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And the name of Linux will not be spoken on Xbox Live's hallowed ground photo

Thou shalt have no other Gods before Microsoft, for it is a jealous God. This would seem to be the case with Xbox Live, as news is today coming in of people getting banned from Microsoft's gaming service should the name of The 'Soft's rivals be spoken. Users who have gamertags bearing mention of Linux are being flagged for, hilariously, "inappropriate language." Both gamertags and mottos with any variation of the word Linux in them get blacklisted. I don't know if Microsoft will accept Linux Is Rubbish as a name though. Somebody should find out.

While it's Microsoft's service and I suppose they can do as they wish (their TOS clearly state you can be arbitrarily banned at Microsoft's caprice, almost), I do have to say this is rather silly behaviour, if only because it makes MS look rather threatened. Are we scared of the big bad Linux? That's how it appears if you're as sarcastic as I am. Linux fans are going to have to go elsewhere to share their Operating System love, and do please beware if you're called Mozilla Gorilla ... you could be next.

Holy crap, Mozilla Gorilla would be an awesome Gamertag.

[Via EnterpriseLinux.com, who also provided the image. Tip by Frank Sommer] 


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46 comments | showing # 1 to 46

Lowtax's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/04/2007 15:21
Lowtax
Lol? My live name is ZombieSaddam, never had any problems with that one. Why linux?
Lowtax's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/04/2007 15:21
Lowtax
Lol? My live name is ZombieSaddam, never had any problems with that one. Why linux?
V3r1n's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/04/2007 15:23
V3r1n
*changes gamer tag to Mozilla Gorilla immediately*
foxhound009's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/04/2007 15:26
foxhound009
Think they'd have problems if I'd call myself mr. sony playstation :D ... try that one out :P hehe... killing the competition
Snaileb 's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/04/2007 15:26
Snaileb
That's weak.
Skeeter's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/04/2007 15:26
Skeeter
I wonder if they'll accept the gamertag "AppleIsCrapple."
Garbz's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/04/2007 15:27
Garbz
Hahahahahaha.

Damn Microsoft make me lol at times.
lvl54spacemonkey's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/04/2007 15:27
lvl54spacemonkey
man thats sad. It kinda makes you think, like the reason games are so costly is because companies are spending money doing pointless stuff like this rather than buffering their profits with it.

That was almost paranoid of me.
ZigZagMan's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/04/2007 15:28
ZigZagMan
So someone called NiggerzhaveHIV or BluntSMoker420 are ok, but HappyLinuxMan isnt?



Oh Microsoft, you crazy cats.
foxhound009's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/04/2007 15:34
foxhound009
no it ain't weak... mr. sony playstation sounds really tough, in fact I'll use it today. :)
brainderailment's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/04/2007 15:35
brainderailment
Big Brother is watching. You paid for their service, but you shant use it if you are not simpathetic to the cause.
ZigZagMan's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/04/2007 15:35
ZigZagMan
Also, can't call your self Spaz on PSN network, but that's slightly more understandable if a little over PC.
invisible universe's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/04/2007 15:38
invisible universe
I read this right after I finish installing Ubuntu on my PS3. Sweet irony!
Cyberxion's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/04/2007 15:40
Cyberxion
Hmn. So um...what? I get the fact that Microsoft can do whatever they please in regards to their services and whatnot, but what I don't get is why. What's the damage?

Gah, my brain asplode.
Sharpless's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/04/2007 15:41
Sharpless
Not to be "that guy," but they've been doing this sort of thing for a while. I forget the previous posts about it, but other sites have reported such nonsensical banned terms. I wish I could remember them, I recall a few were quite a hoot.

And yeah, they suck at banning people for things they should be banned for. My old Halo 2 clan made a bunch of two-month accounts with incredibly racist names and went whoring for bad feedback in game lobbies. All any of them ever got was a two-week ban from using the mic. The names were never once banned.
DeusPayne's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/04/2007 15:41
DeusPayne
THIS IS ALL A PLOY FOR M$ HATRED. It's a standard filter. They don't allow MANY MANY MANY pronouns and corporate names. You can't even use Microsoft. So, the fact that people are jumping down M$s throat without actually knowing WHY the word "Linux" is not allowed, is just proof that people don't care about the facts, and are willing to jump on the bandwaggon of hating M$ just because it's the 'cool' thing to do.

Props to those that hated M$ before it was cool. Respec.
Joe Burling's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/04/2007 15:41
Joe Burling
Sounds like a problem with the flux capacitor.
Antimat3r's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/04/2007 15:44
Antimat3r
that reminds me of when LOTR online said Elrond Hubbard was inappropriate language ( I thought it would b a bangin name for an elf)...these people have to get their act together and crack down on the real criminals here!
masterledz's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/04/2007 15:45
masterledz
I also hear you get banned by Microsoft for "PS3Phanboi4lyfe".

