Deletion of 'fake' Cosplay Accounts by facebook annoys users

The sudden decision of leading social networking site Facebook to delete several Cosplay Accounts, in which a person having account can dress up as their favourite comic book, film or TV characters with their false names, overnight, has annoyed users.

Cosplay, a short form of Costume Play, is believed to be one of the driving forces of the entertainment industry presently, as it fills seats at comic book, film and television conventions and fills message boards online with images, competitions and discussions.

American cosplayer Iggy Tissera said his account was deactivated because he used a false name.

"The name on my Facebook account was Iggy Cosplay. It was probably removed because of the name on the account," News.com.au quoted Tissera, as saying.

Facebook's terms of service states that it reserves the right to remove or delete the accounts of people who use fake names.

Tissera, a law graduate who loves dressing up as The Joker and Harvey Two Face from The Dark Knight, said he lost over 3000 contacts when his account was deleted by Facebook.

"I feel very frustrated and incredibly aggravated about my account being removed. What irritates me, and I assume several others who lost their cosplay accounts, is the loss of photos and contacts," Tissera said.

"I had nearly three years worth of data that I am now trying to recollect and reconnect. A clearly displayed," he added.

Tiserra also claimed his account not violating any other Facebook terms of use.

User ValNika, aid: "I NEVER got a warning. I've had my account for two years and now its just gone. I had 600 friends and thousands of tagged photos and they're gone. I would've changed my name had I known."

Professor Bruce Arnold, Copyright lecturer at the University of Canberra, said that it was likely Facebook was targeting cosplayers due to unfounded concerns for copyright and using their real names policy as an excuse.

-With inputs from ANI