Xbox Live Disallows Linux, Unix As Keywords

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Xbox Live Disallows Linux, Unix As Keywords

Posted by kdawson on Tuesday September 4, 2007 @11:26AM from the way-beyond-childish dept.

shafty023 writes "The Xbox Live online service disallows screen names like LINUXRULES, L I N U X, and other variations of these kinds. Other bloggers are reporting that variants of 'Unix' also result in the message: 'Your motto contains inappropriate language. Please try again.'" If this is an extension of Microsoft's anti-Linux campaign, perhaps it's time they gave it up.

31 of 281 comments (clear)

Maybe not completely anti-linux. by Anonymous Coward · 2007-09-04 11:28 · Score: 5, Informative

Words like Microsoft aren't allowed either. It hard to say what they are going for here. Maybe preventing smack-talk too.
1. Re:Maybe not completely anti-linux. by hc5duke · 2007-09-04 11:37 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  I would guess "Microsoft" is banned to prevent phishing scams where someone pretends to be from MS
2. Re:Maybe not completely anti-linux. by Scottoest · 2007-09-04 11:44 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  As I already replied in this news post, I think they try to prevent any trademarked terms from being used in Gamertags.
  
  This is another non-story, as is the case with most of kdawson's Microsoft related posts.
  
  - Scott
3. Re:Maybe not completely anti-linux. by Scottoest · 2007-09-04 12:05 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  kdawson was the Slashdot editor that posted this story - you can see his name at the top of the page. He has a tendency to post unsubstantiated FUD about Microsoft, which is ridiculous, given the amount of substantiated issues people have with them.
  
  Seriously - submit a story like "Micro$oft gives babies herpes, says new report", and then have the "report" link go to some drooling teenager speaking in all "leet speak"on the IGN forums, and I predict your story will hit the front page by the top of the hour.
  
  - Scott
4. Re:Maybe not completely anti-linux. by fractoid · 2007-09-04 14:16 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  And 'Linux' is banned to prevent phishing scams where someone pretends to be from Linux.
  
  ...are you trying to tell me there AREN'T people that stupid out there? On XBox Live?! O_o
  
  --
  Rampant carbon sequestration destroyed the Dinosaurs' tropical paradise. I'm here to help repair the damage.
5. Re:Maybe not completely anti-linux. by BronsCon · 2007-09-04 14:53 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  I don't consider them editors, either.
  
  --
  APK quotes people (including myself) without context and should not be trusted. Just thought you should know.
6. Re:Maybe not completely anti-linux. by RealityMogul · 2007-09-04 17:08 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  Maybe you could use the services of an editor?
Other words? by FST · 2007-09-04 11:29 · Score: 5, Interesting

Can someone try...other words like

ubuntu,fedora,redhat...suse,novel? xandros, freespire...lindows...

GPL.... FOSS

Richard Stallman Linus torvalds al qaeda?

Just wondering what's allowed and what isn't.

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1. Re:Other words? by WwWonka · 2007-09-04 12:37 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  ubuntu,fedora,redhat...suse,novel? xandros, freespire...lindows...
  GPL.... FOSS Richard Stallman Linus torvalds al qaeda
  
  ...we didn't start the fire, it was always burning since the worlds been turning.
2. Re:Other words? by bladesjester · 2007-09-04 15:20 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  Great, just great, Now you are going to get the RIAA ticked off at us. btw, can you use RIAA in a gamer id?
  
  Only if you reallllly wanted to be sniper bait =]
  
  --
  Everything I need to know I learned by killing smart people and eating their brains.
Fortunately by Anonymous Coward · 2007-09-04 11:29 · Score: 5, Funny

SlashdotSUX seems to work just fine. OH SNAP!
other banned words... by Starteck81 · 2007-09-04 11:30 · Score: 4, Funny

penguins
penguinsrock
penguinseatMS
Iluvpenguins

--
"There are four boxes to be used in defense of liberty: soap, ballot, jury, and ammo. Please use in that order." -Ed H
Correct me if I'm wrong (seriously) by Scottoest · 2007-09-04 11:30 · Score: 5, Insightful

But doesn't XBOX Live prevent users from using any trademarked terms when making a username?

If this is not the case, then my apologies.

If it is (and I think it is), then kdawson, you really need to give this up already. You are fast becoming notorious for posting complete non-stories, especially when the subject is Microsoft.

- Scott
1. Re:Correct me if I'm wrong (seriously) by TheTopher · 2007-09-04 11:50 · Score: 5, Informative
  
  The Halo 3 Public Beta demonstrated a new feature that allows players to choose an alphanumeric "call sign" of the form A00. The call sign "N64" was not allowed due to trademark issues. I would imagine that such issues are the same reason why Linux is not allowed in gamer tags.
Snow by HTH+NE1 · 2007-09-04 11:36 · Score: 5, Funny

A friend hated snow so much that he put it in his dial-up BBS's filter, so "snow" would be rendered "****".

Someone decided to post a Christmas song, to hilarious results from the other possible 4-letter substitutions. He relented and removed it from the filter.

Unfortunately, I'm not certain what song it was: "Frosty the ****man" or "Let It ****" are the ones that leap to mind.

