The Alphaville Herald

It Has To Be Said: Internet Lawyers

In the United States, there are a few states left where you don’t have to go to law school in order to be an attorney.  In California, with some restrictions, you can be a lawyer over the internet.   Some states allow someone to "read the law" or simply work with a licensed attorney in order [...]

False DMCAs Fizzle – Kalel Venkman Fingered !!!

Typepad ‘fesses up – some DMCA-disputed images, text have gone missing

by Pixeleen Mistral, National Affairs desk
Gregory Eugene Turnbow (Kalel Venkman in Second Life) has been identified as the complainant who submitted a DMCA request to Typepad that resulted in removal of content from six Herald stories covering the Second Life Justice League Unlimited.
Mr. Turnbow’s copyright [...]

Stroker Serpentine & Munchflower Zaius – 2009 Avatars of the Year

Class action complaint against Linden Lab leads to avatar of the year award
by Pixeleen Mistral, National Affairs desk
In 2009, there was no question of which the players had the biggest impact on the metaverse. After lawyering up and heading to the courthouse, virtual sex toy entrepreneur Stroker Serpentine and noted avatar skin and clothing designer [...]

SL Shrink Analyzes DMCA Crazed Caped Crusader

Kalel Venkman suffering from incomplete immersion or over-augmentation?
by Pixeleen Mistral, National Affairs desk
In a story titled O Superman the eggheads at SL Shrink analyze Justice League Unlimited leader Kalel Venkman
and seem to be asking if the DMCA wielding role play super hero – or super thug? – might be
suffering from some sort of toxic [...]

Quick Guide to Intellectual Property

by Jessica Holyoke
With all of the intellectual property stories going through the Herald lately, a quick reference guide is provided to our readers to understand what is going on.  
COPYRIGHT: This is the art major.  Copyright provides protection for works of art and literature, anything that is an expression of an idea.  It provides a [...]

Bill Gurley Discovers Virtual World Bean Counting

Why there is a difference between the provider and the consumer
by Jessica Holyoke
Over on  above the crowd blog, Linden Lab board member Bill Gurley talks about a sit-down meeting with Jeff Grabow of Ernst and Young.  Presumably this was in a real office and not in an immersive workspace premium collaboration solution.  In this meeting, [...]

Pixeleen Mistral Files Legal Response to Venkman’s DMCA Abuses

Herald news Idoru pseudonym sacrificed in free speech fight
by Peter Ludlow (aka Urizenus Sklar), Herald Founder
Sometimes we all have to take a stand.  In this case Herald Editrix Pixeleen Mistral, facing an outrageous abuse of the DMCA by Kalel Venkman, has, pursuant to Section 512(c)(1)(C) of the DMCA, filed documents disputing Venkman's claims of copyright [...]

Techdirt Slams Typepad Takedown Of “Clear Cut Fair Use” JLU Coverage

Second Life vigilante gang's coverup tactics questioned
by Idoru Wellman, staff writer
Responding to a questionable copyright infringement claim, last night Typepad gutted the Herald's coverage of the Justice League Unlimited with takedowns of disputed content from six stories. Was this justified? 
Techdirt.com legal issues writer Mike Masnick questions Typepad's handling of the situation in  "Second Life [...]

Six Apart Seeks Safe Harbor From Justice League Unlimited DMCA Storm

Embarrassed Second Life role-play superhero police force swings mighty DMCA hammer again
by Pixeleen Mistral, National Affairs desk
Herald coverage of the Justice League Unlimited has been edited by Six Apart staff to remove text and images which Six Apart has informed the Herald are subject to copyright infringement claims. This action came after the Herald declined [...]

Typepad Threatens Takedown of Herald Justice League Unlimited Exposé

Will role-play superheros' copyright claims trump free speech?
by Pixeleen Mistral, National Affair desk
Typepad administrator Jen has given Herald a deadline of January 29th to gut our coverage of the Second Life Justice League Unlimited's wiki, citing a Typepad Terms of Service violation for "displaying copyrighted text and images without permission". The Herald has declined to [...]