Living in the Metaverse

I guess you have already heard about certain gentleman who thought that it is a nice biz and an ethical idea to grab legal opportunity to be the only one to use a word that is becoming popular. Something like…. SLart. If you're not, ask Vint Falken about it.

I really don't know who decides that and how, but there is no way to prove that Mr. Minsky's work is more SLart than any other artwork in second life. And that is needed for something to become a trademark. Go read it yourself in The Overview of Trademark Law. It is not about being a first one to set a foot on a word and claim to be owner of the word. You cannot be an owner of the word. And even if there is something in being the first, that word, SLart was in use before and out of context of Mr. Minsky's magazine and/or any other affairs. 

But who said that all the laws are respected all the time? Let alone that logic, common sense and a pinch of morality are used all the time? So we have a problem. There is an avatar on the grid that chase people and threats with lawsuits other avatars who are using the "SLart" word. It's like a mean chatbot. It walks around with the listeners open, induces lag, and on hearing the predefined string 'SLart' he llSay(blahblahlawsuit,blahtrademarkblahblah).

Vint considers ways to deal with the situation: 

• An eye trademark for an eye trademark
• Legal assistance: why we feel we may use SLart
• Legal assistance: cancellation of SLart trademark
• Cease and desist
• Screw you! I have a right to say 'SLart'

In translation you either get money for the lawyers or prepare for extensive use of middle finger in the future communication.

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