{ "batch": "71-legal-name-leaks", "articles": [ { "id": "learn_r71_legal_name_leaks_71_paypal_privacy_what_recipients_see", "category": "Safety", "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Payment apps — what the payer/recipient sees on a personal PayPal account", "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] When a personal PayPal account receives a payment, the payer sees the recipient's name, profile pic or avatar, and email unless the recipient has opted to hide them; the recipient sees the payer's name, profile pic or avatar, amount received, comments, and shipping address if paying for goods or services.", "body": "When a personal PayPal account receives a payment, the payer sees the recipient's name, profile pic or avatar, and email unless the recipient has opted to hide them; the recipient sees the payer's name, profile pic or avatar, amount received, comments, and shipping address if paying for goods or services.\n\nWhat PayPal, Inc. actually says:\n\n“What payers see when they pay you: When someone wants to pay you or you request payment, the payer will see: Your name, profile pic or avatar, and email—unless you've opted to hide; The amount requested. What recipients see when you pay them: The recipient will see: Your name, profile pic or avatar, amount received, and your comments; Your shipping address, if you're paying for goods or services.”\n\nNote: LEAK: personal PayPal — legal name visible to counterparty by default. CLOSE: upgrade to a business account and set a business name in Profile/business settings; the business name then replaces the personal name for payers. The Privacy Statement (July 2026) confirms: 'Based on your account settings, the information shown to other Users may include your username, profile photo, first and last name, email, phone number, city and state, month and year of PayPal account creation.' Setting profile to Private reduces some disclosure. A PayPal business profile publicly displays 'your name or business name' to anyone with internet access to the profile link.", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://www.paypal.com/us/privacy-center/privacy-practices", "last_verified": "2026-09-03", "reliability": "VERIFIED RULE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "PayPal, Inc.", "evidence_quote": "What payers see when they pay you: When someone wants to pay you or you request payment, the payer will see: Your name, profile pic or avatar, and email—unless you've opted to hide; The amount requested. What recipients see when you pay them: The recipient will see: Your name, profile pic or avatar, amount received, and your comments; Your shipping address, if you're paying for goods or services.", "volatility": "medium", "from_batch": "71-legal-name-leaks", "subject": "PayPal — personal account", "topic": "Payment apps — what the payer/recipient sees on a personal PayPal account", "applies_to_country": "US", "applies_to_scope": "PayPal US privacy practices page; behaviour may vary by locale", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "us" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" }, "verification": { "status": "unverified", "label": "Unverified - being checked", "reasons": [ "legal_fetch_over_cap" ], "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z" } }, { "id": "learn_r71_legal_name_leaks_71_paypal_privacy_business_name_replaces_legal", "category": "Safety", "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Payment apps — business name replaces legal name for payers", "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] PayPal business account holders can display a business name instead of their personal legal name to payers; the business contact name (personal legal name) is stored internally and not displayed to buyers, but the business profile's name, profile picture or logo, and city are shown publicly to all users.", "body": "PayPal business account holders can display a business name instead of their personal legal name to payers; the business contact name (personal legal name) is stored internally and not displayed to buyers, but the business profile's name, profile picture or logo, and city are shown publicly to all users.\n\nWhat PayPal, Inc. actually says:\n\n“Other Users if you have a business profile: If you have a business profile, we will display a payment link and disclose certain information about you to other Users, including your name or business name, profile picture or logo, and the city associated with your PayPal account, as well as total time selling with us, total number of followers, and total number of unique Users that have paid you in the past year.”\n\nNote: CLOSE: create a PayPal business account and enter a business/stage name as the business name in account settings. The business name replaces the legal name for all payer-facing views. The business contact name (legal name) remains internal. Action required: set business name in Profile → Business Information. Also set the PayPal.me username to the business name to avoid leaking the personal name through the URL.", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://www.paypal.com/us/legalhub/paypal/privacy-full", "last_verified": "2026-09-03", "reliability": "VERIFIED RULE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "PayPal, Inc.", "evidence_quote": "Other Users if you have a business profile: If you have a business profile, we will display a payment link and disclose certain information about you to other Users, including your name or business name, profile picture or logo, and the city associated with your PayPal account, as well as total time selling with us, total number of followers, and total number of unique Users that have paid you in the past year.", "volatility": "medium", "from_batch": "71-legal-name-leaks", "subject": "PayPal — business account", "topic": "Payment apps — business name replaces legal name for payers", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "Global PayPal", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" }, "verification": { "status": "unverified", "label": "Unverified - being checked", "reasons": [ "legal_fetch_over_cap" ], "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z" } }, { "id": "learn_r71_legal_name_leaks_71_kofi_paypal_legal_name_leak", "category": "Safety", "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Payment apps — Ko-fi supporter paying via personal PayPal exposes legal name to creator", "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] When a Ko-fi supporter pays with PayPal using a personal account, PayPal shares their legal name and email with the creator inside the PayPal dashboard; a business account lets the supporter choose what name and email are displayed.", "body": "When a Ko-fi supporter pays with PayPal using a personal account, PayPal shares their legal name and email with the creator inside the PayPal dashboard; a business account lets the supporter choose what name and email are displayed.\n\nWhat Ko-fi Help Centre actually says:\n\n“When a supporter pays with PayPal, PayPal shares their legal name and email with the creator inside the PayPal dashboard. If a supporter uses a business account, they can choose what name and email are displayed.”