How you file a TOS violation report like this...

It's a new day, it's a new dawn.

Well, lending an account even to a family member is in itself against the ToS, but this is why you should closely monitor anyone who uses an account of yours.
Transfer, name change, everything, is the best you can do atm

You don't have to jump to Europe or Japan. There are three North American data centers. You are on Crystal so you can transfer to Aether or Primal.

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Originally Posted by KatMesuneko

Also, with giving him permission and password to my account, where in the TOS is that a violation for my own records.

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Transferring, selling or sharing an account is strictly prohibited. A SQUARE ENIX account should only be accessed and used by the original user. Account information should never be given to any individual outside of your legal guardian, a minor in your care, or a SQUARE ENIX Support Center representative.

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Originally Posted by KatMesuneko

Probably prohibited for this very reason of what is happening. I wasn't planning on returning to FF because of the Corona Virus situation, I had to look for work again. And if they banned everyone sharing an account with a friend or family member, FF would drop %20 in numbers I'd imagine.

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We would require a source on these numbers. I've played MMOs for 15+ years and I've never shared my account in any of them, even as a mentally underdeveloped teenager I understood that if I shared my account with someone and they intentionally or accidentally deleted an item or gear, or worse, violated a rule in the ToS I would not be able to get it back because I'd have no way of proving to the GMs who was behind the keyboard at the time.

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Originally Posted by KatMesuneko

because yea I'm being BULLIED, but I violated a TOS violation - So does this cancel out each other enough for me to transfer?

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Not really. The people harrassing you are violating the ToS, so that warrants an account suspension on their accounts. You violated the ToS by sharing your account, so that warrants an account suspension on your account. Account suspension + Account suspension = 2x Account suspension. They don't cancel each other out.

On regards to your current problem, no, data center transfer will not solve your problem because we are getting free data center transfer in a few months. Whoever is bullying you can just follow you after that point. You would need both a data center transfer AND a name change and even then, seeing as how dedicated the people bullying you are, they might still track you down.

So the best thing you can do is think how in hindsight it wasn't such a good idea to break the ToS to share the account with someone immature or irresponsible enough to provoke an entire FC into harrassing him and in the meantime ignore them, since from your version of the events it seems that they've taken you for a lolcow, so they'll eventually get bored.

Honestly once you black list them all what can they really do? If they follow you around emoting. Report them. If they makes alts with which to harass you, report them. And simply keep reporting these instances until they end up banned. I would never let myself be run off my own server because some people think they can bully me out of it. Make sure you have timestamps on in your chat to make is easier when you are reporting these things.

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Originally Posted by Aelin_Ashryver

Honestly once you black list them all what can they really do? If they follow you around emoting. Report them. If they makes alts with which to harass you, report them. And simply keep reporting these instances until they end up banned. I would never let myself be run off my own server because some people think they can bully me out of it. Make sure you have timestamps on in your chat to make is easier when you are reporting these things.

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That doesn't work that well currently because now we have trial accounts. The people harrassing her can just make new trial accounts over and over without ever compromising their main accounts.

First of all, yourself broke the TOS by sharing the account.

As for your in-game problem, there isn't a thing such as "stealing" a character identity. The character creation is pretty limited but you can always change name.

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Originally Posted by lezard21

That doesn't work that well currently because now we have trial accounts. The people harrassing her can just make new trial accounts over and over without ever compromising their main accounts.

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That's a lot of effort. Sad people do sad things I spose. But if they initially did all this bullying on their mains, which I would bet they did. I would say still to report those main characters. I just hope OP thought to take some screenies to remember dates and what was all said.

Regardless, Novice Network is easily avoided and so is say chat etc. I have a chat box purely for party and fc chat for example. If they want to follow OP about I say let them waste their time and carry on your merry way. Better to show them that you could care less what they do, than move server and let them feel good about chasing you off. They won't keep it up forever.

I had an individual and his FC members harassing me for hours at a housing placard the other day. Emote spam, trade requests, mount on placard etc. I just put in a ticket and updated it as the night went on. The person even used his emotes to do his best imitation of a Nazi salute.. le sigh. Setting myself on busy put a stop to the trade requests. And more fool them, so busy were they at harassing they missed the house anyway xD

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Originally Posted by Liam_Harper

Transferring, selling or sharing an account is strictly prohibited. A SQUARE ENIX account should only be accessed and used by the original user. Account information should never be given to any individual outside of your legal guardian, a minor in your care, or a SQUARE ENIX Support Center representative.

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If it's anything like other MMOs, don't even need to give it to SE, they can log you in without it

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Originally Posted by KatMesuneko

I've reported the person stealing my character's name and identity. I feel the GMs did something because now I can't even talk or go anywhere without seeing the same (from above, Third Party insults. I've blacklisted several of them, even found which FC it was in after some investigation. What do I do? Do I write reports of all the times I speak, and right after tell the GMs what these other people are saying. This is kinda spooky seeing this after 5 months after the incident. I just want to play FF14 and help people where I can and not have these weird people saying the same things after every time I speak.

