Teens on the main grid == Adults on the teen grid

Linden Lab Staff,

I would ask that you publicly address the unbalanced nature of your current registration system which would allow a teenager (anyone under 18 years old) to register and become a participant on the main grid while still preventing adults from using the teen grid.

Isn't it only fair that it should work both ways? While we have teens inhabiting the main grid stealing textures and designs from even our most prominent designers, and selling their stolen findings on the teen grid, we have no way of stepping into the teen grid to create an abuse report and actually "verify" that the illeged stolen designs are indeed ours without facing disciplinary action ourselves! How is this fair?

You have given free domain to these teens who in no way support or stabilize the SL economy and are allowing them to reak hovoc on your loyal, supportive, paying customers.

1. How do you verify that new residents are adults and not teens?
   
2. When teens steal textures using the SL hack and recreate designs on the teen grid, how can we report them?
   
3. If teens can use our grid, why is it that we cannot use theirs?
   
4. What is the purpose of having a teen grid if they are using our grid?
   
5. Are their any plans to remedy this situation?
   

Thank you LL for your thoughtful reply.

Hello MadamG!

There are some definite misconceptions here which need to be clarified so there's no confusion.


1. This has been answered many times in previous Linden posts on SL Answers, including by Robin and Blue. Please feel free to use the search tool and look for words like "teen". In short, should there be doubt of someone's age, we require verification via government-issued ID or a birth certificate. This is legal, standard verification, and isn't particular to Second Life.

2. You can file a DMCA form, and provide the source of how you found out about this infringement to assist the investigation. Related question here.

3. No, teens are NOT allowed to "use" the Main Grid. It works--or more accurately, is prohibited both ways. There's been ideas about a future "shared space" for teens and adults alike--however, this is still very much in discussion.

4. Hmmm this sounds unfair. Again, no, teens are NOT allowed to "use" the Main Grid. The purpose is to provide teenagers with their own safe, satisfying Second Life experience. Please also see this. Again, many past SL Answers about this--I'd happily recommend a search.

5. Specific contexts are needed, not vague fears of some sort of "ghostly teen bootleg invasion" as I've heard it called. If you're thinking of an individual instance, and you've got the evidence, great! Please don't hesitate to get all the details and send us a DMCA form as requested.


"Playing both grids" is treated severely, and can lead to a permanent ban from Second Life if an investigation warrants it so. This includes intellectual property infringement, which, when legal proof is provided, is taken absolutely seriously. Has it happened before? Yes, certainly has. I've seen it for myself.

Realistically as well--I should mention that information of how to "verify" this is often leaked outside of Second Life itself. For example, one teen posts on a 3rd-party forum to an adult that they've seen their work copied, and has pictures, coordinates, and more. In turn, that teen could be contacted by our legal department to continue the proceedings. Additionally, you could ask a Linden Liaison via Help > Live Help menu if you have even an inkling of a lead to follow up on, and it'll be communicated.

It should also be emphasized--and I know you didn't say this, but some will draw conclusions--that there are numerous talented teen creators who do their own original works, and don't have a need to blatantly rip off what others, teen or adult Resident, have achieved.

Also! For reference, please see: Trademarks and Copyright in Second Life.

Hope this helps.