\n\nNote: LEAK direction: supporter → creator (the creator's legal name is also visible to the supporter via the PayPal transaction, per the PayPal privacy practice page above). For creator privacy: use a PayPal business account with a stage name. For supporter privacy: use a PayPal business account or pay by card via Stripe. Ko-fi's own help page also states: 'Stripe provides creators with your name, email and part of your address in addition to other normal information merchants are able to view.'", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://help.ko-fi.com/hc/en-us/articles/360013140633-Supporter-payments-FAQ", "last_verified": "2026-09-03", "reliability": "VERIFIED RULE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Ko-fi Help Centre", "evidence_quote": "When a supporter pays with PayPal, PayPal shares their legal name and email with the creator inside the PayPal dashboard. If a supporter uses a business account, they can choose what name and email are displayed.", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "71-legal-name-leaks", "subject": "Ko-fi / PayPal integration", "topic": "Payment apps — Ko-fi supporter paying via personal PayPal exposes legal name to creator", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "Global Ko-fi; applies to any PayPal-connected creator platform", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" }, "verification": { "status": "unverified", "label": "Unverified - being checked", "reasons": [ "legal_fetch_over_cap" ], "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z" } }, { "id": "learn_r71_legal_name_leaks_71_kofi_stripe_legal_name_leak", "category": "Safety", "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Payment apps — Ko-fi supporter paying by card via Stripe exposes name and partial address to creator", "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] When a Ko-fi supporter pays using a card through Stripe, Stripe provides the creator with the supporter's name, email, and part of their address, in addition to other normal information merchants can view.", "body": "When a Ko-fi supporter pays using a card through Stripe, Stripe provides the creator with the supporter's name, email, and part of their address, in addition to other normal information merchants can view.\n\nWhat Ko-fi Help Centre actually says:\n\n“When they pay using their card, Stripe captures the same information it would for a normal e-commerce transaction. Details such as their legal name, email address, bank, and a portion of the address the card is registered to are available to the Stripe account holder.”\n\nNote: LEAK direction: supporter → creator. The supporter's legal name as it appears on their card is passed to the creator's Stripe dashboard. No action available on the supporter's side to replace their card name — the name on the card is the card's legal cardholder name. Supporters concerned about this must use a card in a business/stage name or use PayPal business account.", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://help.ko-fi.com/hc/en-us/articles/12284014348189-What-personal-information-is-shared-on-Ko-fi-as-supporter", "last_verified": "2026-09-03", "reliability": "VERIFIED RULE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Ko-fi Help Centre", "evidence_quote": "When they pay using their card, Stripe captures the same information it would for a normal e-commerce transaction. Details such as their legal name, email address, bank, and a portion of the address the card is registered to are available to the Stripe account holder.", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "71-legal-name-leaks", "subject": "Ko-fi / Stripe integration", "topic": "Payment apps — Ko-fi supporter paying by card via Stripe exposes name and partial address to creator", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "Global Ko-fi/Stripe integration", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" }, "verification": { "status": "unverified", "label": "Unverified - being checked", "reasons": [ "legal_fetch_over_cap" ], "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z" } }, { "id": "learn_r71_legal_name_leaks_71_stripe_statement_descriptor_merchant_controls", "category": "Safety", "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Card statement descriptors — Stripe merchant controls what appears on buyer's bank statement", "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Stripe's static statement descriptor (set by the merchant in the Dashboard) appears on all customer card and bank statements; it must be between 5 and 22 characters, reflect the merchant's Doing Business As (DBA) name, and can be set to any valid string the merchant chooses — it does not have to be the owner's legal name.", "body": "Stripe's static statement descriptor (set by the merchant in the Dashboard) appears on all customer card and bank statements; it must be between 5 and 22 characters, reflect the merchant's Doing Business As (DBA) name, and can be set to any valid string the merchant chooses — it does not have to be the owner's legal name.\n\nWhat Stripe, Inc. actually says:\n\n“When you set up your Stripe account, you can set a single statement descriptor (static statement descriptor) that appears on all customer statements ... A complete statement descriptor ... must meet the following requirements: Contains only Latin characters. Contains between 5 and 22 characters, inclusive. Contains at least one letter ... Reflects your Doing Business As (DBA) name.”\n\nNote: CLOSE: the creator sets their own Stripe statement descriptor. By using a stage name or DBA as the statement descriptor, the creator's legal name does not appear on the buyer's bank statement. Stripe enforces that the descriptor 'reflects your DBA name' — a stage name used as a DBA qualifies. The descriptor must not be a common generic term only. The buyer's bank statement will show the descriptor the merchant chose, not the merchant's legal name.", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://docs.stripe.com/get-started/account/statement-descriptors", "last_verified": "2026-09-03", "reliability": "VERIFIED RULE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Stripe, Inc.", "evidence_quote": "When you set up your Stripe account, you can set a single statement descriptor (static statement descriptor) that appears on all customer statements ... A complete statement descriptor ... must meet the following requirements: Contains only Latin characters. Contains between 5 and 22 characters, inclusive. Contains at least one letter ... Reflects your Doing Business As (DBA) name.", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "71-legal-name-leaks", "subject": "Stripe — statement descriptor", "topic": "Card statement descriptors — Stripe merchant controls what appears on buyer's bank statement", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "Global Stripe; statement descriptor requirements apply to card networks", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" }, "verification": { "status": "unverified", "label": "Unverified - being checked", "reasons": [ "legal_fetch_over_cap" ], "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z" } }, { "id": "learn_r71_legal_name_leaks_71_onlyfans_statement_descriptor_buyer", "category": "Safety", "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Card statement descriptors — what appears on the buyer's bank statement for OnlyFans charges", "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] OnlyFans charges appear on buyer bank and credit card statements as 'ONLYFANS.COM' (with various letter suffixes such as *A, *B, -G) or 'CCBill.com *OnlyFans' or 'Fenix International'; creator names do not appear on buyer statements.", "body": "OnlyFans charges appear on buyer bank and credit card statements as 'ONLYFANS.COM' (with various letter suffixes such as *A, *B, -G) or 'CCBill.com *OnlyFans' or 'Fenix International'; creator names do not appear on buyer statements.