Politics and Rights in Second Life

RELEVANT GROUPS

APPLYING COPYRIGHT TO S.L.

ARTICLES

You can find these groups inworld by clicking Edit -> Search -> Groups:

"Digital Millenium Copyright Act"

"copyright protection enforcement"

"SL Copyright Org"

"Copyright Hunters"

10 MYTHS ABOUT COPYRIGHT

Porn photography and porn artwork uploaded into SL that is sold or publicly displayed without reference to the copyright owner, is almost always stolen work. You know this is logical because if a photographer or artist were selling his work himself in SL, he would proudly label and market it as his own work!
Most of the porn photography and porn artwork you see being sold or publicly displayed in SL is in violation of:
Second Life Terms of Service agreement
DMCA Digital Millenium Copyright Act
U.S.A. federal copyright law 17 USC 501
(adult photos) U.S.A. federal law 18 USC 2257
The International Berne Convention

Contrary to what image-thieves tell you in chatrooms on the internet, "finding" a picture on the internet does not mean "copyright free" or can be redistributed as "fair use".

Only by contacting the owner of a photo/art, can you receive permission to reprint, repost, upload, alter, or sell their work.

Before buying porn art or photos in SL, ask yourself a few logical questions!:
1. How did this guy get the rights to sell photos by, obviously, about 20 different photographers or websites?
2. Or if this guy is the actual photographer/artist, why doesn't his sign or ads mention it?
3. And if he did this stuff, how is it possible that this guy is able to photograph in 20 different styles and/or draw anime and porn-sketches in 12 different styles?

Finally, think about the real people for a moment. I went into an SL store and saw someone was selling photos of 3 models... photos which had been taken off the ladies' websites. I knew all 3 ladies, so I emailed two of them, and phoned the 3rd. The 3rd gal nearly started to cry when I told her. She said that ever since she started her website, people had been stealing the pics and selling them on other sites and elsewhere. She didn't know how to manage like this.

And yes, her website is now closed.

Link: Second Life's form for reporting DMCA

July 15 2007 -- Sex Gen Case -- Tampa Tribune

Mar 26 2008 -- Lawsuit Settled -- Ars Technica

Mar 27 2008 -- Sex Toys Lawsuit -- TechTree