Ari Blackthorne Waxes Deeper on SL Content Theft

Last week, I did a pure news piece (no opinion on my part in the main article) on the launch of a movement and linked blog called Step UP.  The purpose of this, founded by Saffia Widdershins of Prim Perfect, is to urge Linden Lab into what sufferers consider meaningful action on the problem of content theft.

I received 3 responses to the article, including a long thoughtful one from Ari Blackthorne of Common|Sensible.  His basic take was that, unless a meaningful alternative can be offered, all of this is simply sound and fury, signifying nothing; and this is the way it will remain for now, due to the nature of the Internet and the World Wide Web, on which basis Second Life is erected.

It comes down to the whole reason DRM (Digital Right Management) is a useless farce. Because if you can see it or hear it – you can copy it. The same is true with anything and everything on the Internet – including inside any virtual world (Second Life, too).

Ari has since expanded on this comment, as well as his response to my response, in an article of his own at Common|Sensible.  It makes for some thought-provoking reading, and I would urge anyone who is taking a side in the debate to read, digest and consider.

Koinup and Flickr Photo Groups

When Koinup opened up the groups feature, putting them on a nearly even keel with Flickr, they satisfied a pent-up demand.  There was an explosion of group creation within just the first few days, most of them open to more virtual worlds than just Second Life.  This has tapered off with time, of course, but new groups are still formed periodically to organize the rich diversity of images and imagination available in the Metaverse.

I’ve founded a few group in my time on Koinup as well, including some in the early rush, focusing (of course) on my particular interests.  Gee, I wonder what those are?  (Laughing) No, though, not entirely hair and fashion.  There are a few others as well!

If you’re curious, or (even better) if you have something you want to add to them, why not check out the following:

• Hair to There
• Virtual Evening Wear
• Virtual Japan, China and East Asia
• Virtual India and the Middle East
• Virtual Worlds and Religion
• Contact Sheet (the pool for Koinup images I’ve chosen to feature in my column here on the blog — submissions by invitation only)

I’ve also created a few groups in Flickr.  (I do more in Koinup in that sense, as the landscape is not so crowded there; this avoids repetition.)

• Second Life — Frank’s Place
• Second Life — Veterans, Veterans Day, Memorial Day, etc.
• Second Life — Oscar Fashion (open for new submissions only during “Oscar season,” between nomination announcements and the presentation of the Academy Awards)
• Contact Sheet (the Flickr version of the Koinup group)

Please stop on by and check these groups out; they’re not all me and my photography!  And, if you have some shots to share and you’re a member of the appropriate service, add them on in; if you’re not a member, join up!

New Blog Urges Action on SL Content Theft

In the wake of general frustration over content theft in Second Life, including the copying of three full sims’ worth of furniture designs, and the suit filed against Linden Lab by Munchflower Zaius and Stroker Serpentine, a movement has been proposed to show Resident support for change on the Lab’s part in handling the problem.

Saffia Widdershins, the publisher of the blog and virtual magazine PrimPerfect, has started a new blog she calls Step UP.  The goal appears to be to create grassroots support for action by Linden Lab on the content theft problem.  Other attempts have been made before, such as the “public service” ads proclaiming “Content theft steals the clothes off our backs,” but this move looks to build actual Resident action.

Saffia’s founding article (republished in PrimPerfect) proposes two actions, both it appears to take place on this coming November 5 — chosen for its association with Guy Fawkes Night in Great Britain:

• The wearing of an orange ribbon (design suggested above, but Saffia encourages designers to make their own for handout) as a sign of support and solidarity;
• a moratorium on uploading textures or snapshots to Second Life for the day, local time.  (Uploads, you’ll recall, cost L$10, the money going to Linden Lab.  The fee was instituted to control massive uploads of junk textures; but this money also represents a source of micro-income to the Lab, as thousands of textures are added to the Grid each day.)

Saffia also suggests finishing the day with bonfire parties scattered across the Grid (instead of one massive event that only a relative handful can attend, due to lag issues).

An education and media package is being prepared for distribution.  For this and more information, contact Saffia Widdershins, Angie Mornington, Gabrielle Riel or Gwen Carillon.

Always Hope for Rebel; Support the SL Designer

I’ve been staying out of reporting or voicing an opinion on the DMCA suit filed against Linden Lab by Munchflower Zaius and Stroker Serpentine, chiefly because I’ve had no opinion either way on the outcome of the suit, and also because others such as Hamlet Au have better sources and resources to report on this piece of news.  I’m not going to step in where I’m only half informed on a subject, if I can help it; that just gets controversy instead of solution going.  However, I sympathize with the creators of original content when it comes to having their hard work and sweat ripped off, since their work is being stolen by creatures who are little better than slime mold on the soles of our Stiletto Moodys.

Now comes the most blatant piece of copy theft yet.  According to sources, someone came in to the Woodshed sims owned by clothes designer Rebel Hope and RH Engel, and copied everything.  Rebel quickly complained to Linden Lab, but the damage has been done; the thieves have since distributed everything to the Grid at large.