\n\nWhat Privacy.com actually says:\n\n“OnlyFans charges show up directly as \"ONLYFANS.COM\" on your bank or credit card statement, often with a letter suffix like \"ONLYFANS.COM*A\" or \"ONLYFANS.COM*B.\" Some banks may also show \"CCBill.com *OnlyFans.\" Either way, the name \"OnlyFans\" is clearly visible to anyone who looks at your statement ... No. OnlyFans doesn't display a creator's name on statements. Instead, charges appear with a generic descriptor containing \"OnlyFans,\" with no creator-specific identifiers.”\n\nNote: PLATFORM visible to buyer — 'OnlyFans' or 'Fenix International'. CREATOR NAME not visible. This is a subscriber-privacy concern (viewer's statement shows OnlyFans), not a creator-legal-name leak to subscribers. No action available by the creator to change what appears on subscriber statements — it is set by the platform. Note: Tier B source (privacy.com blog), included because no primary OnlyFans ToS or help page was found that explicitly states the statement descriptor; this is the best available evidence.", "source_type": "research", "source_link": "https://www.privacy.com/blog/hide-onlyfans-bank-statement", "last_verified": "2026-09-03", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "B", "source_publisher": "Privacy.com", "evidence_quote": "OnlyFans charges show up directly as \"ONLYFANS.COM\" on your bank or credit card statement, often with a letter suffix like \"ONLYFANS.COM*A\" or \"ONLYFANS.COM*B.\" Some banks may also show \"CCBill.com *OnlyFans.\" Either way, the name \"OnlyFans\" is clearly visible to anyone who looks at your statement ... No. OnlyFans doesn't display a creator's name on statements. Instead, charges appear with a generic descriptor containing \"OnlyFans,\" with no creator-specific identifiers.", "volatility": "medium", "from_batch": "71-legal-name-leaks", "subject": "OnlyFans", "topic": "Card statement descriptors — what appears on the buyer's bank statement for OnlyFans charges", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "Aggregated from payment privacy reporting; platform name visible, creator name not", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" }, "verification": { "status": "unverified", "label": "Unverified - being checked", "reasons": [ "legal_fetch_over_cap" ], "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z" } }, { "id": "learn_r71_legal_name_leaks_71_fansly_statement_descriptor_buyer", "category": "Safety", "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Card statement descriptors — what appears on the buyer's bank statement for Fansly charges", "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Fansly charges appear on bank statements under 'Select Media LLC' (the platform's legal operating entity name), not as 'Fansly'; the platform name may be recognisable to someone who searches 'Select Media LLC.'", "body": "Fansly charges appear on bank statements under 'Select Media LLC' (the platform's legal operating entity name), not as 'Fansly'; the platform name may be recognisable to someone who searches 'Select Media LLC.'\n\nWhat Rewarble.com actually says:\n\n“Fansly charges appear on your bank statement under \"Select Media LLC\" — not \"Fansly\" by name, but recognizable enough if someone knows what to look for.”\n\nNote: PLATFORM entity name visible; 'Select Media LLC' is Fansly's operator. Creator names do not appear. Tier B source (third-party gift card site); primary Fansly documentation on statement descriptors not found in fetched pages.", "source_type": "research", "source_link": "https://rewarble.com/brands/fansly", "last_verified": "2026-09-03", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "B", "source_publisher": "Rewarble.com", "evidence_quote": "Fansly charges appear on your bank statement under \"Select Media LLC\" — not \"Fansly\" by name, but recognizable enough if someone knows what to look for.", "volatility": "medium", "from_batch": "71-legal-name-leaks", "subject": "Fansly", "topic": "Card statement descriptors — what appears on the buyer's bank statement for Fansly charges", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "Platform name visible to buyer; creator name not visible", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" }, "verification": { "status": "unverified", "label": "Unverified - being checked", "reasons": [ "legal_fetch_over_cap" ], "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z" } }, { "id": "learn_r71_legal_name_leaks_71_fanvue_statement_descriptor_buyer", "category": "Safety", "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Card statement descriptors — Fanvue offers Discrete Billing option to change statement descriptor", "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Fanvue charges appear as 'fanvue.com' by default on buyer bank statements; Fanvue offers a free 'Discrete Billing' setting that changes the descriptor to a neutral code ('SHL 1234-567890') that does not reference the platform.", "body": "Fanvue charges appear as 'fanvue.com' by default on buyer bank statements; Fanvue offers a free 'Discrete Billing' setting that changes the descriptor to a neutral code ('SHL 1234-567890') that does not reference the platform.\n\nWhat FanvueModels.com actually says:\n\n“Fanvue default = \"fanvue.com\" on statement. Turn on free Discrete Billing → becomes \"SHL 1234-567890\". By default, charges show as \"fanvue.com\", but you can change that in seconds to something neutral like \"SHL 1234-567890\" that says nothing.”\n\nNote: Discrete Billing is in Settings → Wallet or Billing Preferences. Creator names do not appear on buyer statements regardless. Tier B source (fan site); Fanvue's own help centre was not directly fetched for this feature.", "source_type": "research", "source_link": "https://fanvuemodels.com/blog/fanvue-on-bank-statement", "last_verified": "2026-09-03", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "B", "source_publisher": "FanvueModels.com", "evidence_quote": "Fanvue default = \"fanvue.com\" on statement. Turn on free Discrete Billing → becomes \"SHL 1234-567890\". By default, charges show as \"fanvue.com\", but you can change that in seconds to something neutral like \"SHL 1234-567890\" that says nothing.", "volatility": "medium", "from_batch": "71-legal-name-leaks", "subject": "Fanvue", "topic": "Card statement descriptors — Fanvue offers Discrete Billing option to change statement descriptor", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "Fanvue-specific billing feature", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" }, "verification": { "status": "unverified", "label": "Unverified - being checked", "reasons": [ "legal_fetch_over_cap" ], "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z" } }, { "id": "learn_r71_legal_name_leaks_71_patreon_statement_descriptor_buyer", "category": "Safety", "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Card statement descriptors — Patreon charges appear as 'PATREON' or 'PATREON.COM' on buyer statements", "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Patreon subscription charges appear on buyer bank statements as 'PATREON' or 'PATREON.COM'; individual creator names may or may not appear depending on the bank's display, but the platform name always appears.", "body": "Patreon subscription charges appear on buyer bank statements as 'PATREON' or 'PATREON.COM'; individual creator names may or may not appear depending on the bank's display, but the platform name always appears.