[b]Name:[/b] Kyle Page
[b]Alias:[/b] Sparrow
[b]Age:[/b] 18
[b]Nationality:[/b] American
[b]Appearance:[/b] 5'10", he has dark hair and blue eyes with a slim yet muscular build.
[b]Costume:[/b] Red and blue outfit that's light-armored and flexible with a utility belt in the center. It completely covers him from the neck down, and the center has a symbol of a bird. He wears a domino mask.
[b]Powers and Abilities:[/b] Sparrow has no actual superpowers. He's an extremely skilled and agile fighter who has trained his whole life to get where he is today. Knowing a variety of different martial arts from his world travels, as well as knowledge of various weapons, and his numerous gadgets, he's still not to be underestimated in any case.
[b]Bio:[/b]
Kyle Page was born as the son of the vigilante Damon Page, known to the public as Blackbird, who primarily operated in New York City. The superhero was not exactly the most approachable man, and trained his son hard to be just like him. Though the they had wealth, Kyle was the opposite of spoiled. Some would actually call Kyle a "child soldier", but that was all he knew. It was his connection to his mother Maria did he not become stone cold like his dad. Having traveled the world learning numerous styles of martial arts and weapons under intensive training, he was able to down most grown men twice his age. Kyle began his career as a hero at only fourteen, as the sidekick to Blackbird named Sparrow. They fought alongside each other in dangerous situations, and it wasn't easy.
One day, the two eventually came to argue with each other. Sparrow resented his father for treating him like a child soldier, and Blackbird refuted that he knew it was best for him. His dream was for his son to be the next Blackbird. Sparrow wanted more than to be a measly sidekick, and the arguments led to his father firing him from the position.
It was liberation.
Sparrow wasn't going to let this be the end. He took his gadgets with him and relocated to Titan City, with the intention of starting a new hero career independent of his father. He's still in contact with his mother, who secretly finances his gadgets, but he hasn't spoke to his dad since. Sparrow has the intention of starting a team of young teenage superheroes just like him, in a place where the term "sidekick" is non-existent.
Not wanting to rain on your parade, but...
Sparrow was the name of Dark Claw's sidekick in DC versus Marvel: Amalgam... even though she would've preferred Death Urge Overdrive, which is of course besides the point.
What I want to say is, that naming your RobinClone after an official RobinClone might be a bad idea.
Could it get MWM sued? I don't know, but do you really want to tempt WB's and The Mouse's lawyers?
[url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_HUdf89hI8]Send out your signal, call in your hero
I kidnapped his lady, now his power's are zero.
[/url]
Sparrow is a pretty generic name (considering it's the name for a common bird) and a look at ComicVine tells me that there are multiple characters in different comics named Sparrow, all extremely minor. You can't copyright a name, only trademark, which involves the characters themselves. It would be impossible to attempt a lawsuit over it.
OK.
If you say so, I'll believe it... not really my field of expertise
[url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_HUdf89hI8]Send out your signal, call in your hero
I kidnapped his lady, now his power's are zero.
[/url]
Yeah if it's something generic and isn't the name of a big time character than it's okay. The names of NPCs are more restrictive, but player names aren't
not my video just one I lke ===> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6-SdIN0hsM
[CENTER][URL=http://www.nodiatis.com/personality.htm][IMG]http://www.nodiatis.com/pub/24.jpg[/IMG][/URL][/CENTER]
Does he have a martial arts of choice or a particular weapon he uses? Or any idea what archetype he may embody in CoT?
I like the idea of an unpowered team leader, and as far as the Batman-esque flavor, hammering out the details is what rpers do best :)
[CENTER][URL=http://www.nodiatis.com/personality.htm][IMG]http://www.nodiatis.com/pub/10.jpg[/IMG][/URL][/CENTER]
I knew a Sparrow....perhaps in another time....in another dimension. He had Altism (Not to be confused with autism.) As time passed we grew apart. (Granted with Mission Architect I continued his story with a dramatic turn.)
Sure you -might- get away with doing this. But if you create a "Sparrow" in CoT that also happens to look practically identical to one of the one's owned by DC and/or Marvel and it has powers that are visually identical then you are simply asking for trouble.
