Avatars United Acquired By Linden Lab
This happened this week, as reported by VERN. I liked their quote, “Avatars United can be described as a sort of “Facebook for avatars”, complete with a third-party applications ecosystem.” On the Avatars United Website you can see over two dozen worlds/games that are represented. After the jump, I’ll get further into questions about the integration of these sites with real-life social networks.
For your information, just a snippet from Avatar United’s Terms of Service: ”Subject to the terms of our Privacy Policy, by transmitting or posting any User Submission, you hereby grant us a nonexclusive, royalty-free, perpetual, transferable, irrevocable, worldwide and fully sub-licensable and transferable license to use, reproduce, modify, adapt, publish, sell, assign, translate, distribute, prepare derivative works of, display in any form, media, or technology, whether known or hereafter developed, alone or as part of other works, perform the User Submissions in connection with the Avatars United Website and Avatars United’s (and its successor’s) business, including without limitation for promoting and redistributing part or all of the Avatars United Website (and derivative works thereof) in any media formats and through any media channels.”
In other parallel acquisition news, IMVU (avatar-based chat) announced acquisition plans with Zoosk. The full story here at Virtual World News, which lists the process as ” IMVU users over 18 just click the “Dating” link under the Community tab in IMVU and create their dating profile. Then they’re off. ” Simplifies things, heh?
Just a quick question for the developers of these games…. what are you doing, exactly? Is it just me (feel free to comment) but many of us are in online worlds to ESCAPE from the offline worlds. We aren’t visiting the games dragging in our real-world friends; we’re visiting the games to find more interesting friends… and to be a more interesting friend ourself. Many people I read seem to feel this is a slippery slope integrating the offline worlds more closely with the online worlds. It’s like going to a party and “the boss” being there, or a friend you owe money to. Is there no place going to be left (Even Second Life and IMVU) where you don’t think, “Why don’t I make this more real and find out this person’s real likeness; or even city and occupation? Might your healer be in real life a petty thief, or your petty thief a doctor? Do I want to know? Is this just me? Really?
For more serious considerations, think about this: Do these use the same terms of service? Do you have to “approve” the Terms of Service when you click-through to the other service the first time? Every time? If not, why not? Does it give notice just because you KNOW that they are associated in some fashion? What if you do not know? I think they will, especially as they go through the beta phase, reach some sort of “entry page” that forces you to acknowledge that you’re using the other site subject to their terms of conditions.
Jay Moffitt is a Tennessee attorney. This blog is for entertainment and educational purposes only and does not consitute legal advice or create an attorney/client relationship. Jay Moffitt is not certified as a specialist in this area by Tennessee and Tennessee does not certify specialists in this practice area. All comments will be answered promptly and courteously as long as they are germane to the discussion and do not contain specific game names or incidents.
Tags: avatar, Business of Gaming, integration of online and offline, merger, Online dating
Your post is incorrect; according to the linked story it was Linden Labs who acquired Avatars United.
Just a quick question for the developers of these games…. what are you doing, exactly?
Obviously I can’t speak for all developers, but here’s my take:
Different people use online media for different reasons. Actually, I quite happily drag my friends into games; one of the ways I keep in touch with some of my old college chums is by playing online games with them.
I think a lot of people who play games casually or chat on IMVU probably don’t try to hide their “gamer” side like a lot of the rest of us have done in the past. Hell, my mother got involved in a gaming community (a Freecell site, mind you, but still gaming). So, don’t assume everyone is the same.
My thoughts.
jaymoffitt Reply:
February 14th, 2010 at 11:54 am
First point; thanks a million. I did pull the name off the “indirect object” of the sentence instead of the direct object – that’s why I always quote my direct source. (Lawyer talk for “oops”) Second, yes there are a lot of people that do have a well-rounded life and their friends game together. I would like to drag some of my friends into online worlds with me but for now it’s just me, but some of the coolest people are people I meet anonymously online.
Third, thanks for the comment. I read Psychochild all the time and you’re one of my favorite “more serious” gaming blogs.
Brian 'Psychochild' Green Reply:
February 15th, 2010 at 5:52 am
Jay,
No problem. I saw you plug your blog on another site and figured I’d keep an eye on it. Greg Boyd has threatened to do another edition of Business & Legal book, so always on the lookout the rare intersection of good writer, lawyer, interested in game topics.
And now, for some lawyer-related humor: My previous post was not intended to be editing advice or to create an editor/writer relationship. If question arise, you should consider a professional editor about your specific writing situation.
jaymoffitt Reply:
February 15th, 2010 at 9:11 am
Thanks for the note and the comment. I agree with you about the disclaimer, I try to write it to cover any possible disclaimer needed for any of the fifty states I might be read in. But the ethics disclaimers attorneys must put into their writing is why you never EVER hear a thirty-second radio ad for attorneys (because 20 seconds would be wasted!).
I’m definitely at some rare intersection; I love gaming but have no programming/artistic talent and can’t make money, I like being an attorney but can’t make it fun. I’m just trying to find that “hot spot” that will make it enjoyable yet profitable. Thanks for reading and bring a friend to the blog; as you see I’ll answer all genuine criticisms/critiques honestly (and publicly) and won’t be afraid to take a stand.
Avatars are also a great way for online daters to engage and learn more about each, whether their share any chemistry, and get a much better sense of the individual than with the text based chatting of most online dating sites.
Weopia ( http://www.weopia.com ) has launched a virtual dating world in which users of other online dating websites can visit Weopia to see if they’re compatible and have the chemistry to take it offline. They met at their favorite dating site and come to Weopia to bridge the gap between online and offline.
Correction: It’s Linden Lab, not Linden Labs.
jaymoffitt Reply:
February 16th, 2010 at 8:51 am
Actually, my first title was “Linden Lab’s acquisition of Avatar United”, but then I flipped it and didn’t take out the s.
Thanks for the catch. By the way, feel free to email me if you see a typo; for the comments I’d LOVE to hear from those involved as far as any thoughts about the acquisition.