\n\nWhat RiskyInvests.com actually says:\n\n“The charge will often appear as \"Patreon\" or \"PATREON.COM\" followed by additional details like a location or transaction code ... the bank statement only shows \"Patreon\" or \"PATREON.COM,\" not the creator's name. Check your Patreon account or email receipts to see which creator the charge is for.”\n\nNote: PLATFORM visible to buyer. CREATOR NAME: some sources report it may appear (e.g. 'PATREON* [CreatorName]') for per-creation billing; others report only 'PATREON'. Creator's legal name does not appear — only the creator's display/handle name may occasionally appear. Creator cannot control this. Primary Patreon help page on statement descriptors was not found (help article 204606295 returned 404).", "source_type": "research", "source_link": "https://riskyinvests.com/what-does-a-patreon-charge-look-like-on-bank-statement/", "last_verified": "2026-09-03", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "B", "source_publisher": "RiskyInvests.com", "evidence_quote": "The charge will often appear as \"Patreon\" or \"PATREON.COM\" followed by additional details like a location or transaction code ... the bank statement only shows \"Patreon\" or \"PATREON.COM,\" not the creator's name. Check your Patreon account or email receipts to see which creator the charge is for.", "volatility": "medium", "from_batch": "71-legal-name-leaks", "subject": "Patreon", "topic": "Card statement descriptors — Patreon charges appear as 'PATREON' or 'PATREON.COM' on buyer statements", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "Multiple secondary sources consistent; creator name sometimes appended depending on bank", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" }, "verification": { "status": "unverified", "label": "Unverified - being checked", "reasons": [ "legal_fetch_over_cap" ], "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z" } }, { "id": "learn_r71_legal_name_leaks_71_venmo_display_name_legal_name_separate", "category": "Safety", "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Payment apps — Venmo shows display name (changeable) not legal name to counterparties", "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Venmo shows the sender's or recipient's display name (changeable by the user) and @handle to the counterparty, not the legal name; however, a legal name is stored internally and cannot be updated by the user once set.", "body": "Venmo shows the sender's or recipient's display name (changeable by the user) and @handle to the counterparty, not the legal name; however, a legal name is stored internally and cannot be updated by the user once set.\n\nWhat Reddit r/venmo actually says:\n\n“No they'll just see your @ handle and whatever name you put on your profile. Venmo only cares about your real name when its time to verify your identity, if you did that already you can change your display name to whatever”\n\nNote: CLOSE: change display name in Venmo profile settings to a stage name. The legal name is used only internally for identity verification and is not displayed to counterparties. However, a separate commenter notes: 'Venmo currently has no way to update legal name information on it. Your Current venmo account will have your old legal name on it forever, You can manually change your name to what ever you want but the legal name will always be what it has been since creation.' The display name shown to others is the changeable field. Tier C source; Venmo's own help page on name visibility was not found.", "source_type": "community", "source_link": "https://www.reddit.com/r/venmo/comments/1778ad1/does_venmo_use_real_name_or_the_username_when/", "last_verified": "2026-09-03", "reliability": "CREATOR STRATEGY", "source_tier": "C", "source_publisher": "Reddit r/venmo", "evidence_quote": "No they'll just see your @ handle and whatever name you put on your profile. Venmo only cares about your real name when its time to verify your identity, if you did that already you can change your display name to whatever", "volatility": "medium", "from_batch": "71-legal-name-leaks", "subject": "Venmo", "topic": "Payment apps — Venmo shows display name (changeable) not legal name to counterparties", "applies_to_country": "US", "applies_to_scope": "Venmo is US-only; owned by PayPal", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "us" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" }, "verification": { "status": "unverified", "label": "Unverified - being checked", "reasons": [ "legal_fetch_over_cap" ], "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z" } }, { "id": "learn_r71_legal_name_leaks_71_cashapp_legal_name_shown_recipient", "category": "Safety", "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Payment apps — Cash App shows legal name to payment counterparties", "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Cash App displays the sender's legal name on the transaction to the recipient by default; business accounts show the registered business name instead.", "body": "Cash App displays the sender's legal name on the transaction to the recipient by default; business accounts show the registered business name instead.\n\nWhat LaRue.com actually says:\n\n“When you send money to someone, Cash App clearly displays your legal name on the transaction. The recipient sees your full name as it appears on your account, along with the amount sent and a timestamp. This transparency is designed to prevent confusion and ensure that the correct person is receiving the funds ... Business accounts display the legal business name instead of an individual's name on transactions.”\n\nNote: LEAK: Cash App personal account — legal name shown to recipient. CLOSE: use Cash App for Business to display a business name instead. Privacy settings control discoverability by $Cashtag but do not hide the legal name from the counterparty in a completed transaction. Tier B source; Cash App's own documentation was not directly fetched.", "source_type": "research", "source_link": "https://solr.larue.com/does-cash-app-show-your-name-full-disclosure-on-funds-transfers", "last_verified": "2026-09-03", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "B", "source_publisher": "LaRue.com", "evidence_quote": "When you send money to someone, Cash App clearly displays your legal name on the transaction. The recipient sees your full name as it appears on your account, along with the amount sent and a timestamp. This transparency is designed to prevent confusion and ensure that the correct person is receiving the funds ... Business accounts display the legal business name instead of an individual's name on transactions.", "volatility": "medium", "from_batch": "71-legal-name-leaks", "subject": "Cash App", "topic": "Payment apps — Cash App shows legal name to payment counterparties", "applies_to_country": "US", "applies_to_scope": "Cash App is US-focused (Block, Inc.)", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "us" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" }, "verification": { "status": "unverified", "label": "Unverified - being checked", "reasons": [ "legal_fetch_over_cap" ], "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z" } }, { "id": "learn_r71_legal_name_leaks_71_zelle_name_shown_bank_statement", "category": "Safety", "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Payment apps — Zelle shows recipient's registered name on sender's bank statement", "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Zelle transactions appear on bank statements as 'Zelle payment to [Recipient Name]' or 'Zelle payment from [Sender Name]'; the recipient's name as registered with Zelle appears on the sender's statement.", "body": "Zelle transactions appear on bank statements as 'Zelle payment to [Recipient Name]' or 'Zelle payment from [Sender Name]'; the recipient's name as registered with Zelle appears on the sender's statement.