• Second Life Gets its First Lawsuit

    Second Life Gets its First Lawsuit

    Techtree News Staff, Oct 30, 2007 1332 hrs IST

    A group of six virtual retailers have filed a real-time law suit against a man in New York, alleging stealing and selling of copied versions of their virtual products in "Second Life".

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The virtual world of "Second Life" is once again in the news because of the first ever law suit over a virtual theft.

A group of six virtual retailers have filed a real-time law suit against a man in New York, alleging stealing and selling of copied versions of their virtual products in "Second Life".

"Second Life" is a wildly popular virtual world, where members can create animated proxies of themselves called 'avatars', and build homes, run businesses, and deal in virtual products and properties -- all in exchange for real money (Linden dollars).

With over 10 million registered users, on an average, nearly $1 million is spent each day over buying food, clothes, shelter, and other virtual products.

The lawsuit, filed in a federal court in Brooklyn, for an undisclosed amount, accuses Thomas Simon or rather his avatar named 'Rase Kenxo' of stealing computer code for products ranging from clothes to sex toys and sex aids.

According to virtual retailers, by doing so, 'Kenxo' has violated copyright- and trademark- laws.

All said, New Yorker Simon had but a tongue-in-cheek reply for all this: "it's only a computer game". Which again, is quite true.

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Discussion Board
(2) Comments
michael
,leicester, on Oct 31, 2007 09:23 PM
get a life
Gdn | TD
,Chennai, on Oct 30, 2007 03:44 PM
lol! The last line really made the day..

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