Tuesday, October 30, 2007 5:28 AM
One of the characteristics of the blawgosphere that I frequently encounter is its ability to focus on the narrowest of legal niches. That is, one (or more) of the participants in the blawgosphere's ability to focus on the narrowest of legal niches. Indeed, I am beginning to believe that the breadth of legal news and developments coverage in the blawgosphere may be more important than simply the raw number of blawgs out there.
Case in point, Virtually Blind, a blawg which covers legal news, issues, and events that impact virtual worlds.
Written by intellectual property lawyer Benjamin Duranske, the focus of the blawg is laid out in the first post, From the Editor: Welcome to Virtually Blind:
Welcome to Virtually Blind. This site will cover both real-world legal developments that impact virtual worlds and also in-world legal issues — collectively, “virtual law.”
Virtual worlds are fast becoming big business. Second Life recently registered its two-millionth account. Brands like IBM, Adidas, Toyota, Dell, and MTV have established Second Life presences. And there’s more to it than Second Life. Persistent-world games like World of Warcraft are massive hits, as much for their “virtual world” role-playing possibilities as for the virtual creature-slaying. Gaming systems are converging with computers, putting devices that can run virtual-world clients and persistent-state gaming environments in millions of living rooms.
What does this mean? Where people go, laws and government aren’t far behind. Will a real-world lawsuit help clarify the status of digital property? Will criminal charges result from in-world activity? Will someone’s in-world private legal system become the de facto standard? Will attorneys practicing law in-world get in trouble with real-world ethics bodies? Will someone bring a civil suit for emotional distress inflicted by an avatar?
These questions will inevitably arise, and virtual law will just as inevitably become part of the modern legal landscape. It should be interesting.
Looking for more information? Stop by the Second World Bar Association (yes, there is one and it has its own website).
Good stuff.