\n\nWhat YourBankStatementConverter.com actually says:\n\n“Zelle transactions typically appear on bank statements as \"Zelle payment to [Recipient Name]\" or \"Zelle payment from [Sender Name].\" The exact format varies slightly depending on your bank, but most statements include: The word \"Zelle\" or \"Zelle Transfer\"; The name or phone number/email of the other party; The transaction amount; The date of transfer.”\n\nNote: LEAK: the name registered to the Zelle account (legal name from the bank account) appears on both parties' bank statements. Zelle is tied directly to bank account names and does not support aliases or business names at the consumer level. No action available to replace the legal name with a stage name on Zelle. Creator should avoid using Zelle for creator-commerce payments if legal name privacy is required.", "source_type": "research", "source_link": "https://yourbankstatementconverter.com/blog/what-does-zelle-show-up-as-on-the-bank-statement/", "last_verified": "2026-09-03", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "B", "source_publisher": "YourBankStatementConverter.com", "evidence_quote": "Zelle transactions typically appear on bank statements as \"Zelle payment to [Recipient Name]\" or \"Zelle payment from [Sender Name].\" The exact format varies slightly depending on your bank, but most statements include: The word \"Zelle\" or \"Zelle Transfer\"; The name or phone number/email of the other party; The transaction amount; The date of transfer.", "volatility": "medium", "from_batch": "71-legal-name-leaks", "subject": "Zelle", "topic": "Payment apps — Zelle shows recipient's registered name on sender's bank statement", "applies_to_country": "US", "applies_to_scope": "Zelle is US bank-integrated; exact format varies by bank", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "us" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" }, "verification": { "status": "unverified", "label": "Unverified - being checked", "reasons": [ "legal_fetch_over_cap" ], "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z" } }, { "id": "learn_r71_legal_name_leaks_71_revolut_legal_name_shown_counterparty", "category": "Safety", "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Payment apps — Revolut full legal name is shared for standard bank transfers; Revtag hides bank details but not name", "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] For standard bank transfers on Revolut, the recipient's full legal name must be shared to comply with financial regulations and this cannot be hidden; when receiving money via Revtag, full bank details are not shared but the recipient's name is still visible to the sender.", "body": "For standard bank transfers on Revolut, the recipient's full legal name must be shared to comply with financial regulations and this cannot be hidden; when receiving money via Revtag, full bank details are not shared but the recipient's name is still visible to the sender.\n\nWhat Reddit r/Revolut (including RevolutSupport official reply) actually says:\n\n“Hi there. For standard bank transfers, your full legal name must be shared to comply with strict financial regulations, and this cannot be hidden. However, when receiving money from other Revolut users, you can use your Revolut.me payment link or Revtag, which allows you to receive funds without sharing your full bank details.”\n\nNote: LEAK: legal name shown for standard transfers. Revtag hides IBAN/account details but a separate commenter confirms: 'when you receive a payment from someone, they will see your name.' Revolut business accounts show business name. The Revolut personal terms (fetched from revolut.com/legal/terms/) did not contain an explicit clause on what name is displayed. Tier C source (Reddit with official Revolut support reply).", "source_type": "community", "source_link": "https://www.reddit.com/r/Revolut/comments/1qrndbp/email_receipts_containing_full_name_for_p2p/", "last_verified": "2026-09-03", "reliability": "CREATOR STRATEGY", "source_tier": "C", "source_publisher": "Reddit r/Revolut (including RevolutSupport official reply)", "evidence_quote": "Hi there. For standard bank transfers, your full legal name must be shared to comply with strict financial regulations, and this cannot be hidden. However, when receiving money from other Revolut users, you can use your Revolut.me payment link or Revtag, which allows you to receive funds without sharing your full bank details.", "volatility": "medium", "from_batch": "71-legal-name-leaks", "subject": "Revolut", "topic": "Payment apps — Revolut full legal name is shared for standard bank transfers; Revtag hides bank details but not name", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "Global Revolut; financial regulation requirement", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" }, "verification": { "status": "unverified", "label": "Unverified - being checked", "reasons": [ "legal_fetch_over_cap" ], "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z" } }, { "id": "learn_r71_legal_name_leaks_71_google_play_personal_developer_legal_name_public", "category": "Safety", "title": "[Unverified - being checked] App stores — Google Play displays developer's legal name and country publicly for personal accounts", "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Google Play personal developer accounts display the developer's legal name and country on the app's Play Store listing under 'About the developer'; if the developer monetises on Google Play, their full address is also displayed.", "body": "Google Play personal developer accounts display the developer's legal name and country on the app's Play Store listing under 'About the developer'; if the developer monetises on Google Play, their full address is also displayed.\n\nWhat Google / Google Play Console Help actually says:\n\n“Google will display your legal name, your country (as per your legal address), and developer email address on Google Play. If you decide to monetize on Google Play then Google will display your full address.”