The Harry Potter books and movies have finally run their course, but The Second Life Roleplay blog has news of a new Harry Potter role play sim coming soon to SL, which aims to be (in the creators' words) "strictly canon to the books/movies. Many of the current Harry Potter RPGs (in SL) lack this." The Hogwarts build and the uniforms look pretty accurate and beautifully done (see them here on this Flickr stream). If you're a hardcore Potter fan, you can read this long Q&A with the developers on Plurk, with questions of such Hogwartian geekery as "I have a question about Hogsmead/Diagon Alley! Would we be able to roleplay there when it's built?" One question that doesn't come up there, far as I can see: "What do you think JK Rowling and Warner Brothers would make of all this?" Given the launch of the official online experience Pottermore and all the happy fun cease-and-desistery with other fan-made projects, I'm not so sure. But hopefully Ms. Rowling and the Hollywood studio which adapted her books embrace this virtual fanfic roleplay in the spirit it seems intended.
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According to Linden's recently released Intellectual Property Tutorial, this wouldn't be within ToS without WB's blessing. Will be interesting to see this play out.
https://secondlife.com/my/account/mesh-landing.php
Posted by: Adeon Writer | Friday, August 05, 2011 at 02:45 PM
Yeah, was thinking the same:
Your world, your imagination, someone else's copyright.
With wide open eyes everyone just stares and a huge copyright infringement and shrugs. They really should rename that thing quickly.
Posted by: Laro | Friday, August 05, 2011 at 05:47 PM
There is a Harry Potter role play currently in SL. There are also various superhero role plays in SL. In addition, there is role play for Star Trek, Star Wars, Babylon 5, and Game of Thrones. As far as I know, none of these areas have had copyright issues with their role play. In face, all the role plays I mentioned, except for the Game of Thrones role play, have been around for years.
Posted by: Salvatore Otoro | Friday, August 05, 2011 at 05:55 PM
Another roleplay/lifestyle in SL is GOR. It has been around since before I arrived in SL in 2006 and they have yet to be pursued for copyright issues. In fact there are numerous GOR areas around the grid.
Posted by: Salvatore Otoro | Friday, August 05, 2011 at 06:17 PM
When I contacted WB back in May 2005, wishing to figure out if I was allowed to do a "Harry Potter Magic Wand Duelling Game" in Second Life (and willing to pay royalties for that!), this is the answer I got: http://forums-archive.secondlife.com/54/0d/56442/1.html
WB's lawyer to contact in this regard is Amber Fredman: [email protected]
Good luck!
Posted by: Gwyneth Llewelyn | Sunday, August 07, 2011 at 01:26 PM
If any can be free of the copyright stupid laws that protect only a few big groups are the new rulers of the World, Brazil, India and China:)
Posted by: foneco zuzu | Monday, August 08, 2011 at 05:32 AM
"strictly canon to the books/movies. Many of the current Harry Potter RPGs (in SL) lack this."
So they are going to use bots constantly posting lines from the books in local chat?
Posted by: Emperor Norton | Monday, August 08, 2011 at 08:43 AM
As previously mentioned, there are already plural HP-themed sims, which can only be as "canon" as ToS and copyright laws allow. Both of the ones with which I'm familiar are a lot of fun and take things in stride (such as semi-jokingly naming one neighborhood "Knockoff Alley").
I do know, however, that the World Of Hogwarts RP (based in Sunset Harbor) looks to be closing soon due to RL problems that the owner is having (including bereavement).
Also, pluggity plug, my business (Clover's Kitchen) makes HP-themed food!
Posted by: MIstletoe | Monday, August 08, 2011 at 02:48 PM