More discussion at Massively brings up the issue that many of these marks haven’t even been published for opposition, meaning that that any argument over the new or old marks hasn’t even happened in the outside world. Newer unpublished marks include:

but these would likely ride through on the pre-existing mark published in 2003 for:

As far as the “grid” name I found:

and then there’s the multi-class filing for the “inSL(tm)” mark in multiple classes:

What I did find interesting was this new filing from May 2, 2008 for “SLCN” owned by Quality Time Media LLC which presumably operates at http://www.slcn.tv. and claims first use on 03/15, 2007.

It’s important to know what trademarks and copyrights are all about - most people of course have no clue. It’s always risky to build on top of someone else’s name no matter if it’s intended to be funny or whatever. So we’ll have to wait and see what happens with properties such as secondlifeherald.com and http://secondlifebloggers.ning.com/

I hope we can all get along, and that the efforts of these folks (which were mostly well-intentioned and directly beneficial to Linden Lab(tm)’s growth) can be resolved with minor changes.

But there’s a lot of marks out there, for example:

I won’t even go into the words “Metaverse” or “Multiverse” , there’s a lot of activity there too.

So many words have been trademarked for so many purposes that these laws initially created for protection end can end up creating something of a barrier to marketplace entry. In time I’d say that these restrictions will even reshape our very language, as people strive to identify themselves with names in the virtual world of trademarks, and our own creativity must function in the wake of 100+ years of commercial activity.

Please excuse any big name dropping on this post, I do believe in properly citing previous discussions.

-MRO

Core organizers of Relay for Life Fayandria Foley and Dedric were on the line * LIVE * to fill us in on this phenomenal set of events.

My take-away is that getting involved with Relay for Life is one of the coolest things to do in SL!  I”m really honored to have been host for this little get together. Tons of fun from what turned out to be an event where you can really connect.

We had a cycle of folks through and watched videos until at least 7 and beyond. Let’s do it again!! -MRO
posted by Orange Montagne on Acedia using a blogHUD : [blogHUD permalink]

The clarification on the use is long overdue. The fansite kit had specific instructions to use the logo and now appears to be gone. I wish this had been clarified at the beginning. If there’s any issue I’ll just remove the reference in an effort to simplify my life. Now I’m all weird using the name at all so have been substituting “virtual world” instead, which is a lot of what has been going on for years anyway. For years there has been only one viable - exciting - easy (easier) to use virtual world that attracted millions of passionate users - and you all know the name.

To clamp down on the term is almost to admit that there are increasing choices in “virtual worlds” and that the name refers to only one such world. In the wake of the “grid” level developers though, maybe this is a way to disassociate what is done here with whatever they may be planning in those other grids. In that sense, I’m definitely for differentiation that protects us from confusion as to what might arise.

Going further, I’d say that the design of the interior of Second Life® could be trademarked as having “trade dress” in the look of the world. That in itself could be used to shut down the alternative “grids” that arise through reverse engineering (reference the post please if you run with the idea). But then again “open” is cool somehow as a model even if it means your product becomes a commodity. This world in particular is not suitable to be “open” at all in the way that other open projects may be intended to be.

I feel the pain of those who invested time and money in using the name in variations that seemed acceptable at the time. Not that I post much but in solidarity I’ll join the hiatus that is emerging.

To post this I thought I would return to the Welcome area, you know - return to my roots somehow. On arrival I suddenly got the “flying off into space” crash experience. Thank goodness this doesn’t happen inRL.
posted by Orange Montagne on Bolinas using a blogHUD : [blogHUD permalink]

” Extending Virtual Worlds:  Gaia Online”

Gaia Online is an online hangout and virtual world that has been busy over the past year bridging the connections between the “virtual” and the “real” world in very direct ways.

Gaia’s own internal market of rare and exclusive virtual items creates a thriving economy which operating as a backdrop for this youth-oriented world.  Gaia has attracted brand partnerships as diverse as Sony, Toyota, and World Wrestling Entertainment.  Recently they have added a cinema where your avatar can watch Warner Bros. and Sony Pictures films, and you can even buy prepaid cards redeemable for virtual items at your local Target store.

This year they have announced a plan to integrate an MMOG (Massively Multiplayer Online Game) into the mix, and in case you were wondering, yes, they also have a Bebo and Facebook apps. The world has a former Chairman of the U.S. Council of Economic Advisors on its economic board and is funded by Benchmark, Redpoint, and DAG Ventures.

We are pleased to have Joe Hyrkin, VP of of Sales & Business Development to present a rare look at this booming phenomenon. Come learn how this virtual world of 5 million users engages and extends the virtual experience into so many online and offline destinations.

I’m OrangeMontagne in Gaia if you should happen to be virtualizing over there!

See U May 5  and/or

at the RFL event on May 4 being set up by Dedric Mauriac.

…MRO

“The Olympic Torch Relay Run will be held in San Francisco on Wednesday, April 9, starting at McCovey Cove. The Torch Relay Run will begin following a brief opening ceremony at McCovey Cove at 1:00 P.M. The route is as follows: McCovey Cove northbound to Third Street.
Third Street to the Embarcadero.
The Embarcadero to Jefferson Street.
Jefferson Street to Hyde Street.
Hyde Street to Beach Street.
Beach Street to Polk Street.
Polk Street to Bay Street.
Bay Street back to the Embarcadero.
The Embarcadero to Justin Herman Plaza for a concluding ceremony.
The route comprises a total of approximately six miles.

This route is subject to change as deemed necessary”

via Mercury News.com

and the one that resonates is Corey Ondrejka’s insight that:  “The future is not a phalanx of walled garden, advertainment worlds constrained by short-term thinking“.

If that’s what is in the works by all these companies though…”Brandercrafts” then isn’t that the future happening? Well it is - and this is explained in the Metaverse Manifesto  as there will indeed be thousands and indeed unlimited worlds with varying characteristics.  Together they form the Metaverse but walled they are and walled they will stay - this is the nature of the Metaverse structure - the realities can rarely co-exist.  Fascinating discussion to carry on later!

Audio and video is here: http://energycommerce.house.gov/

Philip starts speaking at around 29:00 after an introduction. Almost the entire 90 minute meeting is focused on Second Life. A major score for Second Life in getting established as “the” virtual world. Dr. Larry Johnson of New Media Consortium likens Second Life to the opportunities that were brought about from settling the wild west, the rollout of electricity, television, and the internet itself.

woooot it works on the edit??