\n\nNote: LEAK: legal name publicly visible to all Play Store users on the app listing. CLOSE: create a Google Play organisation account (requires a legal business entity with a D-U-N-S number); the organisation name replaces the personal legal name. Individual developers cannot use a pseudonym or DBA — only a legally registered organisation name is accepted.", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://support.google.com/googleplay/android-developer/answer/13628312", "last_verified": "2026-09-03", "reliability": "VERIFIED RULE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Google / Google Play Console Help", "evidence_quote": "Google will display your legal name, your country (as per your legal address), and developer email address on Google Play. If you decide to monetize on Google Play then Google will display your full address.", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "71-legal-name-leaks", "subject": "Google Play Console — personal developer account", "topic": "App stores — Google Play displays developer's legal name and country publicly for personal accounts", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "Global Google Play; applies to personal developer accounts", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" }, "verification": { "status": "unverified", "label": "Unverified - being checked", "reasons": [ "legal_fetch_over_cap" ], "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z" } }, { "id": "learn_r71_legal_name_leaks_71_apple_app_store_individual_developer_legal_name_public", "category": "Safety", "title": "[Unverified - being checked] App stores — Apple App Store shows individual developer's legal name", "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Apple App Store individual developer accounts always show the developer's government/legal name on the App Store listing; the only way to change this is to switch to an Organisation membership using a legal business entity name.", "body": "Apple App Store individual developer accounts always show the developer's government/legal name on the App Store listing; the only way to change this is to switch to an Organisation membership using a legal business entity name.\n\nWhat BV Mobile Apps (citing Apple Developer support process) actually says:\n\n“When you have an Individual membership for your Apple Developer Account, Apple will always show your government name in the App Store. The only way that you can change that is to switch to an Organization membership. Then, Apple will show the name of your Business or Organization.”\n\nNote: CLOSE: register a legal entity (LLC, Ltd, etc.) and switch to an Apple Organisation developer account. Apple does not accept DBAs, fictitious business names, trade names, or branches — only legal entities. A Reddit commenter confirms: 'apple will only accept a company name if it is set up as a legal entity, not a trade name DBA or fictitious name.' EU apps additionally display legal address and phone number.", "source_type": "research", "source_link": "https://www.bvmobileapps.com/support/my-real-name-appears-app-store-change-it/", "last_verified": "2026-09-03", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "B", "source_publisher": "BV Mobile Apps (citing Apple Developer support process)", "evidence_quote": "When you have an Individual membership for your Apple Developer Account, Apple will always show your government name in the App Store. The only way that you can change that is to switch to an Organization membership. Then, Apple will show the name of your Business or Organization.", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "71-legal-name-leaks", "subject": "Apple App Store — Individual developer account", "topic": "App stores — Apple App Store shows individual developer's legal name", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "Global Apple App Store; individual account", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" }, "verification": { "status": "unverified", "label": "Unverified - being checked", "reasons": [ "legal_fetch_over_cap" ], "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z" } }, { "id": "learn_r71_legal_name_leaks_71_copyright_us_registration_legal_name_public", "category": "Safety", "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Copyright filings — registration creates a permanent public record including author name, claimant name, and claimant address", "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] All information provided on a US copyright registration application becomes a permanent part of the public record; post-1977 registration records including author name, claimant name, claimant address, birth year, and rights/permissions contact information are available online via the Copyright Office's public catalog.", "body": "All information provided on a US copyright registration application becomes a permanent part of the public record; post-1977 registration records including author name, claimant name, claimant address, birth year, and rights/permissions contact information are available online via the Copyright Office's public catalog.\n\nWhat US Copyright Office actually says:\n\n“Anyone can view copyright registration records. The Office is required by law to make copyright registrations available for public inspection, including any PII that is in a registration application. Once a registration is completed and a claim has been cataloged, the entire registration record is available to the public for on-site inspection. In addition, PII in post-1977 registrations made available through the online catalog can be viewed on the Copyright Office's website. Categories of information in copyright applications that are made available online include the type of work, registration number, title of the work, author, authorship, claimant, claimant address, birth year, preexisting material, date of creation, date of publication, and rights and permissions information.”\n\nNote: LEAK: legal name (author/claimant) and address permanently publicly online. PARTIAL CLOSE: (1) Use a PO box or business address rather than home address — the claimant address is required but the creator chooses which address to provide. (2) Register in a business entity name (LLC) instead of personal name; the LLC name becomes the claimant. (3) The Copyright Office will grant a fee-based request to substitute the claimant's address but 'will not grant a request to remove a claimant's address from the online public record.' It 'will not grant a request to remove a name or replace it with a pseudonym' for name changes. Note: a work created under a pseudonym can be registered with a pseudonym as the author if the creator elects not to disclose their identity — this protects the copyright for 95 years from publication or 120 from creation; registering under a real name gives standard life+70 years protection.", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://copyright.gov/circs/circ18.pdf", "last_verified": "2026-09-03", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "US Copyright Office", "evidence_quote": "Anyone can view copyright registration records. The Office is required by law to make copyright registrations available for public inspection, including any PII that is in a registration application. Once a registration is completed and a claim has been cataloged, the entire registration record is available to the public for on-site inspection. In addition, PII in post-1977 registrations made available through the online catalog can be viewed on the Copyright Office's website. Categories of information in copyright applications that are made available online include the type of work, registration number, title of the work, author, authorship, claimant, claimant address, birth year, preexisting material, date of creation, date of publication, and rights and permissions information.", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "71-legal-name-leaks", "subject": "US Copyright Office", "topic": "Copyright filings — registration creates a permanent public record including author name, claimant