--
Oh, say does that Star-Spangled Banner entwine / The myrtle of Venus with Bacchus's vine?
1. Re:Snow by Anonymous Coward · 2007-09-04 12:02 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Sleigh bells ring, are you listening, in the lane, **** is glistening --- It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas Ev'rywhere you go; There's a tree in the Grand Hotel, one in the park as well, The sturdy kind that doesn't mind the ****. --- I'm dreaming of a white Christmas Just like the ones I used to know Where the treetops glisten and children listen To hear sleigh bells in the ****. --- Hear the **** crunch, see the kids bunch, this is Santa's big scene And above all this bustle you'll hear Silver bells, silver bells It's Christmas time in the city --- Another tender Tennessee Christmas The only Christmas for me Where the love circles around us Like the gifts around our tree Well, I know there's more **** up in Colorado Than my roof will ever see But a tender Tennessee Christmas is the only Christmas for me.
Re:MSN messenger... by hc5duke · 2007-09-04 11:40 · Score: 3, Informative

Maybe you're remembering the Scunthorpe problem?
But maybe... by davmoo · 2007-09-04 11:40 · Score: 3, Insightful

perhaps it's time they gave it up

But perhaps its also time that the people writing these headers realize that a) Xbox Live is a private network, and as such, they can set their own rules, b) Microsoft may have a policy against trademarks in names (I don't use Xbox Live, so I don't know their rules), and finally c) Microsoft is in competition with Linux, and is not going to publish or permit anything that is pro-Linux.

Its like you people expect Microsoft to advertise with a slogan like "Linux is better, but buy our stuff anyway". You're probably also waiting for American car manufacturers to come up with the slogan "Our cars suck, but buy American!"

Grow up, people, that's how capitalism works. Build your own game network (at your own expense) and you can set the rules.

--
I want a new quote. One that won't spill. One that don't cost too much. Or come in a pill.
1. Re:But maybe... by garett_spencley · 2007-09-04 11:58 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  I was dying to post some joke about just how hilarious the whole concept is, but couldn't think of anything. Immature or not I found the whole idea that MS would do such a thing extremely amusing.
  
  Then I read the other comments and people pointed out that "Microsoft" and "Windows" are also disallowed words, as well they pointed out that there is a policy that using trademarked terms in screen names is disallowed. Assuming those posts are correct, it now seems like a complete non-story and non-issue. Ironically (as the parent poster is currently modded Troll), kdawson and shafty023 should be the ones modded Troll for the article. IMO.
It's also worth nothing that... by Mike+Rubits · 2007-09-04 11:40 · Score: 5, Interesting

"Windows" is also a disallowed word.
1. Re:It's also worth nothing that... by Black+Copter+Control · 2007-09-04 11:49 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Hey, buddy- I don't know if you noticed, but we're talking about X-box live, here .... Not Slashdot.
  
  --
  OS Software is like love: The best way to make it grow is to give it away.
Try "monkeyboy" by Anonymous Coward · 2007-09-04 11:45 · Score: 5, Funny

Or maybe "chairboy".

How about "monkeychairboy"?
Re:I registered by megaditto · 2007-09-04 11:49 · Score: 5, Funny

StallMan? Does that refer to the FOSS geek or to the gay Senator?

--
Obama likes poor people so much, he wants to make more of them.
Re:And to think I was going to buy an Xbox 360!! by bherman · 2007-09-04 11:54 · Score: 3, Informative

Maybe you should do some research about your claims.
1) Vista only support for DX10
This isn't availible on XP either, and since no one is buying Vista no developer will support it. They don't want to only sell to a small install base.
2) MS is actually helping Mono develop Silverlight for Linux Link
Now, since they are helping a community that is actually fluent in Linux development as apposed to getting their feet dirty and then eveyone blaming them for intentionally introducing bugs to the Linux version we're now yelling "They aren't supporting Linux?" I don't like them as much as the next guy, but at least attack them on some more valid claims (OOXML perhaps)

--
Error: Sig not found.
Re:MSN messenger... by Reverend528 · 2007-09-04 12:46 · Score: 5, Funny

My friend Frank Ucker had this problem.

--
Badass Resumes
It's anti-retarded fanboy by Sycraft-fu · 2007-09-04 13:00 · Score: 4, Informative

Seriously, if your gaming handle is based around your OS, you are kinda of... Well... A jackass. Nobody gives a shit what OS you like, just play the game. It could be anti-Linux, but as you noted, it's more Kiley just anti-moron. There's not reason to make mention of OSes in handles on Live other than to start shit, which just really isn't needed.
LINUX YOU! by Sj0 · 2007-09-04 13:21 · Score: 4, Funny

LINUX YOU, YOU LINUXING LINUXERS!

I can't believe these linuxheads are doing this. linux isn't linuxing inappropriate language, linux-linux-it!

I can't believe this linux. It's linuxing insane.

--
It's been a long time.
*Sigh* by Seven001 · 2007-09-04 15:09 · Score: 5, Informative

Blizzard does the same thing in World of Warcraft. No trademarks as names.

As others have suggested, we should bash Microsoft for what they deserve to be bashed for, not stupid shit like this.
Horny not allowed. "FingeredAnus" is O.K.! by J_Omega · 2007-09-04 15:40 · Score: 5, Funny

http://amarok.kde.org/blog/archives/2007/09/04.htm l

Posted today. They pulled this guys 3-yo tag of "HornyChinchilla" because, it is assumed, they found it to be offensive.

Their filter suggested "Fingered" and completely accepted "FingeredAnus"

I'm sure that there's a joke in there somewhere about how it feels to use MS products...
It's GNU/Linux dammit by rgo · 2007-09-04 20:05 · Score: 4, Funny

Calling it Linux is an offense to the FOSS community...

At it seems even Microsoft knows that.

geez...
Re:Horny not allowed. "FingeredAnus" is O.K.! by Jesus_666 · 2007-09-04 20:27 · Score: 4, Funny

Of course we'd all be happy to play against someone called "FingeredUranus"...

--
USE HOT GRITS WITH STATUE OF NATALIE PORTMAN (NAKED AND PETRIFIED)