as a character name for an MMO like this. I'm willing to fight Trump in a legal battle about it and Daybreak is immune to legal action because of section 230 if they comply with a valid DMCA.
Secondly and the important part is their anti-naming thing is not evenly enforced and was seems their naming policy was updated to include this stuff on January 26, 2021 16:37. (Archive of Name Policy Page).
Now what is really funny is the fact they seem to not take a proactive dealing with this issue as I have found several characters with names that violate their police using a player search system connected to their API. Let us have a look at the US presidents list; Obama, Bush, Clinton Nixon. Okay so what about international ones like; Churchill, Merkel, Johnson - Johnson(Active player), Thatcher. Well that seems odd that there are several accounts active and inactive that still have those names.
What about certain religious figures like; Jehovah, Yahweh, Moses/Musa, Muhammad, Brahma, Shiva, Devi, Mars, Zues, Nyx (Also a weapon in the game)
I'm toying with the idea using the aberration clause of their ToS to force push at them to publish a complete list of common terms that is not allowed to be used in a character name that is updated annually and/or restore the TrumpTower name. What are your thoughts?
As for figuring out a new name, I'm looking at T-Censored-Tower, TCensoredTower, and VoldemortTower.
If you're willing and have the wherewithal, go for it. What's the worst that can happen?
Go for it.
Thats stupid what if someone's name was actually Trump cause I'm sure there's more then 1 person named Trump in the world and would they still can it
How do you do a class-action suit? I think this sounds like something that could be one.
At the very least, if they got some letter to their lawyers from some other lawyer about this, they'd at least probably go and scrub the user list to comply with their own bullshit, or maybe drop the bullshit and give you your name back.
You can't do a class action lawsuit under their ToS.
Of course this leaves them open to a Patreon type incident if a bunch of players would like to hit them on this issue.
TrumpCard might be an idea if I make a character for the other faction. I've responded back with TrumpetTower as a choice and waiting to see if that will be accepted. I've also pointed out several names that needed to be addressed but didn't point to any specific account and waiting to see what will happen to the accounts I've archived.
first, you have to document yourself about what this arbitration involves. to know if you can afford it. Usually, if a part of a contract wants to force the other parts to solve eventual controversies with arbitration this requires that the part that forces the arbitration to pay all the fees while the other parts pay only token fees. but it may not be the case depend on where is it. also, arbitration could involve a clause like that; you must present yourself in person or a representative whenever there is an audit. etc.
second, you have to check if the term Trumptower is not trademarked.
once you are sure of the two above and want to proceed with this lulz.
send them another ticket where you say to them pretty much what you wrote here to us, but feigning ignorance, that you have found names that violate the same policy which caused your name to be changed. and that you want a reasonable date for when their names too will be changed. (mark these user ID if possible) then decide a number of days you can wait, (I suggest not less than two weeks). afterward, if the names of these players has yet to be changed you have ground to prove bad faith and can file for arbitration on the basis that your name has been specifically changed because of politically motivated reasons and not for the new policy. and see what happen.
"TrumpTower" is not trademarked and "Trump Tower" is trademarked but only in the area of real estate services. There is no legal way they can impose their trademark on a videogame username that has it as one word.
You are wasting your time. This line of attack is unproductive at best and actively detrimental at worst.
Just quit the game.
Why would you give money/playercount to people that hate you?
Considering this is not reddit i can actively suggest this and just get bonked on the head. Perhaps so chargebacks could be weaponized? Something that can realistically be done once per person but the fees can hurt them... badly. Also each time it happens, it gets worse* (usually, it kicks in after a threshold is reached). Eventually you can lose access to online payments via the cardholders company. I remember hearing about this as an op tactic once, but I don't think it caught any steam or I'm sure people would have heard about it more. That and something like this would be a nightmare to co-ordinate AND have it do damage, plus given some folks dox happy way's stuff might get leaked via credit card company's. so unrealistic at best but it seems it CAN be done at least on paper.
Abusing chargebacks would get shut down extremely quickly by the banks. They're only meant for fraudulent transactions and you'd likely be punished for doing it.
likely why it never took off, but whats to stop someone from claiming hacked? but you are right it will get shut down fast just look at gamestop and all the shit that was pulled during the stock mess. proof enough there for me that they will do so.
We are in agreement. We don't need to boycott, protest, have a sad, or light @*#(& on Fire. Leave that for the other folks. Instead, just quit giving bad actors money. I suggest telling them why as professionally and constructively as possible. It may or may not generate an observable result but at least you aren't giving people money who bare you ill will or worse. From my perspective that solves the problem, unless the game is something you aren't willing to live without.
I haven't given them money in several years because of lack of development going into the game after Sony Online Entertainment got sold off and turned into Daybreak Games. Also this policy is brand new and was never an issue before this.