Second Life makers sued over 'virtual Tasers'

[Ian David]

Second Life makers sued over 'virtual Tasers'

The creators of a virtual world are facing a real world lawsuit by the makers of the controversial Taser device.

Game Politics notes:

TASER International, which manufactures the controversial electric stun guns that bear its name, has given a jolt to Linden Lab and a number of its corporate executives with a lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Arizona.

TASER, which faces numerous lawsuits of its own filed by individuals who have been tased (or, in some cases, their survivors) is concerned that virtual TASER replica items are being sold in Second Life as gear for SL avatars (see pic at left).

TASER also alleges that its brand will be damaged via association with virtual sex and virtual drug use occuring within Second Life. From the 102-page complaint:

All of the defendants that sell virtual property like Plaintiff's real ones, under the mark TASER for use in Second Life programs and grids, also sell adult-only explicit images and scenes... thus attaching such content to the TASER mark... and also sell unlawful drug materials... thus attaching such content to the TASER mark...

A Bloomberg report adds:

More:
http://rawstory.com/blog/2009/04/second-life-maker-sued-over-virtual-tasers/

[Metta]

1. Bfd. This is just another company intimidating people. Killing someone with a Taser is okay but

showing it in a virtual world gives them a bad rap. Happy karma, Taser Corp.

[shadowknows69]

2. Time to start the virtual drug war

Is the a Second Life office of the DEA?

[Eric J in MN]

3. Mattel claimed that a band couldn't sing "Barbie Girl"

...and the Supreme Court said the band could.

It's legal to refer to brand names in art.