The Virtual Law 2008 Conference is being held in
Virtual law needs to be talked about because virtual worlds exist. A virtual world is basically a very, very, large website. It may look three dimensional, but its not. You cannot get to a virtual world as a human person. You, the person, sit in front of a computer and control an “avatar.” Avatars are computer generated images of people (or animals, or fantasy creatures) that interact in virtual worlds.
Now, the real people that are controlling the avatars, control what the avatars say, and how they act, depending on the rules of the world’s creator. Some worlds have gravity like Earth, some don’t. Those are the sorts of rules that virtual worlds have. Not, is a marriage between two avatars legal in the Province of Manitoba, or does virtual property, like that fancy lamp I programmed last night, have real world value. That’s why the lawyers need to have a conference.
If you’re thinking, “What do I care what these haywire kids fight about on their computers,” time for a reality check. First of all, they’re not all kids. Second, these issues are just starting to emerge. Third, let’s face it, if the lawyers are talking about it, there’s got to be big money involved.
The conference looks pretty interesting. Steve Mortinger, VP & Associate General Counsel for IBM will be giving a keynote address titled the Top Ten Things a Brand Should Know about Virtual Worlds. IBM certainly knows about branding, and 5,000 of their employees have avatars in virtual worlds like Second Life.
Second Life has more than 12 million users, and is only one of the many, many virtual worlds out there. IBM has a sales presentation centre in Second Life, and employees working there. So, your avatar can fly over to the IBM centre and chat with a sales person about the type of computer they should purchase.
A lot of companies are also holding meetings in virtual worlds. It saves them tons of money in travel costs. It’s a great conferencing tool.
But what happens when the boss’s avatar tries to kiss an underling? Is that breaking the office policy?
Legal issues that stem from virtual worlds and get played out looking for resolution in the real world are on the rise. Can you steal virtual property? Can you legal marry on-line? Is the real you legally responsible for the actions of your avatar?? As silly as it might sound, that where the world is headed…. or rather, where the worlds are headed.
With millions and millions of people interacting online, relationships are formed. Communities are formed. And where there are people congregating, there are entrepreneurs and advertisers. It was only a matter of time before there was also a need for law makers and enforcers.