Bullying Bunnies threaten Legal Action over Ad

I would think that only the agrieved party can take action over a trademark violation. If these bunnies don't represent the owner of the trademark, they can't do anything apart from drawing you to the attention of the TM owner.

Trademarks in-world are handled a bit differently than copyright, largely due to trademarks not falling under the provisions of the DMCA. In regards to copyright, Linden Lab follows a standard DMCA procedure by which we'll disable any content identified by the copyright holder or their agent as infringing. The Second Life Resident responsible for that content can file a counterclaim, but any final resolution is handled by the parties themselves, outside of Second Life.

Trademark is not included in the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, and thus we're obliged to removed unauthorized trademarks from Second Life whenever they are found. In practice, this is exactly what we do. However, as Second Life is a user-created and driven space, we approach this task from the same 'bottom-up' perspective that drives much of our in-world governance. The in-world Linden Lab are skilled facilitators and problem solvers; they aren't trademark experts. Indeed, given the global nature of Second Life, it's invertible that their ability to identify trademarks will be imperfect. While their work includes removing identified trademarks, they are not tasked with seeking out offending material and generally refrain from acting presumptively. Instead, we rely on the community itself, with its much broader knowledge and reach, to inform us of content that violates our policy.

Depending upon how your ad is written, you could have Trademark trouble. One of the key issues is whether you use the words "Playboy" and "Playgirl" in a way that may cause confusion with the Trademarked names. But that's an issue of fact that cannot be determined without looking at the ad.

By the way, if there is a dress code for women in Second Life before they can be taken seriously, is there also a dress code for men before they could be taken seriously?

I already changed the wording to the way they "wanted" me to word it. But how do I know they are legit? Anyone can be whatever they want to be, here. I can land on someone's store right now...and do the exact same thing.

The wording of the ad was "Playboy Mansion"....like Bachelor Pad....describing a particular type of person's home.....I did not say THE Playboy Mansion which would describe an entertainment facility. They "whomever they might be" told me it was ok to say Mansion for Playboys.

But how do I know they are legit? Anyone can be whatever they want to be, here. I can land on someone's store right now...and do the exact same thing.

If they're not legit, LL would then be duly informed that a new form of Griefing is being perpetrated on residents.

--Rema

This is just another example of the egotistical maniacs of sl who run rampant in they're warped thinking.


Bless their souls..


..said the devil.

Anyone claiming to be a lawyer and acting as such on behalf of a client should have no problem giving you all the real world information that would normally be on their business card. Then you'd be able to verify with their states bar association and have your lawyer send them a letter to their RL office.

OK - there is a sim that says it is the "Official" Playboy sim......how do I know that? Just by labeling yourself as "Official" here........????

Their official sim is called "Playboy".

You know its official as their legal team would have destroyed anyone else naming a sim that, and the lindens wouldn't have allowed anyone else naming it that in the first place due to breach of trademarks.

I find it hard to believe the similarity of the name was not intentional.

Not for anyone who wasn't born before the 1950's

So after profiting from the popularity of the name Playboy, you don't want the negative opinions of those who don't like you profiting from the name association.

If they are abuse file an AR

Otherwise,

Too bad.

2 cute little bunny girls pop onto your land....and after the "Hello"....tell you that you have to change the wording of your ad because you are violating licensing for a trademark.....and one of the little bunny girls is an attorney licensed in 5 states. I'm sorry....but I had to tell her that it is difficult for me to believe, the way she is dressed, standing in Fantasyland.

I just want to quote this to draw attention to Playboy's treatment of their female employees.

I just want to quote this to draw attention to Playboy's treatment of their female employees.

No reason to think they are all actually females, is there?

Because they are held at gunpoint in the mansion.

Mickey, as much of a defense as you've attempted for your ad & naming practices, the fact remains that any American reading an ad for a "Playboy Mansion" is instantly going to assume that it's for THE Playboy Mansion. It's just hard-wired into our naughty little brains to make that connection.

Now, if you said in your ad that it's a mansion "suited to the lifestyles of swingers and playboys," that's a whole 'nother ballgame. That also matches what you claim that your visitors label themselves as. To my mind, that would be the safer road. QUOTE]

I understand....I'm going to play with the wording....it's just that you have to use as few words as possible in those ads. I could lose the word playboy entirely....probably won't make a difference.

I sent an email to their copyright department. I also contacted the sim owner.

Their Trademarks include the word Playboy....but they also include Bunny Costume, Centerfold, and Spice.
Now tell me how they are going to monitor the word Spice. And are any of you advertising Bunny Costumes for sale?

The purpose of the email is to report someone who is implying that they are a legal representative for the corporation....using an anonymous avatar....and not producing real life information, as I requested.

I acknowledged the use of the word Playboy....and they are welcome to go into further detail on how it can be used.

But I want them to be aware of a bunny girl representing herself as their legal representative....in fantasy land. To me....her representation and presentation (or misrepresentation) was more of an infringement upon their company....and much more of a threat.....then me describing promiscuous bachelors with a suitable word.

Will be interesting to see if they take it seriously, and if I get a response.

True, but I think my point stands




You're right, there's no such thing as economic coercion. There is also no such thing as showing blatant disrespect by sending your lawyers in dressed as rabbits because they happen to be female.

Why are men so into bestiality anyway?

Was any proof offered that these two idiots actually worked for Playboy? No? Then I guess you need to retract that statement.

Economic coercion, oh you mean they are indebted to Hefner and are working as indentured servants to pay of the debts? No?

Ok, then they make a decision to earn more money than they would by working at the local Wal Mart in a manner in which YOU do not approve. Ok, I understand now.

I am not into beastiality. So you have another blanket statement that is wrong.