An Ultima Online guild web page went dark earlier this week after a game developer's alleged legal threats challenged the group's right to use its name and logo online.

　　Steve Jackson, the president of Steve Jackson Games, makers of role-playing games Gurps, Carwars, and Autoduel, allegedly sent a letter to the leader of The Illuminati, a 45-member unofficial Ultima Online guild, earlier this week, claiming he had trademarked the name Illuminati. Jackson requested the group cease using the name.

　　Jackson's letter to the Illuminati Guild Master, who requested anonymity, reads in part, "Sorry, guys, but 'Illuminati' and the eye-in-pyramid are registered trademarks for all gaming purposes, definitely including online. You must not stick 'Illuminati' into Ultima Online, and you ABSOLUTELY must not rip off the IO eye-in-pyramid as a guild symbol."

　　Shortly thereafter, a similar letter was allegedly sent to the guild's Internet Service Provider, Netcom On-Line, which was hosting The Illuminati's web page. At press time, that page was not accessible. Further, the official Ultima Online page removed the link to The Illuminati guild page.

　　Though Jackson may have trademarked the name, he was not the first to use it. The Illuminati, also known as the Ancient Order of Bavarian Seers, is a centuries-old religious sect shrouded in mystery a la the Knights Templar or the Freemasons. Mark Pace, webmaster for the Illuminati web site and an Illuminati member, said that Jackson is overstepping his bounds. "He's going to have some trouble in court if he can't prove he used it first," said Pace.

　　Ultima Online representative Teresa Potts said that Origin had removed the link even though linking to guild sites does not denote responsibility for the content on those sites. "Hopefully they can resolve it between themseves," she said.

　　A Steve Jackson Games representative said that Jackson refused comment for this story on the grounds that he was waiting for advice from his attorney. Neither Illuminati guild members nor Netcom representatives could be reached for comment.