Cease and Desist!

Arthur Chandler (arthurc@SFSU.EDU)
Mon, 3 Jun 1996 12:37:02 -0700

Here comes a VERY interesting issue. As some of you/us know, I'm a
wizard (= system administrator) on an all-text virtual reality called
BayMOO. In this MOO, folks create virtual objects, rooms, etc. One player
created a room called Mystical Crossroads. It has a one-sentence
description, and leads to other, fantasy-themed rooms.
You can access the MOO from the web. Our code allows us to make a
webpage "on the fly," so that if you click on people's names who are in
the MOO, you can see what objects they are carrying, look at their rooms,
etc.
Then, a few days ago, we received this letter -->

---------- Forwarded message ----------

Date: Wed, 29 May 1996 19:47:52 -0400
From: Storm <mystical1@zeus.jersey.net>
To: request@baymoo.sfsu.edu
Subject: Use of copyrighted name!

To whom it may concern,
Today after searching alta vista I was surprised to see another listing
under Mystical Crossroads. Apparently you were not aware that this name
is copyrighted, since it is the name of my Company. I would appreciate
it if you would cease & desist from using same.

Yours truly,
Richard Kowalski
President
Mystical Crossroads
--------------------------------------------------------

If you think "Absurd!" -- so did I, and so did other MOO wizards when
they saw this. But the issue is not so simple, as I found out when I
mailed EFF about the problem. If you like, I can post that response as well.
Any ideas?