Name Overlap

MidbossMan

MidbossMan

Really Really Experienced
CHYOA Backer
If you were writing a story and learned that a group of spies in it shared a name with a relatively new Boston-based traditional / bluegrass music quartet, would you rethink the name or feel comfortable just going ahead with it?

Odd situation I've found myself in. :eek:
 
I would write about the spies' adventures going undercover as a relatively new Boston-based traditional / bluegrass music quartet. ("We're using our organization's real name! You call this going undercover?" "We're trying something new -- hiding in plain sight!")
 
catfish27 said:
I would write about the spies' adventures going undercover as a relatively new Boston-based traditional / bluegrass music quartet. ("We're using our organization's real name! You call this going undercover?" "We're trying something new -- hiding in plain sight!")
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The key here is relatively new. Suspicious that a Boston-based traditional / bluegrass music quartet happens to show up at this precise time...

In all seriousness, depending on how unique the name in question is, you may wish to check if it's trademarked or something, but it's probably fine to use. Extremely few readers will recognise it unless your stories tend to attract a lot of Bostoners. Even if the similarity is noticed, nobody will think you've stolen it so long as there's an obvious reason for your choice of the name, as opposed to something random.
 
insertnamehere said:
The key here is relatively new. Suspicious that a Boston-based traditional / bluegrass music quartet happens to show up at this precise time...

In all seriousness, depending on how unique the name in question is, you may wish to check if it's trademarked or something, but it's probably fine to use. Extremely few readers will recognise it unless your stories tend to attract a lot of Bostoners. Even if the similarity is noticed, nobody will think you've stolen it so long as there's an obvious reason for your choice of the name, as opposed to something random.
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And Don't Worry... Dougas Adams was QUITE sure that nobody would bother the gentleman named "Hotblack Desatio" when he stole his name for the lead singer of Disaster Area.

https://hotblackdesiato.co.uk/
 
Yeah my little story will probably never be a blip on their radar regardless, ha ha... :p

And that is a pretty dang good name for a singer in hindsight. I understand the temptation.

By the way, if you were making a somewhat goofy spy story that also features sex, would you categorize it under sci-fi for the setting, humor and satire because it's got a comedic tone, or erotic couplings because it leads to some sex?

Or miscellaneous because you can't decide? Lol
 
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MidbossMan said:
Yeah my little story will probably never be a blip on their radar regardless, ha ha... :p

And that is a pretty dang good name for a singer in hindsight. I understand the temptation.

By the way, if you were making a somewhat goofy spy story that also features sex, would you categorize it under sci-fi for the setting, humor and satire because it's got a comedic tone, or erotic couplings because it leads to some sex?

Or miscellaneous because you can't decide? Lol
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I'd honestly put it under SF, because of the setting. Especially if you were going to include the classic spy story Mad scientist bondage devices. I mean... you were going to do that, right? It's like... tradition. I honestly don't get to worried about the categories. I actually feel bad because the last story I had that got popular was a deconstruction of its category, so... I'm the WORST person to ask on this. Me and Categorization... don't really speak the same language.
 
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