I have a problem with something that has been troubling me for some time.... in my own under-construction EVN/EVO/plug-in, I have a race called the Aurorans. Is this sort of cheap or illegal? After all, I got the name last August from the deep dark recesses of my own mind, so it was merely coincidental.
-Lequis
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Computers are simply not toys, they are for those who know how to use them.
You can probably use it, but the people who play your plug will think you stole the name from Nova.
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Nova has been in development for 4 years, or more (since I wasn't there, I'm not ecxactly sure). So Atmos has a much better claim, and more documented claim, than you do.
I suppose you could use it, but it would just confuse people or make them angry because you ripped of the scenario. It shouldn't be that hard to change it, though. But I hope your plug comes out good whatever your decision.
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(-) 1024
I'd suggest reading a few sci-fi novels before you start thinking someone ripped you off. The name "Aurorans" has been used an awful lot in science fiction, loooooong before either you or ATMOS got their hands on it... 
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At some point, most people call themselves "The True People." Then one day they meet some more people, and give them a name like "The Other People" or, if it hadn't been a very good day, "The Enemy." If only they had thought of a name like "Some More True People," it would have saved a lot of trouble later on.
At this time the Nova board is not for the discussion of plugs, thus I am moving this topic to the Devloper's board (where it may get closed, I warn). 
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Tom
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I'd suggest reading a few sci-fi novels before you start thinking someone ripped you off. The name "Aurorans" has been used an awful lot in science fiction, loooooong before either you or ATMOS got their hands on it...
True, but this is not a sci-fi novel. It is a plug-in for EVN, and two races with the same name is going to look very much like you ripped them off.
I'd advise you to change the name. Though I don't have much knowledge of the language, some of the best words can be found in Latin, in case you can't think of a good name.
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ŃCafall
Ok, I'll just put a HUGE disclaimer. After all, I just have a thousand issues of the name itself in the game's text, dëscs and stuff...
:jumps up and down in feigned distress: Oh, I hope ATMOS won't be mad!
-Lequis
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Computers are simply not toys, they are for those who know how to use them.
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Originally posted by Lequis MX:
:jumps up and down in feigned distress: Oh, I hope ATMOS won't be mad!
It was just such a great idea, it had already been thought of!
Seriously, though, I doubt they'll mind too much. After all, a little known fact is that I actually came up with all of the ships and governments and weapons in Nova, as well as all of the descriptions and graphics. However, I decided to scrap the project, and gave it to the ATMOS gang. I think thay've done an okay job with my stuff...
Just kidding about all that, in case you're too dense to tell. 
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After all, a little known fact is that I actually came up with all of the ships and governments and weapons in Nova, as well as all of the descriptions and graphics.
You wanna take it outside, sir? Oh. You're just kidding. Actually I believed part of that for almost two seconds.
Either way, in the past, sounds have been ripped off other plugins primarily, then maybe some graphics too, but I guess I'm ok for the time being. :visualizes the upcoming lawsuit, Ambrosia vs. NMZ's 'Spectrum' plug-in/space game:
-Lequis
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Computers are simply not toys, they are for those who know how to use them.
The Aurorans were (among many others) the bad guys in Isaac Asimov's Caves of Steel series, which eventually gets tied into Foundation (not entirely convincingly) with Robots and Empire.
Atmos certainly wouldn't be able to sue you for use of the name, and I can't see why they would want to.
On the other hand, you would probably confuse at least a few of your players, and lots of people would email you with annoying questions like 'Why couldn't you think of a different name?'. You could reply to them explaining that Aurora comes from Greek, but eventually you would get sick of this and wished you had used the search and replace function to change all instances of Aurora and Aurorans into something else, such as Eos and Eonians (Eos also means dawn, and, no, Canon would not be able to sue you for ripping off the name of their cameras). Alternatively, if you had to use Au- something, you could have Aurus and the Aurelians, and they could all go around wearing gold watches.
Just some thoughts.
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Considering that Nova has the "Federation of United Planets" with a very similar name and logo to Star Trek's "United Federation of Planets", and it also has the Wild Geese in it, I wouldn't worry.
Also, the name "Polaris" for a government has been used in several plug-ins prior to Nova, such as EV Game Expander, and I don't think I have to explain about the Rebellion.
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T-Minus 15.193792102158E+9 years until the universe closes!
(This message has been edited by Nadir (edited 01-20-2002).)
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After all, I just have a thousand issues of the name itself in the game's text, dëscs and stuff...
You can always use EV Text to change the name.
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It doesn't matter whether you're right or wrong; if you can keep your opinion for more than a day,
you're doing well.
#evdev, the EV/O developer's IRC channel. Please go there once in a while.
ŃCafall
lets not forget how many Confederation and Federations we've seen in EV plugs~
Go for it man. It's really not a big deal ~ If people aren't smart enough to figure out the difference, then its their own damn fault for being that ignorant.
~IE
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...and who has ever heard of a 'Rebellion'.
As Martin Turner said, we would have no claim to sue you, unless your Aurorans were exactly like ours. If they are an utterly different government, then there can be no problem. A fictitious name is just a fictitious name.
...and what would be the point in sueing you anyway. I'm assuming you're not an heir to the Donald Trump fortune...
Cookie @ ATMOS
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Yea, like we haven't seen a million plug ins that are rip-offs of the game, like changing ship colors...etc
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--mikeeJ
"And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh."
..in fact if I do remember correctly, there were even disclaimers out discouraging people from making their own scenario's and wanting them to just expand the current universe.
=P
~IE
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lets not forget how many Confederation and Federations we've seen in EV plugs~
I guess so, there were a lot of Empires, Confederations, et cetera. The best part of Spectrum is that it uses a very diverse amount of gövt suffix words :p(such names as Syndicate, League, Empire, Council, many others)As for specifics about it, whether it is 'copying' Nova, I intend to post what I intend to put in the plug some time...yeah, I suppose that it won't matter that much anyways. :rolleyes:
-Lequis
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Computers are simply not toys, they are for those who know how to use them.
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Originally posted by Lequis MX:
**I have a problem with something that has been troubling me for some time.... in my own under-construction EVN/EVO/plug-in, I have a race called the Aurorans. Is this sort of cheap or illegal? After all, I got the name last August from the deep dark recesses of my own mind, so it was merely coincidental.
-Lequis
**
I think I unknowingly used a name from Star Wars (Bomaarii) in my plug-in, and George Lucas and his cronies are yet to bang on my door demanding I rescind it, so I think you're all set. Besides, I'm not even sure where the name comes from.. someone told me the monks who once lived in Jabba's palace were named that, but I really don't know.
Bomb
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Bomaari is probably another name that Lucas cooked up later after the release of the films, I am guessing some time in the early or mid 90's, so as to commercialize it totally. I mean, if you have a movie phenomenon, why shouldn't the books, computer games and card games have all sorts of new races that weren't ever in the movies and never would be?
-Lequis
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