NationStates Jolt Archive

This is a MOD-ONLY topic please, speculation will not help

I have just re-read the entire Terms of Service, herein ToS, (obviously found at http://www.nationstates.net/pages/legal.html) and didn't see an answer to my question. I have worked hard to create the current flag I have for my main nation and all puppets, and it is fairly recognizable as such. Since I have 14 or so puppets, this conformity is vital.

However, I found yesterday (by a friend asking what I was doing there) that another nation has used my flag. In the ToS, I found the following: "When you submit content to NationStates.net, you grant the site and its administrator(s) a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide, perpetual license to reproduce, distribute, transmit, and publicly display such content." This gives Max Barry, and all of his agents, the right to use my work. This I have no problem with. However, it does not mention that others may then use that same content such that the creator looses his copywrite, and his work treated as free domain.

Am I reading this wrong? Or do I have the right to have a mod make someone remove my work from their nation should they refuse to do it after a nice request?

It may take time to get a definitive answer on this; since this involves legal issues, I have to pass this up the line. However, after consulting with another Game Moderator, the current official opinion is this:

If you actually filed for copyright for your flag image, then yes, we can remove the flag from someone elses nation at your request since you hold the legal copyright.

If you never filed for a legal copyright, then you can't stop someone else from using your flag.

--The Modified Democratic States of Cogitation
"Think about it for a moment."
NationStates Game Moderator

Thank you Cog for the responce. Should I bump every 48 hours for a higher-up to see? Or just wait patiently?

I would like to thank all those who actually HONORED the MOD-ONLY in both the title and first post, rather annoyed at the others, who just state things I am already aware of.

According to the United Stated Copyright office (http://www.copyright.gov/) it is not neccacary to file a formal form to hold copywrite on the item in question. However, should I desire to press legal charges, it would be. (http://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/faq-general.html#what) Uhm... please note that I have no intention of suing Max or his site (I loved his first 2 books, waiting on the third)... just saying that is what the goverment said!

As such, I will be filing my application within the week, and shall recieve my formal certificate in 4-5 months, such that this will not happen again.