Actually, that's everywhere.
bluemeep's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/04/2007 15:47
bluemeep
Dude. Dude. Make a guild/group/team/whatever and call it...The Mozilla Gorilla Flotilla. That'd be awesome!
foxhound009's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/04/2007 15:47
foxhound009
It's a hate crime....
Monkeycat's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/04/2007 16:04
Monkeycat
I would expect no less.
Neonie's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/04/2007 16:04
Neonie
I lofuckingl'd
jerrt's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/04/2007 16:14
jerrt
old news or not this is still funny. i do believe they are a little threatened. oh and mozilla gorilla is full of bad assery. love it.

oh, and this is another reason why i don't like microsoft much.
PraiseChaos's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/04/2007 16:25
PraiseChaos
This doesn't really surprise me. It's wonder if they'd flag the tag "BSD Boy"...
Fading Star's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/04/2007 16:33
Fading Star
This is ridiculous. I guess that I won't be able to use "FirefoxburnsIE" as screenname. Now that is a weak joke.
taumpytears's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/04/2007 16:50
taumpytears
Microsoft is so rasict.
linuxguy's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/04/2007 17:18
linuxguy
sorry linus no xbox live for you
wonder if stallman has an xbox
vexed alex's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/04/2007 17:24
vexed alex
That's fucked up. You should at last get the chance to change your tag. I mean, if I was to be banned for that crap, it'd leave a bad taste in my mouth for sure. $50 down the shit hole for that? I'd probably might goes as far as refuse to buy anything from live, including the subscription. Threaten here and there to move to PS3 (even though that could never happen [brokeass])

Who knows. Maybe they do if you call up costumer service. I would imagine not for racial names, but for something as stupid as this, common.
THE ROADIE's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/04/2007 17:33
THE ROADIE
Reminds me of Segas crazy word filter system for Phantasy Star Universe. Apparently the word Basement is bad language lmao.
Danmartigan's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/04/2007 17:38
Danmartigan
Arrrrrrr. I hate you so damn much, Microsoft! Keep your damn Microsoftness out of my gaming consoles!
A New Challenger's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/04/2007 17:44
A New Challenger
As reported, Microsoft and Windows are also banned.

According to Joel Johnson on BB Gadgets, though, Nintendo, Sony, and Playstation are all allowable.

No word on "Ron Mexico" however.
tsunamikitsune's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/04/2007 18:30
tsunamikitsune
I'm surprised nobody has taken Mozilla Gorilla yet. XD
SuperDave's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/04/2007 18:32
SuperDave
Hmm. *considers changing gamertag to PSTripleYo for the hell of it*
Calla's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/04/2007 18:59
Calla
changing name to "ApplePlaystationWiiLinuchsFTW"
Dhaos's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/04/2007 19:08
Dhaos
soon you won't be able to use names from ps3 exclusives. Sory to all the snakes out there
LostCrichton's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/04/2007 19:26
LostCrichton
Mozilla Gorilla is a great gamertag...lol. But that's kinda fucked up for Microsoft to hinder names like that.
SpiderChrist's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/04/2007 19:53
SpiderChrist
But what if my name is John Linux?! shouldnt i be allowes to go by my own name?!
Extreme_Drunk's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/04/2007 19:59
Extreme_Drunk
He should name himself BIN BASH and call it a day.
JonDarkwood's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/04/2007 20:36
JonDarkwood
@Dhaos: but snake ISn'T exCluSive my UnclE WORKS for Konj1ma and He SEz dat MGS4 Is gun 2 B on x bawks!1one
Wedge's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/04/2007 20:55
Wedge
My boyfriend was trying to name characters in the new Worms for PSP yesterday, and it wouldn't allow "Muffins" because it had "Muff" in it, or "Tycho" because it had "ho". HOW MANY THINGS HAVE "ho" IN THEM? Also if you put a space or any character in-between, it didn't care. Worst filter I've ever seen.
Jim Sterling's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/04/2007 20:59
Jim Sterling
Ha, that's weird. My Worms team is called The Decepticocks. Wonder how that got through.
Boolean's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/04/2007 21:05
Boolean
I still can't figure out why the word 'sucks' and 'hell' are filterd words on the MS forums =/
Deth's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/04/2007 23:06
Deth
The same thing happened to my buddy. You are not banned from live, just the name is banned, so they make you choose another before they let you sign on.

BTW- His GT was "OsamaforPres08" and he changed it to something very similar and it let him sign on.

Cheers!
geronimo's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/05/2007 03:08
geronimo
I love that you can't have "nekkid" in your motto either.
nightmareci's Avatar - Comment posted on 09/05/2007 19:22
nightmareci
@ linuxguy
I believe I read somewhere Stallman stated he won't buy a computer (consoles are computers, at the core) if it can't run FSF-approved Free Software, so the only system he *might* buy would be a GP2X with Open2X firmware.

I've experienced a weird MS block in the past, when I tried sending a .ogg file to a friend via MSN (pre-Windows Live), and it said the file was "dangerous" or something in that vein, when it was just a music file in an open format... strange. If any of you want to read up on why Microsoft is so scared of Linux and other open OS's, just Google up "Halloween Documents", very interesting read.
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