Protecting Virtual Assests in the Real World

Today's Washington Post has a moderately interesting article entitled "Where Real Money Meets Virtual Reality, The Jury is Still Out." http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/12/25/AR2006122500635.html The article begins by documenting the fears of a participant in the Second Life "online society" that the value of her virtual wares (hot designer fashions) would be diminished by a rogue "copybot" that indiscriminately copies the unique garments. This designer is said to have make $60,000 a year from her business -- although it's completely unclear if that it is "virtual dollars" or "real dollars." The article quotes a law professor who informs us the law is unsettled in this area. We're told Judge Richard Posner "visited" Second Life and suggested that it was important to ensure property rights in the virtual space. I take that to mean he's got a book coming out the subject in the near future.