Stroker Serpentine’s Blog

Reluctant Messiah

I was recently contacted by a producer for the CBS Early show who was interested in doing a piece on “Relationships and Sex” in SL. My initial reaction was one of hesitation…”Oh great..another Age Play expose” I spoke with the producer on the phone her name was Julie Mirlicourtois. In my conversation with Julie I was convinced that this article would be different than the atypical “Dark Underbelly” fluff piece. Over the past several weeks we have worked together to develop inworld footage as well as contacts of several people who have an interest or stake in SL relationships. I spent 6 hours with a camera crew in my home on Halloween day. (Does anyone see the humor here? Stroker…CBS…Halloween?) I will be curious to see if the footage of my son and I working on our kitchen sink doesn’t end up on the cutting room floor. Anyways, my point here is that it seems there are those who put a sincere emphasis on the ability for Second Life to have a dramatic impact on our real lives.

I for one can say that the friends and acquaintances that I have been graciously afforded over the last four years (yes, 4 years) have changed me forever. Take the fact that I spent four days in New Jersey with my “Jewish Mother” and dear, beloved friend Baccara Rhodes while CBS invited me to their studios in New York. I never miss an opportunity to sleep in her basement. We always embark on a whirlwind tour of some of the finest eaterys in the city. Bacca’s rl husband Leon has one of the most realistic views on life of anyone I have ever met. He keeps me in stitches, even when were up to our elbows in sewage. There are a few disadvantages to sleeping below grade. (”The Great Sump Pump Caper” may be the topic of another post)

These delicate manifestations have forever touched my soul. If I spent the next two weeks enumerating those that have helped, hugged, harrased, harangued, heckled, held, honored, humored and hallowed me along this metaphysical metaverse, kicking and screaming, whining and wooing…I would certainly be remiss of some tiny aspect that produced an ethereal epiphany. And there have been many…MANY…such paradigms. As we enter another holiday season I have one wish for a restrospective inventory from all of us. Regardless of current bianary bafflings..lets be thankful for those that have touched our hearts and minds through a medium that four short years ago did not exist. I am reminded of a quote from my favorite author, Richard Bach, who wrote in “Illusions, Adventures of a reluctant messiah”…

The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other’s life. Rarely do members of one family grow up under the same roof.

Methinks we are all reluctant messiahs.

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VIRTUAL WORLDS SAN JOSE

I am in love with San Jose! The temps were in the high 70′/low 80’s for the two days I visited. I was asked to give a talk on “Combating Copyright Theft” in virtual worlds. The talk was not my best, as law and lawyer’s are a mundane subject (sorry) I could tell from the audience that many were interested, but only a few were motivated. I tried to emphasize the importance of registering your work. All in all a productive visit. Saw some old friends..made some new ones. The convention was well organized and convenient. My hotel was right across the street..I literally had to walk 1/2 a block to attend. There was considerable discussion about HTML on a prim and custom clients. I am sure the literati will expound more in the coming weeks. Glad to be home

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Arse Elektronica Conference

Kyle Machulis and krewe are putting together a conference in San Fran called “Arse Elektronica”. It’s focus will be on SexTech and Social Awarness. Unfortunately I am unable to attend, but my heart (and a few other organs) is with them.

Porno sites were the first to use technologies like audio and video streaming. They were also a driving force behind the spread of high-speed internet connections and made necessary the development of better data systems. Additionally, porno sites have promoted the development of new cultural technologies like (in)formal partnering, outsourcing, upselling and site tracking.

http://www.monochrom.at/arse-elektronika/

Sex is the word..Spread the word!

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Informative Article

Here is a resourceful article, well written. It describes aspects of product dissolution and infringement as it relates to SexGen.

http://www.gridgrind.com/?p=141&akst_action=share-this

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SLCC and The Masquerade Ball

Well it seems we all survived SLCC ‘o7. Given the amount of blog posts and media coverage I would say it was a resounding success. This was my first trip to Chicago. Admittedly, I was taken aback by being acknowledged in elevators and on the street. People were so congenial. I guess it’s the “Midwest Mentality”. I was in the spirit in no time.

The Masquerade Ball will always be a fond memory for me. Baccara Rhodes and Fyre Raine managed to put up with me throughout the behind the scenes chaos to pull it off. They did the work of 10 people. Love to you both. Many thanks to our co-sponsors Kink.com, The Edge and Mountain Meister Media. I am truly indebted to you. Here are some Flickr links of the ball:

http://flickr.com/photos/51358983@N00/

http://flickr.com/photos/72583081@N00/

As revealed in Crucial’s pics we even had a real life proposal at the event. Congrats and good luck!

Well, I’m really tired atm and hope to post more soon. Thanks to all involved for giving me memories I will always treasure.

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Internext 2007

I just got back from a wonderful trip to Miami and the swank hotel Westin. I stayed right on the beach . I was the grateful guest of Kathee Brewer of AVN Online (thank you )http://www.avnonline.com/

The kickoff party was memorable, complete with a mechanical bull being reigned in by lovely painted ladies.

