Lord Samuel Harrington
Sea Legs
Before I present my case, I'd like to formally offer my greetings to the TLoPO Crew (onward referred to as the DEVs), and a great thanks to all of you for your strenuous dedication to recreating a game we all love. I appreciate your generosity in sharing your creation with all of us, for free.
Now, as many may already be aware of, I am Samuel Redbeard (PotCO), Lord Samuel Harrington in TLoPO; I am a veteran role-player, as a part of the EITC. Myself, along with several other veteran role-players, have attempted to recreate a PotCO role-play guild entitled "EITC Black Guard". One of my close colleagues was informed by the DEVs that such a guild name cannot be accepted, as it violates the naming guidelines for guilds on TLoPO (no exact character references from the Pirates movies, explicit or implied), even though Disney's Pirates Online had the same guideline and had a guild with the name (the games DEVs were unable to violate their own guidelines).
After careful review of the guidelines, as well as Disney copyrights and trademarks, I would like to make an appeal for the guild name to be accepted, for the following reasons that--when taken into consideration--should, I believe, allow for the guild name's acceptance.
1.) The abbreviation "EITC" is neither seen nor spoken in any of the five Pirates of the Caribbean movies. We either see/hear "East India Trading Company", "East India Trading Co.", or "E.I.Co.". The argument could be made the said abbreviation is a direct reference to "East India Trading Company", which is referenced in the films. However, as an abbreviation, "EITC" could technically stand for anything. Thus, it cannot be proven that said abbreviation in a guild name is, in fact, in violation of the guild naming guidelines.
2.) Disney, Inc. does not own, does not have a copyright nor a trademark on the following list of names: "East India Trading Company", "East India Company", "EITC Black Guard", nor the abbreviation "EITC". There shouldn't be any legal issues with such a guild name occurring.
3.) The EITC is not a character, it is an organization. One of my colleagues was told that, despite this, since it is referenced in some form in the movies, that it is still in technical violation of the aforementioned guideline. However, I would like to personally respond to this particular contention by saying that, as an abbreviation, "EITC" could stand for anything--earned income tax credit, everyone is totally cool, or anything any person could conjure up. Thus, an argument could be made that the abbreviation--since it is an abbreviation--could stand for anything aside from "East India Trading Company". This should allow for the name's acceptance.
4.) I can name three guilds which currently exist with "EITC" in the name: "British EITC Military", "Imperial EITC Elites", and "EITC Elite Guard". If these names can possess such an abbreviation, why is "EITC Black Guard" disallowed?
5.) There is another guild which has a name which contains a direct reference to the movies--"The British Empire". The British Empire is directly referenced numerous times throughout the PotC series, with a direct reference made: "Only the British Empire shall have the Trident and rule the seas."--Lieutenant John Scarfield, Dead Men Tell No Tales.
However, despite this guild's name being directly referenced in the movies (an obvious violation of the aforementioned guideline), it is allowed. Why isn't EITC Black Guard? All other existing guild names that I have mentioned in this appeal should have their names rescinded, or the name EITC Black Guard should be accepted.
I think that these five reasons, when taken together, make a convincing argument for the acceptance of the guild name "EITC Black Guard". To reiterate, the abbreviation "EITC" is neither seen nor spoken in any of the Pirates movies, including the fact that--as an abbreviation--could stand for anything aside from "East India Trading Company"; it is not owned, copyrighted, or trademarked by Disney, Inc.; there are guilds which exist which possess the abbreviation in the name.
As a veteran EITC role-player, I implore you to reconsider your stance on the acceptance of the guild name "EITC Black Guard". If accepted, many veteran role-players would be made happy, and members of the community would be able to actively interact with other community members in an enjoyable and immersive manner; after all this is a massively multi-player, online role-playing game.
I encourage your response, and hope any discourse on this subject which follows is respectful, and that all sides are considered carefully.
Thank you for your time.
Lord Samuel Harrington
Now, as many may already be aware of, I am Samuel Redbeard (PotCO), Lord Samuel Harrington in TLoPO; I am a veteran role-player, as a part of the EITC. Myself, along with several other veteran role-players, have attempted to recreate a PotCO role-play guild entitled "EITC Black Guard". One of my close colleagues was informed by the DEVs that such a guild name cannot be accepted, as it violates the naming guidelines for guilds on TLoPO (no exact character references from the Pirates movies, explicit or implied), even though Disney's Pirates Online had the same guideline and had a guild with the name (the games DEVs were unable to violate their own guidelines).
After careful review of the guidelines, as well as Disney copyrights and trademarks, I would like to make an appeal for the guild name to be accepted, for the following reasons that--when taken into consideration--should, I believe, allow for the guild name's acceptance.
1.) The abbreviation "EITC" is neither seen nor spoken in any of the five Pirates of the Caribbean movies. We either see/hear "East India Trading Company", "East India Trading Co.", or "E.I.Co.". The argument could be made the said abbreviation is a direct reference to "East India Trading Company", which is referenced in the films. However, as an abbreviation, "EITC" could technically stand for anything. Thus, it cannot be proven that said abbreviation in a guild name is, in fact, in violation of the guild naming guidelines.
2.) Disney, Inc. does not own, does not have a copyright nor a trademark on the following list of names: "East India Trading Company", "East India Company", "EITC Black Guard", nor the abbreviation "EITC". There shouldn't be any legal issues with such a guild name occurring.
3.) The EITC is not a character, it is an organization. One of my colleagues was told that, despite this, since it is referenced in some form in the movies, that it is still in technical violation of the aforementioned guideline. However, I would like to personally respond to this particular contention by saying that, as an abbreviation, "EITC" could stand for anything--earned income tax credit, everyone is totally cool, or anything any person could conjure up. Thus, an argument could be made that the abbreviation--since it is an abbreviation--could stand for anything aside from "East India Trading Company". This should allow for the name's acceptance.
4.) I can name three guilds which currently exist with "EITC" in the name: "British EITC Military", "Imperial EITC Elites", and "EITC Elite Guard". If these names can possess such an abbreviation, why is "EITC Black Guard" disallowed?
5.) There is another guild which has a name which contains a direct reference to the movies--"The British Empire". The British Empire is directly referenced numerous times throughout the PotC series, with a direct reference made: "Only the British Empire shall have the Trident and rule the seas."--Lieutenant John Scarfield, Dead Men Tell No Tales.
However, despite this guild's name being directly referenced in the movies (an obvious violation of the aforementioned guideline), it is allowed. Why isn't EITC Black Guard? All other existing guild names that I have mentioned in this appeal should have their names rescinded, or the name EITC Black Guard should be accepted.
I think that these five reasons, when taken together, make a convincing argument for the acceptance of the guild name "EITC Black Guard". To reiterate, the abbreviation "EITC" is neither seen nor spoken in any of the Pirates movies, including the fact that--as an abbreviation--could stand for anything aside from "East India Trading Company"; it is not owned, copyrighted, or trademarked by Disney, Inc.; there are guilds which exist which possess the abbreviation in the name.
As a veteran EITC role-player, I implore you to reconsider your stance on the acceptance of the guild name "EITC Black Guard". If accepted, many veteran role-players would be made happy, and members of the community would be able to actively interact with other community members in an enjoyable and immersive manner; after all this is a massively multi-player, online role-playing game.
I encourage your response, and hope any discourse on this subject which follows is respectful, and that all sides are considered carefully.
Thank you for your time.
Lord Samuel Harrington
