José Pereira Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 (edited) Asterioids it's the English word of the Astronomic object. There was Asteroids in Space when there even wasn't Nolan Busnhell, or did they cal it any other Name on those days... Edited September 1, 2011 by José Pereira Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
svenski Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 Must be noted though that the C&D from Atari appears to make no mention of any infringing content (i.e. online playable versions of the Asteroids game etc) - just mentions the use of "asteroids" in the domain name, and they want it back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reaperman Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 (edited) This link would suggest a similar letter sent to either the same asteroids domain or another one month earlier. Edited September 1, 2011 by Reaperman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S1500 Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 Must be noted though that the C&D from Atari appears to make no mention of any infringing content (i.e. online playable versions of the Asteroids game etc) - just mentions the use of "asteroids" in the domain name, and they want it back. With how generic they have for game titles(Asteroids, combat, etc), they would be thinking they are entitled to WAY too many domain names. Really, is a site about asteroids really infringing on a video game that's over 30 years old? I'm starting to disagree with Kurt's blessings on Atari's legal staff. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desiv Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 (edited) Considering that the site listed apparently had an Asteroids clone ON it, I can see where Atari is coming from. True, they didn't "mention" it in the letter, but that doesn't mean it wasn't part of their decision to send the letter... I'm not a fan of their recent behavior per se, but you can't claim "Asteroids was in use as a word years ago so it doesn't apply" if you're talking about a site with the Asteroids game itself right there. I suppose, if the Asteroids game they had was totally different than the Atari version, you might have a bit more of an argument, but I'm doubting that was the case.. desiv Edited September 1, 2011 by desiv Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Almost Rice Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 (edited) just searched Edited September 1, 2011 by Almost Rice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SpaceDice2010 Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 Atari had a legitimate argument if the letter was referring to a site that had a playable version of asteroids on it. In it's current form, Atari has no case. Period. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desiv Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 (edited) In it's current form, Atari has no case. Period. Well, legally (IANAL, but I play one with my Weeble L.A. Law set) they might. The history of the site can be taken into consideration, so if he changed the site just to get around the issue, it could still be an issue. Also, the owner's past can make a difference. There was a case with a family where the dad was definitely a site squatter. One of the sites he had bought, his son was using in the mean time for something. Someone sued and won, saying that the site was obviously purchased for squatting purposes.. (OK, none of that is legal wording, but they're Weebles, give them a break..) desiv Edited September 1, 2011 by desiv Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perry_m Posted September 1, 2011 Share Posted September 1, 2011 The site is a .uk domain and is subject to UK law. If Atari wants to pursue him they can use Nominet UK's DRS: http://www.nominet.org.uk/disputes/drs/?contentId=5239 Quoting US laws not applicable in the UK, such as the Lanham Act, seems to me to be quite arrogant on the part of Atari. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
svenski Posted September 2, 2011 Share Posted September 2, 2011 Well that is typical of Atari, and might explain why they have seem to have sent the guy at least one email a month recently. The past use of the site will be a major argument in the Nominet procedure. I used to be a member of Nominet for years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+rdemming Posted September 2, 2011 Share Posted September 2, 2011 Pssst, www.kristenkeller.com is still available 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryan Posted September 2, 2011 Share Posted September 2, 2011 I just scared myself- I don't think I've ever heard such an evil laugh come out of me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
José Pereira Posted September 2, 2011 Share Posted September 2, 2011 (edited) I just scared myself- I don't think I've ever heard such an evil laugh come out of me! Is this what you want to say? I just scared myself- I don't think I've ever heard such an evil laugh come out of me! Edited September 2, 2011 by José Pereira Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryan Posted September 2, 2011 Share Posted September 2, 2011 Uh, gee, thanks José. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
José Pereira Posted September 2, 2011 Share Posted September 2, 2011 (edited) Pssst, www.kristenkeller.com is still available Isn't there a '.pt', wouldn't it be possible? I've search and there isn't a '.pt' one. Edited September 2, 2011 by José Pereira Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perry_m Posted September 2, 2011 Share Posted September 2, 2011 Atari is now targeting Dreamcast emulators: http://www.dcemulation.org/phpBB/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=101370 This one is interesting: 1. It specifically targets Dreamcast, not Android, so it's not a platform Atari itself is developing for. 2. All targets are emulators. 3. Copyright, not trademark violation is claimed for Emulators. This includes the 2600 which has no BIOS. 4. The date is August 30, so any intercessions on the part of forum members have clearly been ineffective. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryan Posted September 2, 2011 Share Posted September 2, 2011 Everyone who has been contacted (and is innocent) should get together and contact a lawyer about a class-action harassment suit. I will not give Atari a single dime but would gladly contribute toward such a suit. It would also be nice to have a central website where these letters are tracked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reaperman Posted September 2, 2011 Share Posted September 2, 2011 (edited) Atari is now targeting Dreamcast emulators: http://www.dcemulation.org/phpBB/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=101370 I can no longer see a path towards me becoming a customer of theirs again. Ever. Don't care what they sell. And I will start reminding people posting glass and t-shirt threads that they are supporting the Atari legal department. I will not give Atari a single dime but would gladly contribute toward such a suit. At this point, hitting Atari back is worth a couple hundred dollars in legal donations from me. Bringing them down for good, possibly more. Edited September 2, 2011 by Reaperman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
desiv Posted September 2, 2011 Share Posted September 2, 2011 At this point, hitting Atari back is worth a couple hundred dollars in legal donations from me. Bringing them down for good, possibly more. Might be worth some of the people targeted getting in touch with the E.F.F. www.eff.org desiv Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryan Posted September 2, 2011 Share Posted September 2, 2011 Is Nolan still on the BoD? Would he care about any of this? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rybags Posted September 2, 2011 Share Posted September 2, 2011 Who knows... maybe he instigated this. Remember, Atari's trump card against it's competitors in the 1980s was to bog them down with (often pointless) legal action. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryan Posted September 2, 2011 Share Posted September 2, 2011 Who knows... maybe he instigated this. Remember, Atari's trump card against it's competitors in the 1980s was to bog them down with (often pointless) legal action. Nolan was long gone by the '80s. The thing is Nolan's a hero to the retro community but not as much to modern-era gamers. Would he be willing to have his name associated with the frivolous harassment of his fans? I'm not naive enough to think someone could shoot him an email and make it all stop, but what if this eventually got enough publicity to where he would have to comment one way or the other. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
S1500 Posted September 2, 2011 Share Posted September 2, 2011 * Dew dew dew du dew dew du du * Have you sued Atari Today? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reaperman Posted September 2, 2011 Share Posted September 2, 2011 (edited) Is this the kind of thing that we could put on the AA 'news' page? Edited September 2, 2011 by Reaperman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bryan Posted September 2, 2011 Share Posted September 2, 2011 Is this the kind of thing that we could put on the AA 'news' page? I'm nervous about that because Albert hasn't been contacted (that I'm aware of), but he's certainly not outside the scope of their efforts. I say we write a new kind of Atari emulator. This one actually emulates Atari and generates bogus threatening legal correspondence. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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