Logged it, Account Deleted and then Re-Logged it - Acceptable?

[+seamanrob]

Ive just received ten or so emails from the system telling me someone had logged all my caches today. Looking back through, I see that one prolific cacher in my area has, for whatever reason, had his previous account deleted and is now relogging under a new name.

 

Is this acceptable behaviour - because I dont know the reasons behind why or how his first account ceased, but I think its a bit of a cheek for him to just open up a new account and not get his old one sorted out with geocaching.com..... unless geocaching.com closed it in the first place.

 

Your suggestions please. Do I simply delete these logged finds, contact geocaching or do nothing?

[+Chrysalides]

I'd leave it alone. If Groundspeak feels strongly enough about it they'll take action themselves. I would rather let this ugly business remain between the cacher and Groundspeak.

[GOF and Bacall]

You are working under the assumption that GS closed his account? Or that it was a disciplinary action if they did? It may not be the case. Like Chrysalides said, just let it be.

[+Gamaliel]

I've seen this a couple of times before and it's always something harmless like a person changing their geocaching name or a caching group/family who used one shared account adopting personal GC accounts. Unless there's reason to suspect something inappropriate in regards to your caches, I'd let it go and let Groundspeak deal with whatever issues there may be, if any, regarding the account change.

[Clan Riffster]

I see the logs you mention:

TFTC re-Logged due to original account deletion

But following up, I see one name that shows up consistantly with the new logs.

I'm thinking his account wasn't really deleted.

Edited May 28, 2010 by Clan Riffster

[+thedeadpirate]

I see the logs you mention:

TFTC re-Logged due to original account deletion

But following up, I see one name that shows up consistantly with the new logs.

I'm thinking his account wasn't really deleted.

 

Not yet, but he's abandoning it due to some avatar copyright issue which for some reason he can't solve by just using a new one.

 

LINK

[Hazelette]

I see the logs you mention:

TFTC re-Logged due to original account deletion

But following up, I see one name that shows up consistantly with the new logs.

I'm thinking his account wasn't really deleted.

 

Not yet, but he's abandoning it due to some avatar copyright issue which for some reason he can't solve by just using a new one.

 

LINK

My impression from his post on the other thread is that he didn't like the fact that the company will be checking his profile regularly. Creating a new identify instead of just doing an avatar switch is probably his answer to the avoiding the cyber-stalking.

[+WRITE SHOP ROBERT]

I see the logs you mention:

TFTC re-Logged due to original account deletion

But following up, I see one name that shows up consistantly with the new logs.

I'm thinking his account wasn't really deleted.

 

Not yet, but he's abandoning it due to some avatar copyright issue which for some reason he can't solve by just using a new one.

 

LINK

My impression from his post on the other thread is that he didn't like the fact that the company will be checking his profile regularly. Creating a new identify instead of just doing an avatar switch is probably his answer to the avoiding the cyber-stalking.

Makes sense to me, so in this case, everything seems to be above board. Let the new logs stand as is. now I understand the adoption of a coin that I saw today. I couldn't figure out why a coin I adopted to them was being adopted out, now I get it.

[+WRITE SHOP ROBERT]

I see the logs you mention:

TFTC re-Logged due to original account deletion

But following up, I see one name that shows up consistantly with the new logs.

I'm thinking his account wasn't really deleted.

 

Not yet, but he's abandoning it due to some avatar copyright issue which for some reason he can't solve by just using a new one.

 

LINK

Thanks for the link, now I understand a little.

[+Chrysalides]

If people found his alter ego so easily, he's not going to hide very effectively from that company.

[Hazelette]

If people found his alter ego so easily, he's not going to hide very effectively from that company.

True. It all depends on how determined they are to find and monitor him. If it's some random Joe Shmoe, then he may just hit the link that they have saved on file and not search around for anything else. As long as he's not using the graphic, it's fine. If he were trying to change identities to continue with the avatar, then that would be pointless. I've met some IT/Legal/Security people that could find you on a deserted island.

