Second Life sex program lawsuit

Second Life, the free-to-play MMO, is something which constantly annoys me. It seems a day doesn't go by without somebody claiming a 'virtual world first' in the game, whether it's the US Army setting up an online virtual recruiting centre, or UK artists providing virtual exhibitions. It got tedious a long time ago.

That said, today's first is a little bit more interesting than most others, if only because of the adult nature.

The real world owner of one of SL's most popular sex programs, which gives users realistic 'equipment' and provides them with the resulting animations, has been forced into court to protect his rude programing skills.

You see, Second Life is filled with user-generated content and users who create in-game items and animations may then sell them on to other users for the in-game currency, Linden Dollars, which have a real exchange rate and everything.

Kevin Alderman, owner of SL company Eros LLC, created the sexy program and has sold it within quite successfully for the last four years. Recently though, Kevin found out that an avatar called 'Volkov Catteneo' has been reselling his work without permission. When Alderman confronted Volkov, he reportedly responded with; "What are you going to do? Sue me?"

Yes, he is.

Apparently, this is the first real-world litigation between customers of the game, with the crux being that items created in a game by a user are owned by the creator, along with the copyright. It seems Alderman has a perfectly valid case of copyright infringement on his hands then and has set his lawyers to the task of gathering PayPal records and evidence for the case ahead.

Ever tried Second Life? Ever stolen or pirated software? Let us know in the forums.