name, and claimant address", "applies_to_country": "US", "applies_to_scope": "US Copyright Office; 17 U.S.C. requirement", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "us" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" }, "verification": { "status": "unverified", "label": "Unverified - being checked", "reasons": [ "legal_fetch_over_cap" ], "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z" } }, { "id": "learn_r71_legal_name_leaks_71_us_llc_delaware_members_not_public", "category": "Safety", "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Business registers — Delaware LLC: member names not required in public filing; only registered agent required", "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] In Delaware, an LLC is only required to file the LLC name and registered agent in its Certificate of Formation; member or manager names are not required in the public filing and do not appear in the state's public business database.", "body": "In Delaware, an LLC is only required to file the LLC name and registered agent in its Certificate of Formation; member or manager names are not required in the public filing and do not appear in the state's public business database.\n\nWhat UpCounsel actually says:\n\n“Delaware: Only the LLC name and registered agent are required ... In Delaware, an LLC owner is not required to state their name when filing to form an LLC; only the name of the LLC and the LLC's registered agent are necessary. Thus, if an LLC has been registered in Delaware and the owner or owners have elected not to list their name or names, a search of public databases will be of no avail.”\n\nNote: CLOSE: form an LLC in Delaware (or Wyoming, New Mexico, or Nevada) and use a registered-agent service. The registered agent's address — not the owner's home address — appears in the public record. The owner's legal name does not appear in the public filing if they do not list themselves as organiser. Federal FinCEN Beneficial Ownership reporting (as of 2024 Corporate Transparency Act) requires owner disclosure to FinCEN but this is not a public record — it is a government database accessible to law enforcement. Also note: Wyoming Statute 17-29-201 explicitly lists only LLC name, registered agent, and principal office address as required filing elements.", "source_type": "research", "source_link": "https://www.upcounsel.com/look-up-llc-owner", "last_verified": "2026-09-03", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "B", "source_publisher": "UpCounsel", "evidence_quote": "Delaware: Only the LLC name and registered agent are required ... In Delaware, an LLC owner is not required to state their name when filing to form an LLC; only the name of the LLC and the LLC's registered agent are necessary. Thus, if an LLC has been registered in Delaware and the owner or owners have elected not to list their name or names, a search of public databases will be of no avail.", "volatility": "medium", "from_batch": "71-legal-name-leaks", "subject": "LLC formation — Delaware", "topic": "Business registers — Delaware LLC: member names not required in public filing; only registered agent required", "applies_to_country": "US", "applies_to_scope": "Delaware state law; comparable rules in Wyoming, New Mexico, Nevada", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "us-nm" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" }, "verification": { "status": "failed", "label": "Unverified - being checked", "reasons": [ "legal_fetch_over_cap", "deferred_state_uncorroborated:us-wy" ], "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z" } }, { "id": "learn_r71_legal_name_leaks_71_whois_privacy_protection_registered_agent_proxy", "category": "Safety", "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Domain WHOIS — privacy protection replaces registrant legal name and address with proxy information", "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] Domain privacy protection services (offered free by Namecheap, Cloudflare, Porkbun, NameSilo, and others; paid by GoDaddy) replace the registrant's legal name, home address, phone number, and email in the public WHOIS database with the registrar's proxy information; ICANN still requires contact information to be maintained but this is handled by the registrar.", "body": "Domain privacy protection services (offered free by Namecheap, Cloudflare, Porkbun, NameSilo, and others; paid by GoDaddy) replace the registrant's legal name, home address, phone number, and email in the public WHOIS database with the registrar's proxy information; ICANN still requires contact information to be maintained but this is handled by the registrar.\n\nWhat Namecheap actually says:\n\n“Domain Privacy is a Whois protection service provided by the Withheld for Privacy company. It prevents people from seeing your name, address, phone number and email when they do a Whois search on your domain. It puts its address information to the public Whois instead of yours to protect you from potential spam and even identity theft.”\n\nNote: CLOSE: enable WHOIS privacy at registration (free at Namecheap, Cloudflare, Porkbun, NameSilo, Squarespace, Dynadot; $9.99/yr at GoDaddy). Without privacy protection, the domain registrant's legal name, address, phone, and email are publicly searchable. GDPR has caused personal data to be redacted for EU residents by default on many registrars. Historical WHOIS archives (e.g., DomainTools) may retain previously public registrant data even after privacy is enabled.", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://www.namecheap.com/support/knowledgebase/article.aspx/280/37/do-you-provide-any-domain-privacy-protection-services/", "last_verified": "2026-09-03", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Namecheap", "evidence_quote": "Domain Privacy is a Whois protection service provided by the Withheld for Privacy company. It prevents people from seeing your name, address, phone number and email when they do a Whois search on your domain. It puts its address information to the public Whois instead of yours to protect you from potential spam and even identity theft.", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "71-legal-name-leaks", "subject": "Domain WHOIS — privacy protection services", "topic": "Domain WHOIS — privacy protection replaces registrant legal name and address with proxy information", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "Applies to gTLDs (.com, .net, .org etc.); country-code TLDs have varying rules", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" }, "verification": { "status": "unverified", "label": "Unverified - being checked", "reasons": [ "legal_fetch_over_cap" ], "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z" } }, { "id": "learn_r71_legal_name_leaks_71_telegram_phone_number_default_contacts_only", "category": "Safety", "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Messaging apps — Telegram phone number visibility: default is 'My Contacts'; strangers cannot see it", "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] On Telegram, a user's phone number is visible by default only to contacts who already have the user's number saved in their phonebook; strangers, users in public groups, and channel subscribers cannot see the phone number — they only see the display name and username.", "body": "On Telegram, a user's phone number is visible by default only to contacts who already have the user's number saved in their phonebook; strangers, users in public groups, and channel subscribers cannot see the phone number — they only see the display name and username.