Comments on: Are the Lindens Heading into Deeper Legal Water http://www.vtoreality.com/2007/are-the-lindens-heading-into-deeper-legal-water/1054/ VTOR - Virtual TO Reality, featuring Second Life Sat, 30 Aug 2008 16:31:12 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Ramblings on Linden Lab’s Legal Position » VTOR - Virtual TO Reality http://www.vtoreality.com/2007/are-the-lindens-heading-into-deeper-legal-water/1054/#comment-9557 Ramblings on Linden Lab’s Legal Position » VTOR - Virtual TO Reality Mon, 11 Jun 2007 04:27:37 +0000 http://www.vtoreality.com/2007/are-the-lindens-heading-into-deeper-legal-water/1054/#comment-9557 [...] Linden Lab’s post “Keeping Second Life Safe, Together” would appear to be an attempt to cover their legal back side, but I think they are putting themselves in farther legal peril. [...] [...] Linden Lab’s post “Keeping Second Life Safe, Together” would appear to be an attempt to cover their legal back side, but I think they are putting themselves in farther legal peril. [...]

]]> By: Virtually Blind - Virtual Law | Legal Issues That Impact Virtual Worlds » Blog Archive » Commentary: Policing Content is a Very Bad Idea http://www.vtoreality.com/2007/are-the-lindens-heading-into-deeper-legal-water/1054/#comment-9552 Virtually Blind - Virtual Law | Legal Issues That Impact Virtual Worlds » Blog Archive » Commentary: Policing Content is a Very Bad Idea Sun, 10 Jun 2007 16:32:51 +0000 http://www.vtoreality.com/2007/are-the-lindens-heading-into-deeper-legal-water/1054/#comment-9552 [...] beat me to the punch on this, asking, “Are Lindens Heading Into Deeper Legal Water?” The short answer is: [...] [...] beat me to the punch on this, asking, “Are Lindens Heading Into Deeper Legal Water?” The short answer is: [...]

]]> By: Weirdharold http://www.vtoreality.com/2007/are-the-lindens-heading-into-deeper-legal-water/1054/#comment-9214 Weirdharold Wed, 06 Jun 2007 20:33:38 +0000 http://www.vtoreality.com/2007/are-the-lindens-heading-into-deeper-legal-water/1054/#comment-9214 Michael, Thanks for stopping by and personally correcting my mistake. Now so I might understand this correctly; the Roommates decision sets a precedent in cases concerning the Communications Decency Act's immunity. Does this not open the door to possible law suits toward online communities or worlds, such as Linden Lab's Second life, when they make decisions on what type of content is allowed within those communities/worlds? May I also ask your opinion on possibilities of these virtual worlds being considered separate worlds, where the rules are regulated by those who <s>"live,"</s> "participate" in said worlds? Michael,
Thanks for stopping by and personally correcting my mistake. Now so I might understand this correctly; the Roommates decision sets a precedent in cases concerning the Communications Decency Act’s immunity.
Does this not open the door to possible law suits toward online communities or worlds, such as Linden Lab’s Second life, when they make decisions on what type of content is allowed within those communities/worlds?

May I also ask your opinion on possibilities of these virtual worlds being considered separate worlds, where the rules are regulated by those who “live,” “participate” in said worlds?

]]> By: Michael Bennett http://www.vtoreality.com/2007/are-the-lindens-heading-into-deeper-legal-water/1054/#comment-9208 Michael Bennett Wed, 06 Jun 2007 19:28:36 +0000 http://www.vtoreality.com/2007/are-the-lindens-heading-into-deeper-legal-water/1054/#comment-9208 Please note, the original article you quoted above is slightly inaccurate. It says: The new ruling means that sites that control user-generated content — especially dating and automated brokering sites that use “matching” technology — are considered publishers and are therefore liable, Bennett said. No liability was found, yet, in the Roommates.com decision. Rather, the court found that Roommates.com will have to defend itself to determine whether or not the information it provided, the limited menu selections and filtering, violates the Fair Housing Act. The only issue in the Roommates.com case was whether or not CDA immunity applied Roommates.com’s website. If the case continues, the next phase should determine whether or not Roommates.com’s actions violated any laws. Please note, the original article you quoted above is slightly inaccurate. It says:

The new ruling means that sites that control user-generated content — especially dating and automated brokering sites that use “matching” technology — are considered publishers and are therefore liable, Bennett said.

No liability was found, yet, in the Roommates.com decision. Rather, the court found that Roommates.com will have to defend itself to determine whether or not the information it provided, the limited menu selections and filtering, violates the Fair Housing Act. The only issue in the Roommates.com case was whether or not CDA immunity applied Roommates.com’s website.

If the case continues, the next phase should determine whether or not Roommates.com’s actions violated any laws.

]]> By: Weirdharold http://www.vtoreality.com/2007/are-the-lindens-heading-into-deeper-legal-water/1054/#comment-9141 Weirdharold Wed, 06 Jun 2007 03:03:19 +0000 http://www.vtoreality.com/2007/are-the-lindens-heading-into-deeper-legal-water/1054/#comment-9141 Crissa, the aspect of the matching software is a minor example of the direction that precedent will head down future roads. Compared to what the lindens are doing with the search function the roommate.com action would be considered a minor little opps! Roommate.com was controlling content by not allowing additional options in a drop down menu.... So can you honestly say that by the lindens actually censoring areas would be less of a violation? Maybe you ought to mention this to .... oh! never mind. Crissa, the aspect of the matching software is a minor example of the direction that precedent will head down future roads. Compared to what the lindens are doing with the search function the roommate.com action would be considered a minor little opps!

Roommate.com was controlling content by not allowing additional options in a drop down menu…. So can you honestly say that by the lindens actually censoring areas would be less of a violation? Maybe you ought to mention this to …. oh! never mind.

]]> By: Crissa http://www.vtoreality.com/2007/are-the-lindens-heading-into-deeper-legal-water/1054/#comment-9109 Crissa Tue, 05 Jun 2007 21:19:42 +0000 http://www.vtoreality.com/2007/are-the-lindens-heading-into-deeper-legal-water/1054/#comment-9109 But a search engine isn't matching software, is it? The blog did say they were making this change a month ago... And there was a big hullaballoo several months ago that casino was being removed from the search terms they'd catalog, and therefore be able to find. But a search engine isn’t matching software, is it?

The blog did say they were making this change a month ago… And there was a big hullaballoo several months ago that casino was being removed from the search terms they’d catalog, and therefore be able to find.

]]> By: TD Goodliffe http://www.vtoreality.com/2007/are-the-lindens-heading-into-deeper-legal-water/1054/#comment-9091 TD Goodliffe Tue, 05 Jun 2007 18:28:51 +0000 http://www.vtoreality.com/2007/are-the-lindens-heading-into-deeper-legal-water/1054/#comment-9091 And so continues the slippery slope ...! And so continues the slippery slope …!

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