Second Life and Copyright

Off-topic
1

I haven’t played in this particular pond, but was intrigued by the following article:

http://www.wired.com/news/columns/0,72143-0.html?tw=wn_story_page_prev2

Precis: Businesses in Second Life are in an uproar over a rogue software program that duplicates “in world” items. They should be. But the havoc sewn by Copybot promises to transform the virtual word into a bold experiment in protecting creative work without the blunt instrument of copyright law.

It would seem to be a way in which real and virtual lives can actually impact each other to an extent, with some people even making real money from life in a virtual environment, and in which real life problems can replicate themselves in a virtual world. See the copyright article. Apparently there is even a real? exchange rate to convert real money into virtual money, with the Bureau d’Exchange actually taking a commission.
And the level of realism is such that real companies are providing real training in a virtual environment. Not entirely new, but has to be worth a look I guess.

Has anyone ventured into this arena? Views? Previous relevant threads I missed in my search?

Nao

2

That’s a cool article. I wonder how they’re gonna sort it out.
Please post any other interesting articles that you find.

3

And also from today’s local free newspaper:

Full article: http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/article.html?in_article_id=26890&in_page_id=2

Millionaires usually make their money in banking, playing the stock market or in big business.

Ailin Graef has changed all that. The former Chinese language teacher has just joined the millionaire’s club – but is the first person to do so thanks to profits from a virtual world.

Uniquely, these dollars can be exchanged into real US dollars at online currency exchanges. With the rate at around L$275 to US$1, she has become a millionaire.

Nao

4

Ooo I was just helping the bf with research on laws for MMORPGs so I can act smarmy now and offer my learned assistance.

Well, if you’re interested to know more about MMO law, try googling this guy called Nicholas Yee and reading his pieces.