No, this YouTube video above wasn't shot in Second Life, but it's from YouTuber Dazza Vlogs who used to vlog about SL content -- but after receiving a scary legal notice from Linden Lab via YouTube, has refused to stop creating SL videos. As he also explained on New World Notes:
Unfortunately, I was one of the few to be hit with this Trademark complaint. I felt like I was doing something good by helping new people get involved with Second Life. The tutorials would have been nearly impossible to create without showing off the website a little. Seeing as I am only 18, it is quite scary to receive any kind of legal complaint. This has generally put me off the whole Second Life platform. I am considering not posting anymore YouTube content about Second Life what so ever because I want to feel free to post my own original content without worrying about any legal obligations. I do not want to post YouTube content anymore because I feel worried that this will happen again and again. This may generally be the end of my love for Second Life. These videos started off as a hobby to entertain people and give information about in-world items and I never dreamt of there being something "legal" behind it. This is very sad and generally shocking. I never thought that Linden Labs would do this when all we are doing is advertising for them free of charge.
Linden Lab publicly apologized to Strawberry Singh, but clearly other YouTubers deserve an apology, explanation, and reassurance. In addition to Dazza, there's:
- Cassie Middles, who has yet to receive a notice, but pulled some videos preemptively -- as "a safety precaution," she told me last week, "unlisting my tutorial videos. They were all 'how to' for how to join Second Life, create accounts and move and interact in Second Life."
- Alicia Chenaux, who did a similar thing: "I was lucky enough not to get hit with a trademark complaint. However, as a precaution, I also removed 2 tutorial videos. One was on how to sell your Lindens $, and one was on how to sell on the marketplace. The marketplace one was my highest viewed video, and also the one with the most comments because I explained everything in an easy manner."
... and likely other YouTubers we're not aware of. Thing is, an announcement on the official Second Life site is going to be missed by many or most users, or get repeated second hand in a confusing or unfair way. (I.E., "They only apologized to Strawberry because they only approve of her videos.") And a direct and personal apology goes a long way to restoring the community's trust. (A nice holiday gift might be nice too.)
Even though it's informative to see how other vloggers pulled some of their videos as as precaution to LL's initial reaction, I would much prefer to hear from Dazza and others who actually received notice from LL.
I hope we can find out who else was sent a notice, so that the community can support them as well. Vlogging Second Life content was growing in popularity. I would hate for something like this to stifle growth and discourage current and future vloggers from posting.
Posted by: Monica Querrien | Wednesday, December 20, 2017 at 01:07 PM
I pulled all my stuff and stopped promoting SL long ago before I had to say, "Fool me once, shame on you..."
Posted by: Scotty | Wednesday, December 20, 2017 at 03:58 PM
Iv e been contacted on Reddit by someone whose friend had legal action taken. I think the rather sad thing is that the general population of SL certainly doesn’t have the money to fight any legal battles. So the fear they suffer is probably far worse than the financial implication of a legal battle when they’re alone and all they’re doing is defending a fun video they made.
I agree all the other people need the apology too
Posted by: Isabelle cheren | Wednesday, December 20, 2017 at 11:25 PM
@Isabelle: Oh you don't get to do a legal battle with SL. By using the platform you agreed to arbitration. The deck is stacked against you no matter what.
Posted by: Dartagan Shepherd | Thursday, December 21, 2017 at 01:52 PM