Regina Lynn http://www.reginalynn.com/wordpress/ was my comrade in arms acclaimating me to the glitz and glamour of an adult trade show. There were several interesting panels on Trademark and Interactive capabilities. Second Life was mentioned more than once. Im excited for the potential of Virtual Worlds and Adult Content.

At some point we will all co-exist in a morphed version of Google Earth, Second Life, YouTube, MySpace and the Spice Channel. Are you with me? Here’s some pics I took over the course of the weekend. http://flickr.com/photos/51358983@N00/

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Towel Toss

So at what point does one throw in the proverbial towel? When does it become more of a chore to create and conquer, than to just not log in at all? Given the continual grid difficulties, the financial mudslide of late and the general lack of positive input from members…When do you say enough is enough? Do you whittle away the hours at benign events until some substantial improvement tweaks your interest? Do you jump ships and practice killing demons and hell-spawn in WoW until the “Come on back it’s all clear now” rally coerces us to try just_one_more_time.

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Media Coverage

Regina Lynn at Wired.com prepared what I consider to be the most incisive and well researched blog I have read to date on Eros v Catteneo.

http://www.wired.com/culture/lifestyle/commentary/

sexdrive/2007/07/

sexdrive_0713

Elaine Silvestri was the first to break the story in my hometown. We have conversed on several occasions. She has a pulse on the story too.

http://www.tbo.com/news/metro/MGBKZTHV44F.html

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PvP Justice

Well, this is my first post on a new blog. I’ve had this space for some time and never used it. I guess now is as good a time as any. Given the current legal climate around Second Life and my participation in it, I suppose this is the best way to keep people updated and informed. I get a lot of phone calls and requests concerning the Eros v John Doe litigation.

How this all came about…I was contacted by a regular customer about Volkov Catteneo selling SexGen bases at a reduced price. At first I didnt give it much thought as I get many such quieries that ultimately turn out to be a knock-off of SexGen (Multi Love Pose) I asked this customer if they would send me an example of the product Volkov was hawking. It turned out to be an exact duplicate of our Platinum Base. Not a replica or knock off but an exact anim for anim item.

I asked one of my employee’s to contact Volkov on their alt account and do some investigating. This employee was able to secure numerous identical bases for a fraction of our retail price. Volkov was very friendly and forthcoming to this alt, he even suggested that I be contacted for any support issues (The nerve). Volkov indicated in his conversation that he was aware that what he was doing was wrong. Our alt account also emphasized this. He was brazen about his ability to produce unlimited amounts of our product.

I personally did not approach Volkov about this matter. I will tell you why. The last time we found an instance of someone replicating our product(s) I approached them about it. They were distributing a specific model through a yardsale. I purchased dozens of this particular bed through friends and alts to substantiate that indeed this individual was selling EXACT duplicates of one SPECIFIC item. This individual even managed to let a full copy version slip into a friends inventory through a purchase. When I sent a take down notice to this gal she immediately went crying to the forums that I was “bullying” her. Regardless of the fact that every bed was identical and apparently available in unlimited quantities, she was able to garner support from some who believed her story, That she was buying this specific bed (mind you it was the only SexGen bed she had) through legitimate resale sources. I learned a valuable lesson. Let the courts decide through chatlogs, payment history and transaction histories. I took myself out of the equation and let juris prudence take its course. You cannot hide from your digital footprints.

Linden Lab will only investigate DMCA claims that have a specific location IN WORLD of an object or item. In other words, if it is in someone’s inventory and not sold through a storefront, there is little LL will do to stop copyright infringement. I believe that this emboldens these scammers knowing that as long as they distribute by word of mouth that they are invincible. Volkov is a prime example. He has admitted to selling illegal copies and even gives interviews to the press. He thinks that he is untouchable. We know otherwise.

This has never been an issue of revenge. It addresses the core of content development in Second Life. I was drawn to SL specifically because we were able to use our imagination to create whatever we desired as long as it did not violate others trademark/copyright. Linden Lab has held the stance from day one that they would protect our content. They have to. They know they do. SL is built on a thriving economy. If you undermine that economy SL will die. I have seen this happen in other worlds. This is not my first rodeo. “Social Networking” is the new Silicon Valley buzzword. We have seen the development of many major corporate prescenses in SL. Imagine the legal difficulties that would arise from the distribution of trademarked commodities of these companies within SL. Sony, Dell and IBM would pull out faster than a 15 year old virgin.

I love Second Life. It is my vocation and passion. I believe in its future and the people who will take us there. We have undergone immense growing pains. We have delved into waters yet unknown to the internet. We have opened an international portal that will connect people of all races, creeds and social standings. It is our world to obliterate or escalate. I will not surrender my (wet?) dream to griefers, scammers and their ilk.

To those who believe that this suit belongs in a virtual court, I challenge you to get my mortgage company to accept lindens in payment.

More to cumm…

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