Again since this might be a minor enough clone you'd likely get away with it but when CoH was [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/City_of_Heroes#Lawsuit]actually sued by Marvel[/url] it was over CoH's character creator's ability to make clones of Marvel characters. If enough people like you start skirting close to the line of creating near-perfect clones of existing characters (no matter how minor) you might end up giving a DC or Marvel enough ammunition to sue this game as a whole. You personally might not get in trouble but you might inadvertently help get this game shut down or at the very least force MWM to spend a bunch of money on legal fees for frivolous lawsuits it can't afford to waste.
If you really want a character in CoT that has the exact concept you came up with why don't you do us ALL a favor and simply think of another name for it. For what it's worth I'm going to be doing my very best to make sure none of my name/concept combinations are even remotely close to anything the big name comic companies have used in the past.
CoH player from April 25, 2004 to November 30, 2012
[IMG=400x225]https://i.imgur.com/NHUthWM.jpeg[/IMG]
I think Sparrow is a fine name, personally. As long as you don't try to mimic the costume, it should be fine. I think the concept is nice, and the name is pretty generic, yet possibly bold enough for a hero.
Exactly... it's not just the name by itself. It's using the name with a character that's conceptually/visually identical to an existing IP. So if the OP's concept or costume is too close to one of the existing "Sparrows" then that'd be the problem.
The name is fine by itself, the costume/concept is fine by itself. But putting it all together is the issue here and that was the grounds Marvel tried to use when it sued CoH.
CoH player from April 25, 2004 to November 30, 2012
[IMG=400x225]https://i.imgur.com/NHUthWM.jpeg[/IMG]
I understand the problem, Lothic. However, I highly doubt the OP has ever intended to outright clone one of the various Sparrows. One of my toons almost got generic'd until it was both confirmed I had made the character before the comic came out, and at this point, he looked nothing like the comic character.
Intention is not even the problem here. A company like Marvel could potentially sue CoT even if various players only ACCIDENTALLY copied their IPs. The only reason your own character almost got generic'd was that the folks running CoH had to seriously police their own game to help prevent further lawsuits. I doubt the folks running CoT are going to see things any differently in that regard.
Such a potential lawsuit might be completely frivolous and not threaten to shut this game down at all but it would still require MWM to waste a bunch of money in legal fees that they can't afford to waste. I'd simply have MWM "waste" their money on making this game better for us instead.
CoH player from April 25, 2004 to November 30, 2012
[IMG=400x225]https://i.imgur.com/NHUthWM.jpeg[/IMG]
While I do understand the points being made as well as the 'head-ups' to the dangers of making clones or even characters that closely mimic those of Marvel, DC, and other comic companies. I personally feel it's best to at least wait until the character creator comes out, right now the character of Sparrow exists as nothing more besides a basic concept on paper. Lastly, from what the description reads I'm sure the OP will be fine given that from the descriptions listed it doesn't even remotely match the 'Sparrow' character that was created by Marvel/DC during their Amalgam Comics line.
However, it does resemble a lot of Robin and if the OP has plans to make minor/or major alterations to this said character in between now and CoT's release then all is well and good. But as it stands, I don't think alarms should be raised so early. This is all just my opinion of course and I could be wrong, but again as it stands we still are yet to see what this Sparrow looks like visually yet and we know he doesn't have powers, at least not at this time being.
"If I am to die in battle, Remember me for who I was and not what I've become..."
I wouldn't characterize my responses here as "alarms" as much as "friendly warnings" to be aware of such things. The OP literally believed that such lawsuits were "impossible" when they actually did in fact happen to CoH. If they happened once they could easily happen again. *shrugs*
CoH player from April 25, 2004 to November 30, 2012
[IMG=400x225]https://i.imgur.com/NHUthWM.jpeg[/IMG]
I see your points, Lothic. It is something to keep in mind, at least.
Images are much easier to copy write, as well as unique names. The Incredible Hulk may well have a copy write... but Thor really can't be. Nor can Unicorn, Alligator, Dove etc. It of course does not mean that Marvel won't sue in an attempt to convince you otherwise.
Marvel sued COH for "Clones" which were images of characters with their copy write protection. Not for the name Black Cat....