Fashion Review — Bikinis by Musashi-do

Shiryu Musashi (of Milan), the owner of Musashi-do, dropped a box of bikinis on me recently, and I gave some of them a test run.  Shiryu’s been studying at a fashion academy in addition to his in-world work, and I think the product, here and in some smashing dresses he has, show the effects of that study.

These are my six best photos from my session.  Notice, by the way, picture 3 (the last on the top row).  No, I didn’t make a mistake there; those are tan lines.  This series includes “garments” that simulate tan lines at three different levels of intensity.  Each different package also includes all the layers you could possibly desire for any situation, as well as any needed “hardware,” such as rings, laces, etc.  This was the one problem I had, the rings on the first bikini needed to be tweaked into position — a not uncommon situation, though.  (Do note, however, that the ring on the top in the Seaside Crescent series uses an attachment point sometimes used by necklaces.  You may need to work around this, depending on what jewelry you wear.)

Each bikini style comes in a variety of print colors, and also in solids, as you can tell from just the small sample I put here.  I think my favorite out of the batch might have been picture 5, but I also like No. 6 as well.  Ah, joy; more  and more in the inventory….  When will I ever get it cleared out, what with all the good stuff I have in there, like these bikinis…?

Teleport to Musashi-do here, and enjoy your time at the beach!

The items:

Standard shape/skin, type 1

• Pictures 1-3: Seaside Crescent bikini (Azure Orchid)
• Pictures 4-5: Summer Shy bikini (Golden Hearts, Purple Hearts)
• Picture 6: Wave Flow bikini (solid red)
• Hair: Sinsation Emma
• Jewelry: EarthStones Crystal Elements (Water, gold)
• Inspired Style Hawk sunglasses (pictures 4-6); glasses in pictures 1-3 may no longer be available (created by SuluMor Romulus)

Prad Prathivi Does It Again!

Yes, the man who singlehandedly developed the Second Life Keyboard has now gone into the deep pages of the Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, and found a periodic table that we never knew existed there when we were in high school!

Behold:  the Periodic Table of Second Life Abbreviations and Emoticons!

2009 SL Jewelry Fair

The 2009 Second Life Jewelry Fair will kick off in 3 days!  Scheduled to run from Sept. 18-27, the fair will be based on the theme, “the seasons of the year.”

Oxfam International uses donations to end the causes of poverty and injustice.  All proceeds from the Fair will be donated to this excellent international organization.

Be sure to attend, and unlimber your wallets!  As a sample, here is a Flickr set of merchandise that will be sold by my friend Ele Newel.

UTexas System Prepares to Experiment with SL

Just released on the Big Blog:  the University of Texas system — 16 campuses worth of universities — plans to start experimenting with Second Life.  It doesn’t look like they’ve built anything yet, but college campuses in world are often interesting.  And, from a more practical view, this shows that SL is far from dead, far from being a non-practical venue for serious work.  Universities and libraries seem to flock to the Grid, even while the naysayers make more announcements of the Imminent Death of the Grid Expected.

Bravo to UTexas, and welcome in world when you arrive!

Fashion Review — Sui Generis

Up front, I should note that I am a friend of Cajsa Lilliehook, the owner of Sui Generis, but I have attempted to put that aside for this review.

=====

Cajsa Lilliehook is well known in the world of Second Life for her fashion blog, It’s Only Fashion, her excellent photography, and her sense of style in putting together clothes for any look. Now Cajsa enters the field of the storekeeper and shape artist with her new store, Sui Generis.

You don’t see many reviews for shapes, do you? But shapes are as necessary to the avatar experience in Second Life as skins or clothes. The shape, of course, is the matrix that the skin stretches over, giving…well, giving shape to the face and body. Even if you’re running around a a blob of ionized gas, the shape is in there. (Usually, you just need to rezz up to show it.) Creating a shape that is pleasant to the owner is as much a work of art and patience as a good skin or suit.

Cajsa is no stranger to tweaking shapes, when allowed. Her photographs almost always show her in the perfection of fit, something I still strive for at times with my usually no-mod shapes. Now she’s putting to practice what she has learned, adding a dose of real-world “shaping” to the mix. Her Sui Generis shapes are nearly unique, not only because of the limited amount for sale — 75 of any shape — but because she makes the faces non-symmetrical.

Octegenarian Bluesman in Second Life

Check out New World Notes for a story on Charles Bristol of North Carolina, a bluesman of the Old School.  Why do we mention Mr. Bristol?  Because he plays active gigs in Second Life, of course.  His avatar is named CharlesEBristol Xi, and he teams up with Etherian Kamaboko to tear the house down.  Read Hamlet Au’s article for more, including a video of Charles and Etherian in world at a gig.

As Hamlet notes, by the way, Charles is going to turn 88 years old on September 22.  I don’t know if that makes him the oldest Resident in RL years, but he’s definitely up there in competition.  I don’t know if birthday notecards from ~50,000 strangers is appropriate, but I intend to send him one.