Global Names

Oracle version 8.1.7

We bought an appl from some other firm.
They had a procedure for making a back-up: copy all dbf files, throw away ctl files etc etc.
This works, but the problem is, that on any db instance we have ( prod, test, dev etc) we have the same name for global_name ( select global_name from global_name). ( And that name is the name of the original inst from the firm that made the original appl)
This give a nice problem: any db link we create gives a 'circular reference' error.
Because I'm a developer and there is no DBA in the house (no money; public healthcare...), I do not know how to handle this.

We now back up by a job that does a hot-backup at night, but still the same global_name.
Is there any way to change this name?

Thanks,

Rob

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