Lol could you imagine an American company copywriting Thor :p
[hr]
[color=red]PR, Forum Moderator[/color]
[url=http://cityoftitans.com/forum/desvipers-creative-impulsivity]My Non-Canon Backstories[/url]
Avatar by MikeNovember
I can imagine 'em trying to.
[url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_HUdf89hI8]Send out your signal, call in your hero
I kidnapped his lady, now his power's are zero.
[/url]
If they succeeded they’d have the intellectual rights to an entire weekday!
Don't give them any ideas! :(
[hr]
[color=red]PR, Forum Moderator[/color]
[url=http://cityoftitans.com/forum/desvipers-creative-impulsivity]My Non-Canon Backstories[/url]
Avatar by MikeNovember
'Thursday' brought to you by Carl's Jr...
CoH player from April 25, 2004 to November 30, 2012
[IMG=400x225]https://i.imgur.com/NHUthWM.jpeg[/IMG]
Every calendar will have to be licensed :(
[hr]
[color=red]PR, Forum Moderator[/color]
[url=http://cityoftitans.com/forum/desvipers-creative-impulsivity]My Non-Canon Backstories[/url]
Avatar by MikeNovember
Outside, it's Monday, but here, it's Thor's-day!
Native of Triumph - Victory - Protector - Gladden - Dwarrowdelf - Tribble
Broad spectrum geek and Shadowy Advisor
Yes, my [u][url=https://www.deviantart.com/revanantmorituri]art gallery[/url][/u] is almost entirely screen captures. Tough.
Oh! Oh! Can I make Balder without copyright strikes from Marvel? XD
"Science is the gift of humanity that we all should treasure."
As long as you emphasize the Aesir aspects, I would think so. Just keep the visuals as different from Marvel's as you can while still looking like a drop-dead handsome Norse god.^_^
Foradain, Mage of Phoenix Rising.
[url=https://cityoftitans.com/forum/foradains-character-conclave]Foradain's Character Conclave[/url]
.
Avatar courtesy of [s]Satellite9[/s] [url=https://www.instagram.com/irezoomie/]Irezoomie[/url]
Damn, I am from Norway and that is *cold*. Heh, get it? Cold? No? Okay.
"Science is the gift of humanity that we all should treasure."
[img]https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/americangods/images/5/54/CharPoster-S2-ShadowMoon.jpg/revision/latest/zoom-crop/width/500/height/375?cb=20190305093930[/img] =P
[url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_HUdf89hI8]Send out your signal, call in your hero
I kidnapped his lady, now his power's are zero.
[/url]
Believing in destiny is overrated.
"Science is the gift of humanity that we all should treasure."
imho "destiny" only works if its a false, self-professed destiny :p
[hr]
[color=red]PR, Forum Moderator[/color]
[url=http://cityoftitans.com/forum/desvipers-creative-impulsivity]My Non-Canon Backstories[/url]
Avatar by MikeNovember
[This is a reply to a now deleted comment]
Let me be the first to say: LOLWUT?
[url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_HUdf89hI8]Send out your signal, call in your hero
I kidnapped his lady, now his power's are zero.
[/url]
Ignore her, she might be just some troll or an idiot or random bot of course.
"Science is the gift of humanity that we all should treasure."
Aaand there goes my attempt at self censoring. =)
[url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_HUdf89hI8]Send out your signal, call in your hero
I kidnapped his lady, now his power's are zero.
[/url]
Better luck next time!
"Science is the gift of humanity that we all should treasure."
I hate to be "that guy", but I think this conversation has derailed enough by this point.
So far this thread has been updated constantly with posts that don't even relate to the OP's character. :\
"If I am to die in battle, Remember me for who I was and not what I've become..."
I get where you are coming from. I mean eh, I'll stop.
"Science is the gift of humanity that we all should treasure."
To return to the original post. Kyle and I dated back in high school. Though I doubt he remembers me all that much lol.
Talk about superhero romance!
"Science is the gift of humanity that we all should treasure."
It was such a long time ago. It was short lived but I remember good times, and donuts before we drifted apart. We had love then we fell out of it. He had other things he wanted to do. So that was it.
I get you, sometime when someone creates a great romance with someone's character, sometime it ends shortly after sadly and never last long.
"Science is the gift of humanity that we all should treasure."