Use of "Second Life" and the hand/eye symbol on a vehicle

If I sold a zeppelin, where the customer could select changeable banners to display on the tail, do I understand the policy correctly that you couldn't have the SL or hand/eye logo on there, but it might be okay to use the inSL logo? Or are they saying you can't use any of them on in-world merchandise?



Does that mean only in RL, or anywhere? I've read through the material provided there several times and I still don't quite know the answer.

I think I understand what they're trying to accomplish overall with the policy, but I'm not sure why they don't want avatars using the symbol in-world.

Thanks,
--Avion

Because it makes your SL product look like it's affiliated with Linden Lab, when it isn't. Some very old vehicles (like Cubey's Balloon) do actually display the hand icon but as far as I'm aware it's not permissible to continue doing so.

Yumi, Yeah that's what had me a little confused, because I see vehicles that have them.

To me it's just kind of a "rah rah, go SL, I love this place" thing, like putting the USA flag out on the fourth. You would think LL needs all of that they can get, but maybe my perception is different.

Avion, if LL were not a business, and if SL were not a product, then what you're saying would make perfect sense. It's an unfortunate fact of life on this planet that lines do have to be drawn between fan enthusiasm and IP protection. On a fan level, I totally agree with you that displaying the logo is an expression of your passion for SL, kind of like how we all used to write "Metallica" and "Iron Maiden" on our jean jackets in middle school. (Dating myself, am I?) But on a practical, unemotional, business-sense level, I completely understand why LL can't and shouldn't allow it.

LL is a business, and the SL logo is its trademark. By law, trademarks must be protected by their owners or they risk losing all meaningful value. Just as you wouldn't be allowed to stamp the Ford logo on your homemade kit car in RL, you can't be allowed to stamp an LL-owned logo on your virtual car in SL, unless you happen to work for LL, and you made the car directly for them. If it's your own product, not theirs, it needs your own branding, not theirs.