UN Tells Online Game It Can't Have A Fake United Nations
from the even-if-it-does-good-work? dept
Ed Powell writes "On April 1, the online game NationStates, in which players create their own simulated nations, changed the name of its United Nations feature to World Assembly. It claimed that "The (real) United Nations has demanded NationStates 'immediately cease and desist from using the United Nations name and emblem,' as it 'is unauthorized and in violation of the provisions of international and U.S. laws.'" Having seen the previous April Fools' gags the site had pulled, I assumed it was a joke. But, time passes, I return to the site to find that it was not a joke. The UN did send an email to creator Max Barry, demanding that he cease and desist. Of course, it's no wonder the UN wanted to shut the operation down. The NationStates UN passed over 240 resolutions, promoting peace, tolerance, and equality throughout the (simulated) world. Why would the UN want to be associated with that?"Why indeed? This is pretty strange, as NationStates has been around for many years (I remember seeing it early on and had forgotten that it still existed). Also, calling out the trusty moron in a hurry trademark test, it seems unlikely that anyone would believe that the real United Nations was being represented in an online game. Of course, a few years ago, we wrote about the UN (the real one) getting into the video game business, so perhaps it felt NationStates was a threat.
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Filed Under: online games, trademark, united nations
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Well...
I wouldn't want them using it either.
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Uh oh... here come the Smurfs!!!!!
Reading this reminds me to watch "No Man's Land" again...
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Logo
I bet if NationStates got rid of the logo and made it more clear that they had no link to the UN, they wouldn't be objecting like this.
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Hah!
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Games and Other Fictional Works
Yes, the world is changing.
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The Real Purpose
money from one government to another.
They've never helped the people in need since the UN was founded.
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UN Unmasked?
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Shagger Green lasers rulz
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I think you might be underestimating the stupidity and gullibility of the public.
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