Nikon Camera - Is this kind of stuff still allowed in SL?

I know they banned banks.
I know they are getting on adfarmers and I guess camping is out too.

Is this copying junk still allowed in SL? is this something like what the copybot does? Why did someone drop me this? If I want a Nikon I will go get one from the mall down the street. I ask because if this is ok, I'm going to go make some Nike or Adidas shoes or something.

As far as I know, you can't use any "real life brand names" in-world without permission - which, of course, most people won't have.

Clearly when it's a build on behalf of the corporation (Nissan springs to mind) then of course they can sell Nissan cars ... but your average everyday car builder cannot.

Or at least they can, until reported or caught.

I see the above camera is set to modify. Does this invalidate the warranty?

wheres michael bigwig!?!

It would be legal to replicate the form and function, but the Nikon name is the property of a RL corporation, and is not allowed, any more than Coke, Nike, or General Motors would be, unless you had a license from the company to do so.

If it was me as the content designer, I'd rename the camera with a new brand name, like "Nikun", if you want it to look similar in name, or better yet, create a new brand entirely. Personally, I refuse contracts to create content that uses other company's trademarks and the like without licensed permission. And when I buy a product in SL, I try not to purchase the 'knock offs'. For example, I do own a very nice SL camera. It looks a lot like a real-world camera, but it doesn't use real world brands of logos.

Here is a whole thread in which the probable creator of that camera defended his actions.

/327/63/224726/1.html

Hey, I read before that Coke allows you to make things with their logo.

Here:

http://blog.rebang.com/?p=1335

what are you talking about? camping is in full swing.

Tradename and trademark protection is generally limited to specific uses and many registrations probably don't cover the use on virtual items in a virtual world. Some trademark holders with registrations file with very broad use classifications and theoretically could enforce against the use of their tradename and trademark with just about any product and of course if they actually do have a registration for the use of the name and logo in Second Life or for virtual items which some like Nike and Adidas may have at this point, then they have a claim against anyone using it in Second Life.

I don't think most holders of established trademarks for use of real goods care that much about them being used for virtual items in Second Life though. Coke sees any use as free advertising so they are more than happy for it to be used in Second Life.

My troll alarm and alt detector both just went off simultaneously, and I was all "WTF?" until I saw this thread.

FOr those that are new, or just don`t know. There are still many many products with copywrite lables stll around sl these days. I talking 2 to 4 years ago. So there you go.

Hmmmmm the OP has obviously run out of stuff to bitch about -- and might I point out that she is quoting song lyrics and assuming the name of a fictional, yet copyrighted character. Theft and misrepresentation -- I'm calling the RIAA.

I believe that Michael has stopped using the "Nikon" name.
.

Then I applaud him.

There have been freebie 'nike' shoes available for a long time I believe. Adidas officially came out with these unbelievably high prim shoes. I think they have closed their sim. I can't find the reebok sim either. I seriously doubt that any company would come down on any manufacturer here unless they are making massive amounts of money or giving their product a really bad name. Go ahead, someone give Nikon a call and see if they can get something done about it. Let us know what you discover.

Large companies that find their stuff being knocked off in SL will welcome this cheap opportunity to defend their copyright/trademark/brand name. If they don't actively defend their proprietary names, they run the risk of losing exclusive use of them. They're ok if they can document active efforts to protect them. Instead of haunting cut-rate shops and flea markets, they can just set a clerk at a computer checking SL. They get their name protection for little more than the cost of the cease-and-desist letter they send out. Armani has already done this in SL. Expect more to do same. OTOH, I'm sure many will freely give out SL usage licenses because it is, after all, cheap - in fact, no-cost - advertising for them, and the money they could expect to make here is less than rounding error for them.

What do you need a camera for in sl anyway?

Print screen works fine

Well there are still a few people using that trademark..........

why care?
seriously, if ppl want to make 'nikons' and 'sonys' and 'macs' why should i care?

An SL camera can help you to lock in a specific view and camera position for a series of snapshots. For example, if you want to photograph a model in the exact same pose in 15 different outfits, allowing her to change outfits between each shot. Without a scripted camera, you pretty much need to lock the snapshot-taking avatar in place with a pose ball, and somehow refrain from ever moving the camera view. Almost impossible if the subject moves at all.

People often make what they're familiar with. If they love their Nikon, then they might want one in Second Life, too. I make toys, for example, and while I do tend to change the names and such (or make stuff that has an expired copyright, such as the Whee-Lo I did last week), they are still based strongly on RL counterparts.



No. Copybot copies prim parameters, amongst other things. It does not convert RL products into SL products.



No idea.



Ick, print screen. much prefer the SL camera for photography -- of course, most prim-based cameras are more prop than functional. You dun need food and drink in SL either, but there's a big market in that.

There are other cameras, like that with the N30 or similar products, that assist with setting and keeping a position.

Mari

I dont think he has.. I paused at one of his kiosks in a grunge mall last night and was checking out the Nikons. Totally ok with that tho.. they're fine works of craftsmanship and I doubt anyone Nikon might throw into SL could do any better.

Hey...where was I for this? lol. I didn't even look at the date. I'm guessing this was a while ago.

First things first: I stopped using the name 'Nikon' many moons ago--I think over six months ago now. The brand was changed to "Mikon"...hey, I think it works well, considering my name.

Ok...

Secondly, asking the question 'why do people need cameras in SL?' is like asking the question, 'why do they sell clothing in SL?'

95% of items in SL are simply props, to emulate, simulate and recreate the real world we live in. If you are a photographer in RL, and have moved your passion to SL...a camera is a great prop to incorporate with your character and studio, so as to live and appear more like a photographer.

Lastly...I'm not sure I know what you mean by 'who dropped me this.' Did I send you something? And in what world or format did you receive it in?

Anyway...this topic is old hats...I've long since moved away from identity theft.

ps. Thank you for the compliment Dana.

michael the noselamp thread is calling you.
we can continue our discussion about your water feature lighting.

If you DARE turn off any of my finely-placed area lights, I'll cage you!