Multiple Accounts During Beta Testing

Multiple accounts and Liinden Lab's policy during Beta Testing

Summary

* Several closed beta members have more than one account. Sometimes this is an honest mistake (incorrect email during application, lost password, etc.) and other times the duplication is planned to support game play.
* During closed beta, we have no easy method of determining who is using more than one account. However, we know there are several situations where more than one member of a household has an account, so we will allow 2 accounts per IP address.
* We will continue to allow residents to have multiple accounts in Second Life after commercial launch, with each account having associated subscription fees.
* Please remember that you may lose content if you have multiple accounts during Beta, but choose not to once Second Life launches commercially.

Dear Second Lifers -
During a recent routine check of accounts and activity, we found that there are a handful of residents with more than one account. Some of these accounts have never been used, some of them have been used many times.

We have no easy way of identifying the person behind the computer while the account is being accessed, but as people can unfairly use one account to benefit another (a process commonly referred to as muling) we have created a policy to be enacted immediately that will remain in effect throughout the Beta period.

Residents are allowed 2 accounts per IP address. This would allow roommates, house mates, and otherwise paired individuals to share computers/internet connections.

Before rushing off to apply for a second account, though, please remember that if you're creating cool stuff with multiple accounts, and you decide you only want to continue with a single paid account subscription, you'll be in the unfortunate position of having to transfer or delete your creations. Any assets created with cancelled accounts will disappear once the account is no longer active.

For example:
Gertrude and Leopold are a married couple sharing their computer. Gertrude has two accounts, Leopold has one. There are three accounts on this IP address. Gertrude will lose one account.

Lilo and Stich are college roommates. Kermit and Piggy are also roommates in the same college. Their internet access gives them dynamic IP access each time they log in. It will look as if there are four accounts on one IP address. We will look at all available information and allow four accounts if it appears there are four separate people involved.

Aloysius has 5 accounts. He is using all of them to get money for his "primary" account. We will remove 3 accounts, and depending on behavior patterns, likely remove any financial exchanges between the remaining two accounts.

Sam has maintained 2 accounts during beta, creating wonderful structures and toys with both. When Second Life launches commercially, he decides he only wants to pay for one account. He is faced with the choice of deleting everything made with one account, or trying to move everything to one account, which is difficult because of limited funds.

As always,
please feel free to provide feedback on this policy.