[knowschad]

If people found his alter ego so easily, he's not going to hide very effectively from that company.

If they really are going to be monitoring his profile, they surely will be monitoring the forums. So much for this alter-ego.

 

Personally though, I think this whole Avatar cease and desist thing is a bunch of malarky. Companies don't operate like that.

[Hazelette]

Personally though, I think this whole Avatar cease and desist thing is a bunch of malarky. Companies don't operate like that.

 

Yeah they do. Disney has gone after a stay at home mom that bought and completed a craft-at-home kit with a character on a it that was later donated for sale as a fund-raiser. The fine was about $5k IIRC. It was given to a church or school to be part of an auction of handmade goods. One of the other participants turned her in to Disney, and they skipped the C&D and went straight to copyright violation (even though it was one of their consumer products.) I'm no longer on the craft forums where the story was posted, so I've got no link to share. Sorry

Edited May 28, 2010 by Hazelette

[Mr.Yuck]

If people found his alter ego so easily, he's not going to hide very effectively from that company.

True. It all depends on how determined they are to find and monitor him. If it's some random Joe Shmoe, then he may just hit the link that they have saved on file and not search around for anything else. As long as he's not using the graphic, it's fine. If he were trying to change identities to continue with the avatar, then that would be pointless. I've met some IT/Legal/Security people that could find you on a deserted island.

 

I don't know man. It's the highly unique copywrited logo of a small company. I can see them doing this. I also believe he created a stir with them by either 1) asking the company for permission on his own or 2) being told by Groundspeak to ask for permission, for his Geocoin design.

 

Anyways, I found him. Just looked at a couple of the OP's caches, and let my browser search for "account deletion". Rest Assured Dave has a totally different name, with a totally different Avatar which is related to the new name.

[+42at42]

Shhh. don't tell the battery company about me.

[knowschad]

Personally though, I think this whole Avatar cease and desist thing is a bunch of malarky. Companies don't operate like that.

 

Yeah they do. Disney has gone after a stay at home mom that bought and completed a craft-at-home kit with a character on a it that was later donated for sale as a fund-raiser. The fine was about $5k IIRC. It was given to a church or school to be part of an auction of handmade goods. One of the other participants turned her in to Disney, and they skipped the C&D and went straight to copyright violation (even though it was one of their consumer products.) I'm no longer on the craft forums where the story was posted, so I've got no link to share. Sorry

I don't think that is quite the same situation. While I can't find anything directly about that particular lawsuit, I did find a crafter's site with this information that probably does pertain:

 

Permission is sometimes granted to companies to make craft patterns based on popular characters - an example is Leisure Arts publishes some craft leaflets with Winnie the Pooh characters - but this is because Leisure Arts has a contract and legal permission from both Disney and the A A Milne estate. You may even notice on these Leisure Arts Disney leaflets a large warning that you cannot make these items for resale. Even though this isn't posted on every leaflet, it still applies to every pattern.

 

Now, some have said something about D.I.D. creating a geocoin with the logo on it. If he did, and he was selling them, then it might be a similar situation. Bottom line is... we don't know the full story.

Edited May 28, 2010 by knowschad

[+WRITE SHOP ROBERT]

If people found his alter ego so easily, he's not going to hide very effectively from that company.

If they really are going to be monitoring his profile, they surely will be monitoring the forums. So much for this alter-ego.

 

Personally though, I think this whole Avatar cease and desist thing is a bunch of malarky. Companies don't operate like that.

I heard straight from the mouth of someone charged with protection their company's copyrighted material that if they don't protect it, then they eventually lose rights to claim it, so I'm sure that any company that values it's logo will actively protect it. Since that Logo is so core to the identity of that company, they really need to protect it. I don't doubt it for a minute.

Edited May 28, 2010 by WRITE SHOP ROBERT

[+WRITE SHOP ROBERT]

Personally though, I think this whole Avatar cease and desist thing is a bunch of malarky. Companies don't operate like that.

