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I found a SO-user today with a display name almost identical to my own, merely misspelt. Since I have been a registered user longer than the other user I suppose that I possess the right to my nick and the question arises what can I do, if anything, to reclaim my honor?

I am by no means an authority around here and the other user probably didn't know about my existence while choosing display name. Furthermore I am not very concerned about the issue and my question is more out of curiosity: what does the community think about "name thefts" (intentional as well as unintentional)?

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    First step is to obtain all proper copyrights, trademarks, patents, etc., on your name, its spelling, and close derivatives, and then present Stack Exchange with a cease & desist order regarding other so-called users infringing upon your rights.
    – Anthony Pegram
    Jun 21, 2011 at 13:26
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    Name rights go to the person with the higher reputation. Get to work ASAP!
    – juan
    Jun 21, 2011 at 13:30
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    Have you considered changing your own name to something unique?
    – Bill the Lizard
    Jun 21, 2011 at 13:31
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    ... like "Bill the alligator"
    – juan
    Jun 21, 2011 at 13:33
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    Your name is missing the ®
    – random
    Jun 21, 2011 at 13:40
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    How is "Adrakadabra" almost identical to "Avada Kedavra"?
    – Pekka
    Jun 21, 2011 at 13:41
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    @Pekka: All your name are belong to us. They're just my name, in various states of horrid misspelling (no, really, how did you manage to mangle my name to that?).
    – Piskvor left the building
    Jun 21, 2011 at 13:52
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    This is a legitimate discussion. There's no need to close it.
    – Lance Roberts
    Jun 21, 2011 at 15:19

5 Answers 5

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In general, there's nothing you can do. If it's an impersonation, you could make a case (and this is especially important for, say, if someone is daring enough to impersonate a site moderator) if they're actively trying to pass themselves off as you. But in any other situation, I doubt there's much that can be done, or even should be done.

Take Will as an example. That's a common name. It's also the name of a moderator on Stack Overflow (two, technically, just only one as far as the actual display name). We can't really call it name theft if someone picks a name like Will, can we?

When you are dealing with multiple users that have the same name (which, by the way, sharing the same display name is perfectly acceptable), simply make sure to assert which one you are, and if you get an accusatory remark you can always show your profile and post history to clear your own name.

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Specifically in this case: the problem with picking names out of books is that, well, others also read those books, and they also pick names out of them. I remember this one time at a SF&fantasy forum, we used to have twenty "Aragorns" and ten "Striders" bickering for nick originality around the time the first LoTR movie was released.

Unless you're J.K.Rowling, good luck proving the originality of your name.

In other words:

  • it was never actually yours to begin with
  • different, even unrelated, people do share the same names (and nicknames for that matter)
  • you are not a unique snowflake (and thus not exempt from above)
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So, you mean you own that name?

I could find in Wikipedia like this.

enter image description here

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Names are not Unique. So I advice you to use a nice avatar so people know who is who.

It the other user copies your avatar that's probably a sign of misuse. But I don't think that will happen. (And if, yo can flag or contact the team).

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Just roll with it. If you get to the point where you're so famous on SO that people are lining up to impersonate you, you can complain to the moderators -- until then, it's just a coincidence, and it's totally allowed. I'm sure you're an awesome guy, but I haven't heard your name whispered with the sort of breathy awe that people reserve for someone like Jon Skeet. Not unless they were killing someone with magic, anyway. (Fun fact: You can do that with Jon's name, too.)

Besides, "Avada Kedavra" is a well-known part of pop culture which you hardly own the rights to; it's not at all surprising that someone else liked it. Be happy it wasn't your real name. This guy has my exact name, and worse than that, I think he may be smarter than me. But I didn't freak out about it, just high-fived him and moved on. I'd advise you to do the same.

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  • that Justin Morgan is sharp. Thinking about hiring him. Not you, the other one, I mean. :)
    – Jeff Atwood
    Jun 29, 2011 at 10:31
  • @Jeff - I think this is where I raise my fists and scream "Justin Morgaaaaaaan" like William Shatner at the end of Star Trek II.
    – Justin Morgan
    Jun 29, 2011 at 14:01

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