Copyrighting and Imagination:
Is Reforming Laws in Virtual Worlds the Answer?
This article by Michael Blankenship explores issues of copyright in virtual worlds and the potential for government regulation within those worlds. From the abstract:
Second Life has attracted millions of users and dollars. It has created a new economy. A new breed of business people are conversing and exchange dollars over software code. Second Life is just one example where people in the “real world” are finding new ways to interact with one another. Yet, these interactions are not all positive. Cases of copyright and trademark infringement have appeared within the game. There has been more than one major lawsuit that unfortunately settled. The virtual world law is still unsettled and Congress and the courts must act. Like the Securities and Exchange Commission regulates the stock market in the real world, Congress may need to find a solution for those infringements that will cost businesses millions of dollars.
Link to article on JDSupra.com here.