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There's no such thing as stealing your character's name and identity. You don't own them.

The GMs aren't going to do anything other than enforce any ToS violations. You're getting a bit paranoid if you're trying to assign blame to the GMs for anything that is happening.

There's no rule against someone else repeating things you say. If they're copying your style and not your brother's, it sounds a lot like their problem is with you and not him.

Blacklisting the player will block everything the other player says from your chat. Sounds like you haven't blacklisted them as you claim.

If the other players are truly trolling over you because things your brother did, the best thing to do is not react. Ignore them. IF they don't get a response, they'll get bored and go do other things.

If they cross the line and do things that actually break the TOS, report that. Stop reporting the stuff that isn't against the TOS (like "copying my look and style"). The more you open tickets for petty reasons, the less likely GMs will do anything other than go "omg not this player again, into the round file it goes". Then when you have a genuine problem that does need their assistance, you're going to have a harder time getting help.

If they're bothering you that much, your best bet is to transfer to a different data center to break the connection. Your peace of mind is worth far more than the cost of the transfer fee. If you have friends on your current world that you wish to play with, you can create a new character instead. It's easy to level new characters once you know the game and you can always transfer gil from your current character to help the new one get some of the things you'd like it to have.

Technically, impersonation falls under 3.4:

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3.4 Impersonation. You may not impersonate any person or entity or fraudulently hold yourself out as a Square Enix employee, representative, or any other Square Enix-connected person or being affiliated with any such person or entity. This means you cannot log into someone else's account, or deceive or mislead other people as to your identity. For your own safety, we encourage users to safeguard their privacy, remain anonymous, and never give out personal information to other users.

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It depends on how broadly SE or any particular GM wants to enforce this. However, relevant to this, as stated in prior posts, account sharing is also a violation:

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3.1 Sharing Account Information. You may not share your account or login information (such as your Square Enix ID and password) with anyone except your legal guardian, your minor child, or Square Enix. You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account and login information, even from your friends and family. If you violate this provision, you may unexpectedly lose access to your account to a third party without recourse against Square Enix. Square Enix will not be obliged to credit your Square Enix Account with Crysta or other points or awards, which may have been used by a third party as a result of the violation of this clause.

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https://support.na.square-enix.com/r...1&tag=users_en

In addition, this sort of behavior may also be interpreted as "Nuisance behaviour".

https://support.na.square-enix.com/f...la=1&kid=68216

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Nuisance behaviour
"Nuisance behaviour" means speech or behaviour that hurts others or obstructs game play, but which is not classified as harassment. Even if it was not the intention, a penalty may be imposed if the end result was that another person was hurt or obstructed.

Below is a non-exhaustive list of examples of nuisance behaviour:

[...]

Impersonation
"Impersonation" means impersonating or fraudulently claiming to be other players, SQUARE ENIX employees, or any third parties. This could involve using a name that resembles the character name, Free Company name, etc. or is used by another person, or using a name that is the same as or similar to the name of a Square Enix staff member.

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You've already outlined your case on the official forums, so if the GMs were so inclined they could take action against you right now for admitting to account sharing.
The fact that someone else is impersonating your character is also worthy of the ban hammer, but given that your acct will likely be suspended at the minimum (if not outright terminated), the only real recourse I can suggest is have someone else whom you trust in game contact Square Enix and lay bare the details of the impersonation.

Just be prepared to lose your acct altogether. Regardless of either outcome you will not know the results of any action SE may take against the other party.

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Originally Posted by SturmChurro

Technically, impersonation falls under 3.4:

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3.4 Impersonation. You may not impersonate any person or entity or fraudulently hold yourself out as a Square Enix employee, representative, or any other Square Enix-connected person or being affiliated with any such person or entity. This means you cannot log into someone else's account, or deceive or mislead other people as to your identity. For your own safety, we encourage users to safeguard their privacy, remain anonymous, and never give out personal information to other users.

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The main question with articale 3.4 is: Does SE count FF14 players as "Square Enix-connected person", or do they use this article only towards those who impersonates SE staff specifically? Depending on answer to this question, players harassing OP may or may not fall under punishment for breaking this rule.

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Originally Posted by Halivel

The main question with articale 3.4 is: Does SE count FF14 players as "Square Enix-connected person", or do they use this article only towards those who impersonates SE staff specifically? Depending on answer to this question, players harassing OP may or may not fall under punishment for breaking this rule.

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I further edited my original post. I believe it does, as it is specifically outlined as part of 'nuisance behavior'.

