Actions done by individuals to disrupt the system cause us, the participants of the system, to review its structure and accountibility. Should this event not have happened, we would not be reviewing the impact of a larger issue: the DMCA and Fair Use in the Virtual arena. Many people are having their fair use rights violated by the DMCA, and the more this comes to light, the more likely we are, as a society, to review this piece of legislation and have it reformed to reflect the rights of individuals, and the right to information.
I say more people need to look at the systems that bind them and work to subvert the frameworks that do not make sense. This is where the saying “thinking outside the box” comes from. If it take grievers to get anyone to think outside this incredibly imposing and powerful box we find ourselves in, then all the more power to them. Some flying penises may have been annoying, but it set back the millionaire mogul as well. We need to keep this balance, moreso now than ever.

These comments leave me wondering if the whole Anshe Chung grief scenario might not have been engineered to see just how far they could carry things. Nah, I doubt that they are that smart.

Hmm, no someone please explain to me how coffee could be hot enough to cause a third degree burn and not melt the styrofoam cup into which it was poured. This was perhaps a second degree burn and is by no means an urban legend as some suppose as one of these suits occurred nearby. Plus recent television ads portray a boss standing over a secretary who’s desk appears to be swamped with paperwork and he is yelling as the narration exclaims: “is your job causing you undue stress? Well just call Slimy, Seazebag, & Scrotum to get the compenation and relief that you deserve.” The point that I was making in my post is that there exist certain elements in our society that do abuse the legal system for their own personal gain.

It seems to me that in order for the rights to video or screencaps to pass to the owner of a private sim, it must be clearly posted as a “private” sim. Anyone could argue that in one way or another all sims are private as they are owned by various distinct entities. But even so, this violates fair use copyright law. But I’m sure that the way things are going, this issue will be tested in the courts more sooner than not!

With that said, I wonder if this is why Anshe insisted on having the interview on her sim? So she could play this “it’s mine, all mine” card when the videos and pictures were published? Duh, you invite a reporter for an interview on your land and they aren’t supposed to take any videos or pictures of what happens?

The Anshe Chung interview griefing seemed more like her and husband trying to flex their muscles over an embarassing incident than anything else and I’m surprised that Google/YouTube so easily caved.

It’s ironic though that the griefers have helped Anshe Chung more than hurt her and I’m sure that wasn’t their intention. Now even more people know who Anshe Chung is due to the most famous virtual penis attack ever. She got even more media coverage for being flogged with flying body parts than she ever would have for doing a non-event interview with C|Net.

As for as notoriety….are you trying to suggest that because it happen in Second Life it should be covered any less than a crime in Real Life? If so…. what world are you from?

Please don’t think I am trying to condemn you… as your comments are not only welcome, but are appreciated… as all non spamming comments… whether they are right or wrong.

LL only holds copyright insofar as it needs to distribute the content across the network and into viewers.

…And taking video on private sims or inside buildings? Technically the right to pass is granted by the owner - and abusing that as a guest to make a video or grief isn’t protected speech. The video would then be profit from a crime… Do we really want griefers getting noteriety for recording their efforts?

Not being an attorney myself I am not certain what the legal distinction between the two really entail but the difference is significant I am sure.

I think your article is extremely relevant to what is now taking place in real life about what Chung is trying to do concerning incidents in Second Life. GOOD JOB!