A business idea with 1.6 coming: Real clothing stores

thanks Blaze

Wait till I start putting up real life billboards in SL for Ford, Apple, and Microsoft

Well I dont think its just Catherine vs Captalism if it is someone better inform:

Bedazzle
Sim Cast
Darklife
Edice Rex
Spellbound

Not everyone thinks that SL is just for commercial purposes.

It's clearly written in the TOS that it is forbidden to advertise non-Second Life related products or services within Second Life. That means that regardless of Pathfinder's endorsement above this business model would be a clear violation of the TOS.

And Nexus Prime, don't forget about Nexus Prime. Haha

Yup Rathe which is very interesting from where I'm sitting.

Cat

Hehe yeah but who knows what ToS changes come with 1.6.

Is this the passage you're referring to?

"In addition to abiding at all times by the Community Standards, you agree that you shall not: ... (vii) upload, post, email or otherwise transmit any unsolicited or unauthorized advertising, promotional materials, "junk mail," "spam," "chain letters," "pyramid schemes," or any other form of solicitation;"

In which case I don't see a distinction made between the advertising of SL and RL products/services.

Pol, you're absolutely right! I just re-read the entire TOS and there is no policy restricting the advertising of real life products or services in Second Life. Yet, I'm 100% positive there WAS. It seems the TOS has been updated. This comes as a big surprise to me since I run MetaAdverse and constrict all content to Second Life related only content due to the TOS policy that limited advertising to this. This is a very interesting change in policy! Would anyone happen to have an old copy of the TOS to compare it with?

Look again folks

"In addition to abiding at all times by the Community Standards, you agree that you shall not: ... (vii) upload, post, email or otherwise transmit any unsolicited or unauthorized advertising, promotional materials, "junk mail," "spam," "chain letters," "pyramid schemes," or any other form of solicitation;"



"or any other form of solicitation"

Pronunciation: s&-"li-s&-'tA-sh&n
Function: noun
1 : the practice or act or an instance of soliciting; especially : ENTREATY, IMPORTUNITY
2 : a moving or drawing force : INCITEMENT, ALLUREMENT

Main Entry: so·lic·it
Pronunciation: s&-'li-s&t
Function: verb
Etymology: Middle English, to disturb, take charge of, from Middle French solliciter, from Latin sollicitare to disturb, from sollicitus anxious, from sollus whole (from Oscan; akin to Greek holos whole) + citus, past participle of ciEre to move -- more at SAFE, -KINESIS
transitive senses
1 a : to make petition to : ENTREAT b : to approach with a request or plea
2 : to urge (as one's cause) strongly
3 a : to entice or lure especially into evil b : to proposition (someone) especially as or in the character of a prostitute
4 : to try to obtain by usually urgent requests or pleas
intransitive senses
1 : to make solicitation : IMPORTUNE
2 of a prostitute : to offer to have sexual relations with someone for money
synonym see ASK

Who knew?

The current wording is still significantly different than it was previously. I wish I had an old copy to compare the differences. The new wording is simply more confusing and vague however.

Let this be fair warning...if anyone tries to use their allurement to importune me, they are so getting abuse reported.

"In addition to abiding at all times by the Community Standards, you agree that you shall not: ... (vii) upload, post, email or otherwise transmit any unsolicited or unauthorized advertising, promotional materials, "junk mail," "spam," "chain letters," "pyramid schemes," or any other form of solicitation;"

Clearly stated above; " you agree that you shall not: ... (vii) upload, post, email or otherwise transmit any unsolicited or unauthorized advertising, promotional materials,"

so there ya go in black and white. I would read that to say what it says.

For the record I don't authorize anyone to advertize their real life products to me.


No Solicitation.

For instance...what does "unauthorized" mean in this context?

Definition
unauthorized, UK ALSO unauthorised [Show phonetics]
adjective [before noun]
without someone's official permission to do something or be in a particular place:
No admittance to unauthorized personnel.
This unauthorized biography of the Princess has sold over 10 000 copies in its first week in print.


source: Cambridge Dictionary.

I read it as clearly designed to prevent spamming. Unsolicited direct contact such as messages, email, or notecard spamming. I HIGHLY doubt they mean to state that you cannot advertise products by other means on your own property because someone visiting your property would be soliciting it. So clearly an in-world object in an in-world store that linked to a real-world page as given in the example above, would be ok.

"In addition to abiding at all times by the Community Standards, you agree that you shall not: ... (vii) upload, post, email or otherwise transmit any unsolicited or unauthorized advertising, promotional materials, "junk mail," "spam," "chain letters," "pyramid schemes," or any other form of solicitation;"

Bolding words out of context doesn't have much effect legally. You forgot to bold unsolicited or unauthorized which clearly defines it as that of being unsolicited. If you're shopping in someones store for example, you are clearly seeking it out and therefor it is not unsolicited.

Note the word "HIGHLY"

point taken.

I know what words I used. I did so because unlike you, I KNOW that I am not a lawyer and therefor can not offer explicit legal advise. Are you? Didn't think so.

Thanks, but that doesn't help with context. Who is the authority in this case?

You guys need to ask Philip or anyone at LL about these questions apparently I am no help to you. Here is their Ph. #: (415) 243-9000
They are open right now, let us know what you find out ok

Their verbal answer will be as vague as the TOS. The issue, as I see it, is not one of solictation. That to me, is clear. No solictitation. If I go to a store, I am seeking information on the products. I can choose to leave the store but that doesn't give the shopkeeper the right to email or IM me information on the store unsolicited.

Anywho, the real issue will be if they allow RL goods and services to mix with SL goods and services. All kinds of intellectual property and trademark issues will come up. While I like the idea of RL goods being sold through SL, the shit would hit the fan. There are endless copyright infringements currently in the SL world. Start mixing rl and sl and you will see more interested parties checking out what exactly goes on in SL.

For example, if I sell Mary Kay cosmetics and am desparate for that pink cadillac and see that someone else is selling Mary Kay in-world; yet their Mary Kay displays are next to their fisting table in their adult club, don't you know I'm going to contact Mary Kay world headquarters and ask them how they can have their products in such an environment. Think I'm exaggerating? Wait and see...wait and see....

I doubt this can of worms will be set free but if it is I will look forward to the carnage.

Excellent advise. I'm personally unable to place a phone call at the time but I'd love to hear the feedback if anyone does. Still seeking an old copy of the TOS though if anyone has one. Would be nice if we had better notice of changes to the TOS.