Is there a way to protect your servers' "brand" from being stolen by someone else? For example if you take a look at the running demo servers now, you'll find two servers with apparently the same name, [AA] Blackwood GTI, same colors. Probably spaces are replaced by empty chars in the fake server. How can I protect AA community from such theft of the brand? Can LFS developers help me in any way? There are currently two such faked servers, running from Argentina. I could supply the IP used if needed. Anyone here to care about such matters? Thanks for suggestions, maybe even for some tangible action.

There was an issue like this a while back with CAD Destruction Derby.
Eventually the poser fizzled out when people realized what he was doing.....

I had it done to me once. if you have a forum then make a post telling people to watch out. if not then in the welcome message make sure you say something like this is the only offical server and all the other ones are fake and should not be trusted

Quote from tbofram :

if not then in the welcome message make sure you say something like this is the only offical server and all the other ones are fake and should not be trusted

And what about if the fake one(s) say in their welcome message they are the only official server, and all the other ones are fake and should not be trusted?

if they have airio, and since you "own" airio cant you just sever their airio connection or something like that? (or say they insulted you and take it down :P) or you can ask them nicely

Urge people not to connect via in-game hostlist and instead either type the name in directly ("Join specific host") or join via lfs://join= links from trusted sources (your signature on LFSF or your website, for example).

Hi guys, thanks for all the very useful suggestions. As of now the faked servers do not run, but in case you're interested a bit more about this whole matter, there is a very interesting thread here, directly related.

As for "owing" Airio, I have said many times that the application was developed for AirAttack and later offered to the whole community. I was doing it all for the LFS community, and not to become a ruler/terrorist that can shut down any Airio instance or even servers where it runs. There are no backdoors implemented.

Quote from EQ Worry :

As for "owning" Airio, I have said many times that the application was developed for AirAttack and later offered to the whole community. I was doing it all for the LFS community, and not to become a ruler/terrorist that can shut down any Airio instance or even servers where it runs. There are no backdoors implemented.

i don't see that you did anything wrong. you certainly have a right to protect your trademark and intellectual property.

hopefully they get the hint though, and move on.

Yes, I agree, this was not about using Airio (see my initial post here, no mention about Airio), it was about copying server name using some tricks that crashers use to steal nicknames and confuse people. On the other hand, if such a guy decides to use Airio, he can be sure I will try to defend myself (and anyone else who is abused in a similar way) using the tool and all its features.

Firstly, although it is considered 'bad form' to copy the naming scheme of another server or team, there is nothing in any official rules/terms/etc preventing it.

Secondly, your actions against the owner of the server are tantamount to hacking.
You make yourself a Limad in the default Airio config for no apparent reason, this is a backdoor although not actually hidden. Unless people look through every line of the various config files they may not even be aware of this.

You then abused this admin position by banning users from servers that you should have had absolutely no control over.

I obviously cannot agree with such a view, and that's all I'm going to say.

Hmm well the question is, if they were bright enough to remove you from being a Limad, what would you have done to sort this situation out?

I guess I'd run a campaign both here in the forum (not sure in what way) and also on our servers (various warning messages).

Quote from Bean0 :

Firstly, although it is considered 'bad form' to copy the naming scheme of another server or team, there is nothing in any official rules/terms/etc preventing it.

Secondly, your actions against the owner of the server are tantamount to hacking.
You make yourself a Limad in the default Airio config for no apparent reason, this is a backdoor although not actually hidden. Unless people look through every line of the various config files they may not even be aware of this.

You then abused this admin position by banning users from servers that you should have had absolutely no control over.

Quote :

# ================= LIMITED ADMIN RIGHTS - LIMADS ================= #

# In this section you can define people with limited admin rights,
# including the commands they can use and actions they may take at
# different levels.

# In FREE version you may use the following levels: < 0 = everyone,
# 0 = lowest limad, 2 = mid limad, 4 = virtual admin, > 5 = no one.
# FULL version supports finer limad tuning by adding: 1 = low limad,
# 3 = high limad, 5 = more than admin, requires admin pass as well.

# --------------------- Limad Names and Levels -------------------- #

# Usernames (registered) of limited admins aka limads. These names
# are checked upon connecting and exact case insensitive match is
# required. Default rights: Level 0 - can use prohibited names (good
# for team members), Level 1 - can kick, Level 2 - can ban anyone
# connected, Level 3 - can ban and unban anyone, Level 4 - can do
# almost anything, Level 5 - can also manipulate with stats.

