An Invitation to Apotheus & Merwen

First off I would like to dispel the rumor that SL Exchange has "changed hands". It has not. SL Exchange (otherwise known as slexchange.com) is a service offering of my own legally-registered sole proprietorship, and it has been since its inception. I am the owner or lessee of all the hardware, software, data, and services utilized for operation of SL Exchange.

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Merwan Marker is no longer an agent of SL Exchange, and this is the subject of my apology.

I cannot go into details of what happened or why I chose this path without compromising Merwan's privacy. What I can say is I handled the situation poorly. So poorly that I committed what some would call blackmail (though my act does not technically fall under the definition). I was hostile and downright unfair. I look back on what I did now and I honestly have no idea why I did it that way.

Merwan, I deeply regret the way I went about this. We should have had an open dialog, gentleman-to-gentleman. I am sorry.

Cubey, I apologize for putting you in this awkward situation that should be mine alone to manage.

SLers, I am sorry that my actions and the subsequent rumors have caused some of you to question your participation in the services SL Exchange offers.

Upon realizing my errors, I have attempted to make what amends were possible. Everyone involved has been paid in full as promised, and I have removed a potentially profitable service that was Merwan's original idea from the website. I can only hope that this might mend some of the bad feelings.


For those of you who have uncertainty about the future of SL Exchange, be assured that we will continue operations. Cubey Terra has accepted my offer to join the team and bring his keen sense of style to the overall experience, and I am continuing my work on improving and expanding the site.

I sincerely hope that this post answers people's questions surrounding this controversy. I will monitor the thread to make clarifications and answer any questions I am able to answer.

When a bell rings, the sound travels from a single source outward. A bell can not be un-rung, this song can not be unsung.

Many people have asked me to speak about SL Exchange so they could decide how to proceed. Others have asked what to do regarding their products and L$ held at the site; some have asked what will happen in the future. I have even been encouraged to join in other ventures and to become active in boycotts of one sort or another.

I am NOT attempting to persuade public opinion - my goal has been just the opposite! I have worked to keep this private and to get back to business as usual, and that has not happened.

I've talked privately with SL residents who are uniquely involved with our community and who would be honest with me. I have also consulted with others I know personally and professionally.

SL Exchange has been involved with a number of RL and SL businesses. We have had discussions concerning services, features, and expansion into additional SL and RL markets. Other businesses are aware of our efforts from different perspectives - venture capital investors, Linden Lab folks, and other inWorld business people. I have used due diligence at all times, and have honored the terms and conditions of my SL Exchange business contract, the LL TOS and Community Standards. I continue to do so.

There is a written partnership contract detailing the SL Exchange business. I have a 40% owner share in SL Exchange - my business partner knows this, and has acknowledged our partnership contact as recently as today.

Simply put - I have been party to an attempted hostile take over of my ownership share of SL Exchange. This began early morning of 1/12/2005 when I was locked out of SLExchange.com and denied access to our business accounts.

At no time prior to 1/12/2005 was I informed by my partner that he had serious concerns about our business transactions. Six days later, just after midnight on 1/18/2005, he began this thread. During the previous 6 days, (12th-18th) he refused all attempts to discuss his grievances - including an inWorld meeting with a Linden Lab representative and myself.

On the afternoon of 1/18/2004, I received a message from him acknowledging our business contract, and an offer to purchase my 40% portion of SL Exchange. The offer stated that my failure to sell to him would result in SL Exchange ceasing operations. Some inWorld discussions have occurred, but we have failed to agree on how to value the business. I've been presented a final buyout offer and I am again told my failure to sell to him will result in the liquidation of the business. I have rejected his offers.

Lastly, the reference to blackmail in message #1 was not made by me. It referred to the first message to me on 1/12/2005 explaining why I was locked out of the website. In that message a L$-amount was offered to be paid to me immediately on 1/12/05 in return for my silence concerning the termination of my involvement with SL Exchange. If I choose not to agree to his cash offer, he stated I would receive nothing but I would be free to talk. I was also informed, there would be no negotiations, no telephone calls, no instant messages regarding this situation.

I thank everyone for their patience and restraint and the many messages of support and encouragement during this difficult time. Your positive words do matter, and their impact on me has been helpful.

Fine with me, but we have to hang at least one of them.

Entertainment value.

The mob must be satisfied.

WTF man, where's the hostility coming from? What did I ever do to you, boy?

Man, you rough around the edges, just like a razor.

I would respectfully ask other people not to post here, but to allow the two of you to address our concerns without interference.

WTF man, where's the hostility coming from? What did I ever do to you, boy?

Man, you rough around the edges, just like a razor.