Some questions.

The gaming industry as a whole is a highly competitive and mutable domain -- every company creates it own engine, closely guards its own methods, and sharing technology just isn't going to happen until either it is forced by some government (unlikely) or business evolves to a point where information sharing is both profitable and more efficient (let's just say human nature keeps that from happening and leave it at that).

The nature of the industry insures there are no third alternatives. This is why I said they only way they could manage not having to admininster their product is to stop offering it as a service and instead, offer it as a product.

Actually, it would be a great method for them. They could consult to implement and provide support for quarterly revenue and sales/licensing fees would provide regular infusions to support R&D and product improvement.

I read about the various companies that have approached them to license and how they tell them to basically 'buy a sim' and I cringe. It is astonishing short-sighted.

Fascinating. I agree that the idea of offering SL as a licensed product has considerable merit. Is it fair to say that you are arguing that the problem is largely a "gaming industry" mentality? And that a different mentality/different industry might be the solution?

Seems to me that "reconceiving" SL as, say, a community, institutional, or corporate communications and presentation platform, with certain kinds of data storage, retrieval, and diffusion capabilities, might go a long way toward enhancing consumer-created content and handling some of the technical, economic, and social issues we've seen.

I think they ultimately are going to spin this off.

But really, based on the general thread, the lindens are opposed to a top-down enforcement method. Are there any alternative Ideas and models out there?

Maybe they could institute exacting , highly detailed and specific land control tools.

And each land parcel would be soverign to the land owner - within certian very broad guidelines handed down by the Lindens.

Something like -

Profanity: yes/no
Mature: yes/no
Push Scripts: yes/no
allow ground level acess: yes/no
allow flying acess: yes/no
allow neg rating" yes/no
allow rezzing of object: yes/no
maximum number of Avs allowed in parcel:
maximum number of scripts allowed on parcel:
maximum number of attachments per av alowed on parcel:
allow members of parcel designated group to use push weapons on intruders: yes/no

etc, etc.

what i mean is if the land can be completely configured - then each parcel would be run by the parcel holder.

Of course point to point TP might have to be added since parcel woners may block access from Telehub? Im not sure how to handle this part.

Obligatory newbie quip:

Script unto others as you would have them script unto you... but she who has the code makes the rules.

Fascinating discussion, all. I feel like I've accidentally wandered into the future.

The SL Mediators are always available to resolve (or try to resolve) in-world problems. SL Mediators include some highly skilled professional in the field of conflict resolution (as well as me ). Its a bit less painful (I hope) then forming goverments.