Facebook ban on avatar names

Many people sign up for online social networks using their Secondlife avatar names and use these networks as a way to keep in touch outside of SL but beware 'Facebook' is cracking down on fake identities.
The Sydney morning herald tells the story of Sydneysider Elmo Keep (real name!) who was banned this month for violating their terms of service only regaining her account when she could provide government issued ID.
So beware if you have signed up with your avatar name especially if that name is in anyway unusual - I think I would be OK but many avatars names are very different - but then so are many real life names too :)
Dana Vanmoer
source: Reuters

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Gambling back in Second Life?

On September 11th, last week, the US House of Representatives passed Bill H.R. 6870 amending the UIGEA, the part of the Safe Port Act that forced Linden Lab to ban all gambling in Second Life in July last year. This new Bill states that the ban on internet gambling only attacks sports betting. Furthermore it appoints a commission that will determine further definitions of what constitutes internet gambling.

Last year, on July 25th 2007 to be precise, Linden Lab announced a change to its Terms of Service (ToS), banning all gambling for money in Second Life. Basically, any game of chance that involved L$ transactions were outlawed. As most of the people who are in SL for at least a year remember, this caused a huge uproar and large protests. Not only that, but the economy of SL also got a direct hit (see chart).

Now it seems that the House has un-done this ban, at least for normal casino games like Poker and Roulette and BlackJack and even including the good-old Sploder. As long as it doesn't involve betting on sports results, this bill makes it legal again.

But of course, the fans of gambling in SL can only call this a glimpse of hope, because the Bill hasn't changed into Law just yet. First the US Senate has to pass this Bill, and after that the US president (currently Mr. Bush) has to sign it. And after that, Linden Lab has to feel compelled to revoke their ban through the ToS.

So there are still a few heavy steps to take, but in general it seems that at least some people in the Land of the Free have come to their senses. And of course, with the commission in place, they still have the power to outlaw casino games again, but that is not expected because that is not the intention of this new Bill.

The SL Newspaper will keep an eye on further developments although it will probably take some time before we hear anything else about this. When it's time to start in-world protests to convince the Lindens to change the ToS again, we'll certainly let you know. Or protest AGAINST changing the ToS again of course, if you want to keep SL free of gambling.

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Gambling in SL no more?

The protests over the new TOS concerning gambling grew more and more heated taking up most of 4 sims with at the last count over 80 avatars at any one time.

Click images to enlarge
Just some of the comments that were shouted:

Graciella Princess shouts: IF THE POTS ARE LESS THAN 250 USD, IT IS PENNY POKER AND LEGAL!

Johnny Clarke: banning poker is pure discrimination

Graciella Princess shouts: THIS IS NOT JUST POKER GUYS! THIS IS ALSO SPOLDERS, SLINGO, ZYNGO... ALL OF THE THINGS THAT WE DO FOR FUN, OR FOR A FEW EXTRA LINDENS TO PAY OUR RENT WITH...

Lizzie Bergson shouts: i thought sl was about having fun and playing these games what has happend to our rights to have freedom and liberty after all we pay for it

Minos Boa shouts: LINDEN LAB ABUSE OF ITS RESIDENT

Morgaine Dinova: Apparently that description is wrong. Now Second Life is California Life, and residents from other lands can get stuffed, it seems.
Elizabeth McMahon shouts: WE ARE SL! Give me my DAMN RIGHTS!!!

Isabel Hocken shouts: If you're going to stop my poker, stop these clubs that offer paying for sex!

Anna Grant: I dont want to live my SL according to the american laws =((((((

sneeky Snook: IM IN THE UK AND HAVING TO LIVE MY SL UNDER US LAW IS THE AMERICAN GOVERMENT WANTING TO TAKE OVER THE WORLD

Neplusultra Coage: ITS ABOUT OUR RIGHT TO BE FREE CITIZENS, HERE, OR ANYWHERE ELSE!

Stephanie Rolland: You're not a free citizen here. You sign up, you pay your money, you sign the ToS, and you're their citizen. Not a free citizen. In fact, you're not even a citizen, you're a customer. Simply a customer

Morgaine Dinova shouts: They have to either move their servers abroad or make their lawyers do something for their money, and fight the CA crap.

The strength of feeling aroused here was incredible and understandable, it is not just a matter of the 1000's of USD lost by casino owners but also the freedom to enjoy what is in many countries, including many states in the US, a legal pasttime.

There are several petitions already up and running but as we all know, they probably will not help. SL is not a democracy and we as residents have no say in what the Lindens decide.

http://www.thekonstrukt.com/protest.asp

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/slgaming/

Dana

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