 

Yeah they do. Disney has gone after a stay at home mom that bought and completed a craft-at-home kit with a character on a it that was later donated for sale as a fund-raiser. The fine was about $5k IIRC. It was given to a church or school to be part of an auction of handmade goods. One of the other participants turned her in to Disney, and they skipped the C&D and went straight to copyright violation (even though it was one of their consumer products.) I'm no longer on the craft forums where the story was posted, so I've got no link to share. Sorry

I don't think that is quite the same situation. While I can't find anything directly about that particular lawsuit, I did find a crafter's site with this information that probably does pertain:

 

Permission is sometimes granted to companies to make craft patterns based on popular characters - an example is Leisure Arts publishes some craft leaflets with Winnie the Pooh characters - but this is because Leisure Arts has a contract and legal permission from both Disney and the A A Milne estate. You may even notice on these Leisure Arts Disney leaflets a large warning that you cannot make these items for resale. Even though this isn't posted on every leaflet, it still applies to every pattern.

 

Now, some have said something about D.I.D. creating a geocoin with the logo on it. If he did, and he was selling them, then it might be a similar situation. Bottom line is... we don't know the full story.

I've seen a similar warning on some stickers that I bought from Hallmark, warning that they are not allowed to be used to create items for sale. As far as the coin goes, the desigh ideas never made it to the minting stage. Perhaps if that project had been followed through to the end, then there would be no issue now.

[knowschad]

If people found his alter ego so easily, he's not going to hide very effectively from that company.

If they really are going to be monitoring his profile, they surely will be monitoring the forums. So much for this alter-ego.

 

Personally though, I think this whole Avatar cease and desist thing is a bunch of malarky. Companies don't operate like that.

I heard straight from the mouth of someone charged with protection their company's copyrighted material that if they don't protect it, then they eventually lose rights to claim it, so I'm sure that any company that values it's logo will actively protect it. Since that Logo is so core to the identity of that company, they really need to protect it. I don't doubt it for a minute.

I believe that would be referring to trademarks, product names, slogans, etc. not copyrights. Copyrights are a different animal. Copyrights don't even really need to have the copyright symbol on them to have protection under the law.

 

*** However, IANAL.

[+WRITE SHOP ROBERT]

Just for those wanting to know more about some of the background, here are some old topics about the use of this logo...

 

http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php...=242666&hl=

 

http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php...=237507&hl=

[+DragonsWest]

I guess I can just about forget my idea of Calvin & Hobbes "There's Treasure Everywhere" Geocoins.

[+silksmybaby]

I see the logs you mention:

TFTC re-Logged due to original account deletion

But following up, I see one name that shows up consistantly with the new logs.

I'm thinking his account wasn't really deleted.

 

Not yet, but he's abandoning it due to some avatar copyright issue which for some reason he can't solve by just using a new one.

 

LINK

 

I personally would ask him to visit as many of the caches he is re-logging as possible. I understand not being able to visit thousands again but as many as possible, at least going picking up the cache and then logging that it was found I think I would accept. That's just a newbies opinion though

[+thedeadpirate]

I personally would ask him to visit as many of the caches he is re-logging as possible. I understand not being able to visit thousands again but as many as possible, at least going picking up the cache and then logging that it was found I think I would accept. That's just a newbies opinion though

What would be the reasoning behind this?

[+silksmybaby]

So he can't just go and log everything while sitting at home. *shrugs* just something I would do but its your caches not mine

[Mr.Yuck]

Just for those wanting to know more about some of the background, here are some old topics about the use of this logo...

 

http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php...=242666&hl=

 

http://forums.Groundspeak.com/GC/index.php...=237507&hl=

 

Thanks. That clears up.... nothing.

 

Well not exactly, it does clear up how someone else noticed he was using the copywrited Anti Monkey Butt powder logo for a proposed Geocoin, and he asked the company for permission. I still have no clue why they decided to "go after" him just for the avatar recently, or why he had to "delete" (his words) the DaveinDeal account, rather than just change the avatar.