Same effect.

Remember, it's the character, not the name that's protected by copyright. Is the name "Stan" by itself identifiable as Stan Marsh from South Park? The answer is no. If however your character name is "Stan Marsh", then it would be identifiable. If your character name is "Stan" or "Marsh", and if your character looks like Stan Marsh from South Park (not possible in ESO), then it would be identifiable. If your character name is something completely different, but your character looks identical to Stan Marsh from South Park, then again that'd be an infringement.

No. You cannot use the word "Superhero" as part of a brand only. (eg: Superhero Stories) for a trademark.

Copyright would limit the use of the word at all.

Not exactly.

They're governed under specifically different rulesets.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_trademark_law

Not by all means a definitive source(go check http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/metaschool/fisher/domain/tm.htm for that), but it has the highlights of the purpose of trademark law.

Copyright is entirely different.

exactly, so when we DO try to be creative and alter a name is reportable and banned

for example:

stan sylba = origonal

you loved him in a story line so you used his name and created

stanlee sylbarka

it apparently is offensive and therefore will be removed and even banned from zenimax or you might even have your account banned because you were being creative and some jerk didnt like you and wanted you out.

Hahaha so according to the rules nobody can take my name since it's gonna be exactly the same as my account name ( not this account name, my ESO one).

not sure what you are getting at- your account name is (probably) not popular, from popular fiction, from lore or a real person.

so our account name is fine?

Please don't make stuff up.

The most you'd suffer is a name change. Nothing more, nothing less.

It's hardly "creative" to copy a name and then try to obfuscate it.

/facepalm

Fine, I'll spell it out for you: as far as THIS thread's topic goes, they are the same. See the OP's link for evidence (otherwise they'd make a distinction between a copyright and trademark). Ergo, you're making out a red-herring.

it would most certainly depend on what your account name was.

He's talking about Rule 3. You can't make a character name that impersonates another player. In other words, if another player makes a name that's identical to his account name, then he can probably report to GM and claim impersonation.

Usually this wouldn't have mattered in any other MMO, since account name is always hidden. However, in ESO account name will be readily available in-game, so it'd be problematic if there is a player named Virm and a player with a character Virm.

It's not going to be Virm, as i said. This is an old account with a stupid name. It's not even similar to the name that my ESO Game account is.

Also

3,No name that defames or impersonates another player, an employee of ZeniMax, or any property of ZeniMax. E.g. no "TES GM", "Tiber Septim" or any name that impersonates another player's account name.

It means that nobody can impersonate my account name or my player name since it will be the SAME NAME. I just find it funny. Also yeah, nobody will copy my name but it's still an "insurance" kind of since people can have several names with spaces which mean they could copy it quite easy i believe.

that's not true, though.

They are totally seperate things.

You could not name a character "Superman"

You could, however, name a character Superhero Bob - though, that would get reported for being stupid. Superhero Bob is not copyrighted (as far as I know)

thats a lie, 1 moment while i find the exact quote, but in the rules it states quite clearly that any embarrassment or offence would have your account banned!

i will brb with that quote!

heres the quote:

Harass, stalk, threaten, embarrass,

heres the link where that quote is found

http://www.zenimax.com/legal_terms_us

it listed under the section titled

Section 2.3: You will not create an account name that is in reference to or contains copyright names, popular characters, or the names of modern era serial killers, individuals or groups who have committed crimes against humanity in the past.

Not sure if it's going to be any reflection on how well enforced the naming rules will be on the live servers, but I just had my account name changed and was told I couldn't have PurpleDrank. To me this indicates that they may be cracking down on drug and alcohol references at the very least (and apparently not just for character names, but account names too).

/doublefacepalm

Once again, that's a red-herring. Do you understand the difference in trademarks and copyrights do not apply here? They are the same concept as far as THIS THREAD is concerned. No ifs, ands, or buts about it.

I'm not sure what's with all the confusion about popular names. If you want to name your character Robin, go for it. But Robin Hood? Probably not a good plan. Though I personally wouldn't report an archer for being named Robin Hood. Call yourself xxXRobinXHoodXxx, and I probably will.

You need to work on your interpretation skills. Can and would are very different.

Zenimax has the discretion to ban you for the smallest reasons, but they do not benefit from it - they want you keep paying them money. That's why in ALL MMOs since the very first MMO in the world, inappropriate name reports only ever result in name changes. I suppose exceptions may exist if some guy repeatedly make inappropriate names for dozens of times, but even then that'd at most be a temporary ban.

I went back and reread what you wrote.

I apologize. Yes, you are correct- in this particular scenario, they have the same effect.

Agreed.

Naming someone Robin Hood is acceptable, and I won't report someone for using such a name. But use a bunch of "X"-ish letters? Insta-report.

my account name is @Dagothin