Sarah, Gwen and I attended the Born Digital Book release at EMP a few weeks ago.  Just a few days before the event we bought a flip hand held video recorder for the family.  This is Gwen’s first time using the recorder on her own.  Gwen choose the questions and choose who to interview, the video points out how comfortable those who grow up with technology at their fingertips are using the tech.  It was a great learning experience for all of us. The video also shows the difference in generational views on technology.

Here is the video enjoy.

On the video editing side this was my first time using Jahshaka an Open Source Media Playback and Visual Effects program.  The learning curve was a little steep, but it worked well after viewing several tutorials online.  There is a huge need for Open Source programs to work on usability.

Part two is coming soon the total video was almost 20 mins and YouTube only accepts 10 minute clips.

Video Games and Copyright

Will Rava

What rights are in a video game:
Title: Trademark
Font: Copyright (I strongly disagree it should be considered typeface and uncopyrightable)
User Interface: Trademark Tradedress
Characters: Copyright, maybe Trademark
Code: Trade Secret, Copyright
Music: Copyright, Right of Publicity,Trademark sometimes
Voice Over: Copyright, Trademark
Marketing: Copyright, Trademark
Hardware: Patents, Tradedress
Scenery: Copyright, maybe Trademark
Physics Engine: Copyrightable, Patent
Story: Copyright
Movies (cut scene): Copyright

Donkey Kong – Copyright fixation requirement is met I will check for the full site later.
Who owns virtual property
Second Life Mark Bragg This case settled but the mandatory arbitration clause was ruled unenforceable.

Good class over all more to come later.

Date: 9/9/08
Time: 12 noon (PDT/SLT)
Place: SL Bar Association Office
Topic: “Trademark Infringement in Virtual Worlds,” by Stephen Wu (SL: ‘Legal Writer’).
Cost: FREE!
CLE Credit: 1 hour California MCLE
To register visit http://slba.info/speakers/wu.html

Speaker Stephen Wu (SL: ‘Legal Writer’) will discuss the risks posed to trademark owners by widespread infringement in Second Life, and how a failure to police their marks may cause them to lose their valuable trademark rights. He will also discuss the issues raised by trademark use and infringement in virtual worlds generally, including issues applicable to clients faced with infringement of their own trademarks and to those accused of infringing the trademarks of others.

Wu has a background in software licensing, technology law, intellectual property, general commercial litigation, data protection and secure ecommerce, and has done presentations on electronic discovery, and digital evidence, Mr. Wu has recently been elected President-Elect of the 2008-09 SL Bar Association.

I will be attending my SL avatar is Sarterus Mensing

Past SL CLE posts:

IP Enforcement in Virtual Worlds by Tamiko Franklin (second CLE)

First In  world CLE “Virtual World Legal Issues” by David Naylor

This years Isummit should be easy to follow and maybe even participate in from a far. With streaming media, Second Life simulcast, live blogging and interactive forums.  Here are the details abridged from the Isummit blog:

Live events:

Asynchronous options:

• iSummit blog will be updated at least twice a day with blog entries about various sessions.
• iCommons wiki, where volunteers will be taking notes from the sessions and developing the Checklists on Openness.
• Podcast that will feature interviews about the cultural and entertainment-related events.
  
• Newsletter to the iCommons mailing list with samples of the most exciting coverage coming out of the event.

Tamiko Franklin

Second Life name: Juris Amat
Email address: [email protected]

Basic topics:
Berne Convention, RAM copying theory, DMCA, domestic and international trademarks.

Advanced topics:
Object permissions: Object permissions allow users to control the use of virtual objects through Digital Rights Management (DRM).

Question:
Do object permissions grant other users a limited license to the work?
Answer:
Most likely yes with regard to those allowed permissions, but note that object permissions could be supplanted with a license to restricts use beyond the permissions.

Take Away: Register your trademarks!

This was a good presentation in a typical CLE style with a lot of practical advice. The post mortem devolved a bit into a creator v. contractor rights debate. If you are interested in work for hire and copyright, check out U.S. Supreme Court. Commun. for Non-Violence v. Reid, 490 U.S. 730 (1989).

SL Bar Association and Virtual Worlds Law Library are pleased to present the second in our Speaker Series, Juris Amat speaking on “IP Enforcement in Virtual Worlds,” at noon (PDT/SLT) on July 22. This free session is approved for 1 hour California MCLE credit. For more info and to register, visit http://slba.info/speakers/franklin.html.

Speaker Bio:

Tamiko Franklin is the Director of International Legal Services for Matijevich Law Offices, where she develops the transactional intellectual property practice and coordinates IP related corporate and telecommunications services in addition to supervising client portfolios and a network of cooperating attorneys throughout eastern Europe. She earned her Juris Doctor and Master of Intellectual Property degrees from Franklin Pierce Law Center.

The first ever in-world CLE (Continuing Legal Education) was held yesterday at the SL Bar Association offices.  The turn out was strong with approximately 30 attendees.  SLBA President ‘Solomon Cortes’ (David Naylor) presented a 90 minute talk on “Virtual World Legal Issues”. CLE credit is very important to lawyers because they have to take a certain number of CLE credits each year to maintain bar memberships — and these seminars can be expensive.  I have been to CLE’s with registration fees in the several-hundred-dollar range.  This is a barrier to making the law accessible to the public, since non-lawyers almost never attend due to the cost.
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The SL Bar Association’s first CLE seminar will be held in in Second Life at the SLBA offices Tuesday, July 15, 2008 at 12:00 Noon Pacific. The seminar will feature SLBA President ‘Solomon Cortes’ (David Naylor) presenting “Virtual World Legal Issues.” This marks the very first time that CLE credit has been offered for an exclusively in-world event. There is no charge for the seminar, and you’ll earn 1 hour of California MCLE or England and Wales CPD credit for attending. Registration is currently still open, but space is limited.

I will be there with my SL avatar: Sarterus Mensing.