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Counterfeiting in the virtual world |
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Written by Felix Da Silva (fdasilva@bitnip.com)
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Friday, 02 November 2007 |
 Shannon Grei (Munchflower Zaius in Second Life) has just filed a suit in the federal court in New York accusing Thomas Simon (Rase Kenzo in Second Life) for violating both the Lanham
Act and the Copyright Act. The act in question? Simon is accused of heading up a virtual counterfeiting ring by selling counterfeit virtual products.
The virtual goods in question are wide ranging from the normal avatar skins, virtual shoes, boots, and
even a "Classic DeVille Floor Lamp" to the adult-themed products like the "SexGen
Platinum+Diamond Base v5.01" have been counterfeited.
Simon, the New York resident being sued, told ABC news,
It's a video game. I didn't know you could sue anyone over it. Well, now you know. That's like me saying, 'It's only a book, I don't know you could sue anyone over it'. Sounds a bit silly now doesn't it? The fact that the 'goods' in question is virtual and that the 'goods' are being sold inside a virtual world should not make a difference.
Counterfeiting in a virtual world is still counterfeiting. Real money is involved and you're depriving the creators of the work the money that they should be receiving.
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