SLPTO - Interview with FlipperPA Peregrine.

Content theft is alive and kicking in SL, but there is someone helping to give the power back to the creators.

I recently had the pleasure of speaking with FlipperPA Peregrine, one of the oldest SL residents, who is starting a wonderful service for content creators, called SLPTO (Second Life Patent & Trademark Office). SLPTO offers a chance to register, protect and add value to your creations, and will also hopefully educate others on the right way to do things. I spoke with FlipperPA about his new service, and what he thinks of the content theft that is occuring in SL more and more each day.

Venus Vendetta: Ok, well lets start with who u are in SL

FlipperPA Peregrine: Well, I'm one of the oldest SL residents - been here for four years. I've done a lot of projects in the past: I'm a founding member and organizer of the Second Life Community Convention, I wrote the coded and founded SLBoutique.com - which I've since sold to the Electric Sheep Company (now Shop.OnRez), so I've had a lot of interaction over the years with most of the best known content creators in world. A few of them were actually the ones who asked me to do this: people like Stroker Serpentine and Munchflower Zaius.

Venus Vendetta: Wonderful :). So obviously you have a lot of respect for original content creators?

FlipperPA Peregrine: Absolutely! They make this wonderful world we live in - and I'm married to one :-)

Venus Vendetta: :)

FlipperPA Peregrine: And, Surreal Farber of Phobos Design actually just showed up at my house in RL :-).So you could say I've got a lot of respect for them.

Venus Vendetta: As there should be! So what is your opinion of the increasing amounts of content theft in SL?

FlipperPA Peregrine: My attorney is also a close friend of mine - Frank Taney - and he now does a ton of work for SL content creators on my referral. This includes the Electric Sheep Company, and he's the guy arguing Stroker Serpentine's IP infringement case right now. I can't stand the thievery. The low morality of a lot of people really grates on my nerves. People reselling items provided for free, using exploits to steal creations -it just isn't right. I'm glad to see Stroker and some of the other content creators taking a stand!

Venus Vendetta: As am I :)

FlipperPA Peregrine: I'm hoping that SLPTO will be a tool to help people with storing proof as a neutral third party, and also educate them on their rights. The limited edition system is pretty cool too; anyone who buys a creation will have their purchase recorded in our database, so you'll know you got "#5 out of 40 available".

Venus Vendetta: Do you think that the current process of filing a DMCA with LL reporting the theft is sufficient?

FlipperPA Peregrine: I've been a bit disappointed with Linden Lab's reaction to DMCA filings. I don't think they've got an adequate system in place, and they're in jeopardy of falling under the safe harbor provision. For example, they'll only remove stolen items from in-world locations, not inventory. But that's for a court to eventually decide. I understand they don't want to fall victim to the DMCA being used as a weapon, but they need to be more proactive when there's clear proof.

Venus Vendetta: Do you think that they are, in a way, offering a Band-Aid solution for something which should be taken much more seriously? I mean, content is what creates our world.

FlipperPA Peregrine: We're going to have to end up protecting ourselves the same way we would in the real world to content theft. There will always be people looking for an angle. Everything from Gucci knock offs to outright IP theft occur all the time in the real world. The goal is to minimize it and offer real value through branding. For example, when you buy something of Aimee Weber's, you're not just getting an outfit. You're getting her hard work, her image, the butterfly wings, the raver kid image. That has a real value to it beyond the product itself. I'm hoping the registered limited editions challenge people to think of the value in their virtual items. How many times have you heard someone say, "I just couldn't live without my [fill in the blank]!"

Venus Vendetta: Yes, I know I am one of them! What do you think of people comparing SL to software like 'Napster'. as in it's going to happen and it is almost futile to try and stop it?

FlipperPA Peregrine: What I find interesting is that the music industry priced themselves into Napster's evolution. The same problem hasn't occurred as badly with the movie industry. I think this is because you can buy the entire Die Hard trilogy for $12 at Best Buy, yet CDs are $15 isn't that a bit out of whack? I don't believe for one second that people should break the law just because its digital - whether that's Napster or SL. That said, there is a special layer of hell for the lawyers in the RIAA :-)

Venus Vendetta: :) I can imagine

FlipperPA Peregrine: I prefer to buy directly from the artist - or Radiohead's new approach

Venus Vendetta: The service that you are in the process of creating, SLPTO, could be described as a much needed one, could you explain exactly what it is?

FlipperPA Peregrine: SLPTO allows people to register their creations. We're not a legal authority, but we are a neutral third party who will provide dates of registration for our users :-)
Venus Vendetta: And will this, in your opinion, give contect creator's more control on their creations, and how to deal with theft?

FlipperPA Peregrine: It should. It should also educate people on the proper way of doing things. We're looking into automating DMCA take down notices, copyright applications, and so forth.

Venus Vendetta: Well I'm sure that creator's all over SL will appreciate your hard work with this, and let's hope that it helps with the ongoing battle of contect theft.

FlipperPA Peregrine: Thanks! It is easy as pie to register items - if you take a look at the site, you'll see easy instructions - with screenshots! If you're set up with OnRez or SLExchange, you can also just add our script to their boxes so you don't have to double pack boxes. Then just add pictures and you're all set. The limited edition code is quite cool too - details are available on the site :)

Venus Vendetta: Well best of luck with that, and hopefully word will spread around, something like this is sorely needed in SL, and the limited edition code is an awesome idea!

FlipperPA Peregrine: Thanks for taking the time to listen to me rant :-)

Venus Vendetta: And thank you for your time, and insight :).

Visit www.slpto.com for more information on this great new service.

Welcome! Let's work together to make this a helpful resource!

Second Life is a wonderful place for many to indulge in their creative side, make some cash, and see their ideas come to fruition before their eyes. The amount of talented people in Second Life is mind boggling, as is the amount of time that many of these creators spend on their labours of love, bringing their visions to life.

Sadly, content theft is on the rise in Second Life. Different methods are being used to snatch creator's content from them, sometimes these items are changed slightly, sometimes not. This affects everyone's experiences in Second Life, in different ways.

Whether it be cost increases being passed down to the consumer, due to sale declines or the creator simply feeling uninspired to create more content, for fear that their hours of work will be compromised as soon as they get them out here, content theft is a problem that affects all of us.

This is my contribution to the fight against content theft. I hope to create an informative resource for consumers, and creators, helping to identify those who are trying to make a quick buck off your hard work, whether it be in a small market stall, or a full sim scan job.

My intentions are not for this blog to be filled with false accusations, lies and slander, but for the items posted here, and the names that are named, to be researched to the best that they can.

The process will be this: simply email in your concerns about an item (VenusVendettaBlog@gmail.com) , the creator's name and what it is etc. This will be followed through with an in-world IM and notecard to the offender, and time for a response will be given. The original creator will also be contacted, and asked if they could give their opinion on if it is content stolen from them.

If there is a negative, or no response from the alleged thief, the details will be posted here, all the while giving the accused an opportunity to explain themselves.

I also hope to do informative interviews with creators, to further educate residents on how content theft impacts in our community as a whole.

Offensive behaviour, threats, false information and insults will not be tolerated, but please feel free to comment as you wish, after all we have to work together to make anything work.

V