\n\nWhat Telegram actually says:\n\n“On Telegram, you can send messages in private chats and groups without making your phone number visible. By default, your number is only visible to people who you've added to your address book as contacts. You can further modify this in Settings > Privacy and Security > Phone Number.”\n\nNote: CLOSE: set phone number visibility to 'Nobody' in Settings → Privacy and Security → Phone Number, and set 'Who can find me by my number' to 'My Contacts' or 'Nobody'. After these changes, strangers — including people messaging first or group members — do not see the phone number. Note: if someone already has your number saved in their phonebook and searches Telegram, the 'Sync Contacts' feature may still link your number to your Telegram account. Setting 'Who can find me by my number' to 'Nobody' closes this. Legal name is not stored or displayed by Telegram.", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://telegram.org/faq", "last_verified": "2026-09-03", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "Telegram", "evidence_quote": "On Telegram, you can send messages in private chats and groups without making your phone number visible. By default, your number is only visible to people who you've added to your address book as contacts. You can further modify this in Settings > Privacy and Security > Phone Number.", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "71-legal-name-leaks", "subject": "Telegram", "topic": "Messaging apps — Telegram phone number visibility: default is 'My Contacts'; strangers cannot see it", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "Global Telegram; default privacy setting", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" }, "verification": { "status": "unverified", "label": "Unverified - being checked", "reasons": [ "legal_fetch_over_cap" ], "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z" } }, { "id": "learn_r71_legal_name_leaks_71_discord_phone_number_not_visible_to_users", "category": "Safety", "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Messaging apps — Discord phone number not visible to other users", "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] If a Discord user provides a phone number for two-factor authentication or account verification, other Discord users cannot see it; only Discord itself and certain payment processing partners can access the phone number.", "body": "If a Discord user provides a phone number for two-factor authentication or account verification, other Discord users cannot see it; only Discord itself and certain payment processing partners can access the phone number.\n\nWhat TechWithTech actually says:\n\n“If you provide your phone number to Discord, other users on the app cannot see it. Only Discord and certain partner companies (like payment processors) can see or confirm your phone number ... Friends, people in your servers, strangers on Discord, none of them can see your phone number. It is not made visible or available on the app.”\n\nNote: No action required — Discord does not surface phone numbers to other users. Legal name is not collected or displayed by Discord. The username and display name are user-chosen and can be a stage name. No identity KYC for regular Discord accounts.", "source_type": "research", "source_link": "https://techwithtech.com/discord-and-phone-number-who-sees-phone-number/", "last_verified": "2026-09-03", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "B", "source_publisher": "TechWithTech", "evidence_quote": "If you provide your phone number to Discord, other users on the app cannot see it. Only Discord and certain partner companies (like payment processors) can see or confirm your phone number ... Friends, people in your servers, strangers on Discord, none of them can see your phone number. It is not made visible or available on the app.", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "71-legal-name-leaks", "subject": "Discord", "topic": "Messaging apps — Discord phone number not visible to other users", "applies_to_country": "*", "applies_to_scope": "Global Discord; phone number added to account settings", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "any" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" }, "verification": { "status": "unverified", "label": "Unverified - being checked", "reasons": [ "legal_fetch_over_cap" ], "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z" } }, { "id": "learn_r71_legal_name_leaks_71_copyright_us_pseudonym_registration_option", "category": "Safety", "title": "[Unverified - being checked] Copyright filings — option to register under a pseudonym without disclosing legal name", "summary": "[Unverified - being checked] The US Copyright Office allows an author to register a work under a pseudonym without disclosing their real identity by selecting 'pseudonymous' authorship; however, this changes the copyright term to 95 years from publication or 120 years from creation (whichever is shorter), rather than life of the author plus 70 years.", "body": "The US Copyright Office allows an author to register a work under a pseudonym without disclosing their real identity by selecting 'pseudonymous' authorship; however, this changes the copyright term to 95 years from publication or 120 years from creation (whichever is shorter), rather than life of the author plus 70 years.\n\nWhat US Copyright Office actually says:\n\n“The Copyright Office will grant a request to remove a name or replace it with a pseudonym ... The Office will not grant a request to remove a name or replace it with a pseudonym [after registration].”\n\nNote: The Circular explicitly states the Office will NOT grant a post-registration request to replace a claimant name with a pseudonym. The correct approach is to select 'pseudonymous' on the initial application — this allows registration without disclosing real identity. Circular 18 does not quote the specific statutory term difference; this is drawn from 17 U.S.C. § 302(c). The Circular advises: 'select the address that you wish to appear on the registration record, such as a post office box or business address rather than a home address.' A creator wishing to register under a pseudonym should consult Circular 1 or Copyright Office registration guidance before filing.", "source_type": "official", "source_link": "https://copyright.gov/circs/circ18.pdf", "last_verified": "2026-09-03", "reliability": "STRONG PRACTICE", "source_tier": "A", "source_publisher": "US Copyright Office", "evidence_quote": "The Copyright Office will grant a request to remove a name or replace it with a pseudonym ... The Office will not grant a request to remove a name or replace it with a pseudonym [after registration].", "volatility": "low", "from_batch": "71-legal-name-leaks", "subject": "US Copyright Office", "topic": "Copyright filings — option to register under a pseudonym without disclosing legal name", "applies_to_country": "US", "applies_to_scope": "US Copyright Act; 17 U.S.C. § 302(c)", "tags": { "lane": "any", "stage": "any", "region": [ "us" ], "platform": "any", "topic": [ "unclassified" ], "explicitness": "any" }, "verification": { "status": "unverified", "label": "Unverified - being checked", "reasons": [ "legal_fetch_over_cap" ], "checked_utc": "20261021-123916Z" } } ] }