#Limad2=EQ Worry
# Just an example, feel free to remove me. :-)

Limad4=bunder9999

# FULL: Custom descriptions of limad levels based on rights - string
# Always seven comma-separated textual items are required, starting
# with normal drivers without any additional options.
LimadDesc=User, Limad0, Limad1, Limad2, Limad3, Limad4, Limad5

This is the limad section of the Airio config. Note that by default, you need to add yourself as a limad in order to do anything useful. If the user can't be bothered to read the file when they edit it, then it's their own damn fault.

The original purpose of leaving the line in there was for EQ to debug problems that could occur.

I still don't think EQ did anything wrong.

This topic is generally about stealing server names, Airio and my use of this tool is another matter, which can be quite controversial for some and perfectly clear for others. I just consider it deeply wrong to say something like "stealing a server name is bad, but not against the rules". This is utterly unacceptable policy for me and I will do whatever I can to prevent it.

Quote from bunder9999 :

Note that by default, you need to add yourself as a limad in order to do anything useful.

Not exactly as server admins are Limad4 by by default

Quote from boothy :

Not exactly as server admins are Limad4 by by default

yeah, bean0 mentioned that to me on irc, i'm too lazy to use the lfs admin password though.

Quote from Bean0 :

Firstly, although it is considered 'bad form' to copy the naming scheme of another server or team, there is nothing in any official rules/terms/etc preventing it.

I'd argue that this is covered within the end-user license agreement, Specifically -

1.5 Extreme disruptive or offensive behaviour by a user, towards the developers or members of the community, may result in temporary or permanent suspension of the user's Live for Speed license.

Going on the offensive by faking a teams server is certainly disruptive towards members of the community.

Quote from Hyperdrive :

I'd argue that this is covered within the end-user license agreement, Specifically -

1.5 Extreme disruptive or offensive behaviour by a user, towards the developers or members of the community, may result in temporary or permanent suspension of the user's Live for Speed license.

Going on the offensive by faking a teams server is certainly disruptive towards members of the community.

I'd hardly call it 'Extremely disruptive or offensive', although it probably does cover banning users from a server you know you should not have access to.

Quote from Hyperdrive :

1.5 Extreme disruptive or offensive behaviour by a user, towards the developers or members of the community, may result in temporary or permanent suspension of the user's Live for Speed license.

Going on the offensive by faking a teams server is certainly disruptive towards members of the community.

If someone naming an LFS server the same as yours is "(extreme) offensive behaviour" then I think you are the one with the problem and perhaps need to visit your a mental health specialist, particularly if you cannot tell the difference between "going on the offensive" and "offensive behaviour", whilst attempting to maintain a straight face at the thought of banning people from a server as not being "disruptive behaviour".

Quote from Bean0 :

I'd hardly call it 'Extremely disruptive or offensive'...

That's subjective, but I'd imagine those putting a lot of time, effort and money into running servers would disagree.

If it isn't disruptive enough to warrant any action, those who get their kicks by causing trouble have a new avenue available to them.

I fully agree with Hyperdrive here. You do not care about those damn demo servers, you don't go there, so you do not care if someone is trying to make damage to them. But try to run some servers for years, taking care every day of many things, giving it all your time and quite a lot of money, and your point of view will change substantially. So, from my perspective it was indeed EXTREMELY disruptive.

Quote from boothy :

If someone naming an LFS server the same as yours is "(extreme) offensive behaviour" then I think you are the one with the problem and perhaps need to visit your a mental health specialist, particularly if you cannot tell the difference between "going on the offensive" and "offensive behaviour", whilst attempting to maintain a straight face at the thought of banning people from a server as not being "disruptive behaviour".

No, I don't think it's offensive, I thought it came under disruptive. I haven't commented on banning people.

Please leave the personal attacks. I'm happy to debate, look at things from a different perspective and even change my point of view. When things start getting personal discussion tends to disintegrate.

edit - ...by 'on the offensive' I meant he was on the attack. Perhaps you misunderstood this?

All interesting stories guys, but it sounds like we are discussing a legal problem in court here, most of you have run servers before and as you know it takes lots of work and dedication to make it work, even more when we talk about demo...so now I wonder how most of you would have reacted if some low life was running a server with the your tag, taking to consideration that he's probably damaging the reputation you work so hard for...and above all he uses a software you have spent 3 years to program (for which you happen to have access as explained in the software manual)...just answer as the gamers we are, not as a lawyer in court...

Probably DDOS his server to death?

EQ Worry do you have a fanclub? I'd like to register.

You, sir, are my new hero.