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Prohibitions in Final Fantasy XIV

■Prohibited Behaviour in Final Fantasy XIV
In Final Fantasy XIV, obstructive behaviour that has an adverse impact on other users' game play and on service operation is prohibited. Such behaviour violates the Final Fantasy XIV User Agreement and Square Enix Account Terms of Use, and may violate other Square Enix policies or terms of use, including the Final Fantasy XIV Forum Guidelines. If a violation is confirmed as a result of our investigation, Square Enix may, in its sole discretion, apply a penalty to the relevant Final Fantasy XIV service account. Please refer to "Account Penalty Policy" for details of the penalties.

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https://support.na.square-enix.com/f...la=1&kid=68216

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Impersonation
"Impersonation" means impersonating or fraudulently claiming to be other players, SQUARE ENIX employees, or any third parties. This could involve using a name that resembles the character name, Free Company name, etc. or is used by another person, or using a name that is the same as or similar to the name of a Square Enix staff member.

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Depending on what was actually said in their chat interactions it may fall under 'Offensive Expression' as well:

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Offensive expression
"Offensive expression" means an expression in general that inflicts emotional distress by being offensive to another person. Offensive expression may include:

・Aggressive expressions such as violent language/slander/insult/threat.
・Expressions that provoke or belittle another person, such as excessive criticism, negation/ridicule
・Expressions that significantly lack consideration for another person
・Expressions that unilaterally reject another person's opinion
・Expressions that any reasonable person would find offensive
・Expressions that compel a playing style
・Expressions that attempt to unilaterally exclude someone from the game or content/community, etc.
(Except when in accordance with rules set by an administrator such as a Free Company Master)
・Expressions that contravene public order and morals
・Other expressions that are offensive to another person

Offensive expressions are prohibited in all places where expressions can be made in Final Fantasy XIV, including chat (including Quick Chat and Emote), markers, comments and names. Use of an offensive expression in the form of a character name is also regarded as nuisance behaviour.

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Originally Posted by SturmChurro

I further edited my original post. I believe it does, as it is specifically outlined as part of "nuisance behavior".



https://support.na.square-enix.com/f...la=1&kid=68216



Depending on what was actually said in their chat interactions it may fall under 'Offensive Expression' as well:

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Thanks, I always forget that ToS is divided in several pages and usually look at the main one. Well, OP has full right to fill a proper report since this is the case.

I think a lot of you are confused as to what falls under impersonation.

First of all, you can't copy a player's name. Character creation will tell you that name is already in use in that World and you will have to change it, for example Kat' Mesuneko. Just that little ' already disqualifies an impersonation claim, even if the character is of the same race, job and wears the same glamours as you. You don't own any of those things.

However, impersonation would be if Kat' Mesuneko would start telling people "I am Kat Mesuneko's alt" when in reality they weren't. That is reportable and in violation with the ToS.

On a side note, I was bored and did a player search on Zalera and OP is the only Kat Mesuneko I could find. Soooo either something is being left out or some facts are being distorted.

the best you can do is what has been suggested. one does have to wonder though is what kind of fc they were, and what was done to them to put in this much effort to target the character.

if you have some moral obligation to stay on Crystal, try a name change and spending very little time on Zalera... may help, not sure

Wait

Is this your main? Why did you let them play your main and not make their own character?

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Originally Posted by TaleraRistain

Wait

Is this your main? Why did you let them play your main and not make their own character?

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On top of that… what did your brother do? I hope you’ve put him through the ringer for ruining your rep like that…

Step 1) ignore the history. It’s not relevant to the problem now. Ignore the name swap stuff.

Step 2) File harassment reports exactly as they happen from here on out (take screenshots). If they say things to you that are inappropriate, stalk you or otherwise hurl insults, report away.

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Originally Posted by SturmChurro

Technically, impersonation falls under 3.4:


https://support.na.square-enix.com/r...1&tag=users_en

In addition, this sort of behavior may also be interpreted as "Nuisance behaviour".

https://support.na.square-enix.com/f...la=1&kid=68216

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Oh I always thought they meant impersonate GM or something like that but I guess players as well?

Copying and impersonation are two different things. Impersonation would include attempts to make others believe the impersonator is the real person for some advantage (or I guess player character in this case).

I haven't seen the OP mention enough to establish that they're actively trying to impersonate his/her character. Depending on how the copying is being done, it could be harassment through nuisance behavior but we still don't have enough information.

Ultimately it's something the GMs have to arbitrate. It's not something that can be handled through the forums.

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Originally Posted by lezard21

On a side note, I was bored and did a player search on Zalera and OP is the only Kat Mesuneko I could find. Soooo either something is being left out or some facts are being distorted.

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OP did say they are using the old character name.

Remember if they ever added you to their friend list they can follow you even if you change data centers. It's says unavailable over your name but pretty sure it turns in to your name the moment data center travel comes.
They can also follow you on the lodestone.

Hiding in this game is pretty hard if not impossible without creating a new account.

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Originally Posted by Sotaris

Oh I always thought they meant impersonate GM or something like that but I guess players as well?

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With how it's written, I'd say yes. I think many players would be surprised with how broad the ToS actually is.