Is it illegal to sign up for an email address using your friend's name?

Question

I was wondering if this was illegal. Would the government consider it as you pretending to be your friend? Would it be fraud? Is it illegal if you sign up with a fake name? Like its not meant to be a real person?

Answer 1

Not illegal unless it is meant to defraud in some way. Also if you use it to slander someone then you may be held liable in a civil suit.  

Answer 2

A fake name: no its not illegal as long as you don't use the fake name and the email address to try to present yourself under a different identity.

However if you use a friends name and you go online acting as though you are that person, then its illegal.