xenacryst (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
xenacryst) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
googleplus2011-07-11 09:06 pm
xenacryst) wrote in googleplus2011-07-11 09:06 pm
The legality of pseudonyms
There's a post and discussion here regarding the legal status of using pseudonyms and avatar identities to enter into contracts:
http://cityofnidus.blogspot.com/2011/07/google-and-future-of-avatar-identity.html
Shortly, it may be the case in the US (and possibly other countries with similar common law regarding name changes) that it is illegal to require the use of a "real" name in any sort of contract, as long as the pseudonym/avatar identity is not used with fraudulent intent.
I'm not up to thinking through legal machinations tonight, but I put this out here as a way of getting the word out and keeping conversation going. G+/FB/others may be skirting shaky legal ground with their ToS policies.
http://cityofnidus.blogspot.com/2011/07/google-and-future-of-avatar-identity.html
Shortly, it may be the case in the US (and possibly other countries with similar common law regarding name changes) that it is illegal to require the use of a "real" name in any sort of contract, as long as the pseudonym/avatar identity is not used with fraudulent intent.
I'm not up to thinking through legal machinations tonight, but I put this out here as a way of getting the word out and keeping conversation going. G+/FB/others may be skirting shaky legal ground with their ToS policies.