Quote:
Originally Posted by Adam Zaius  The problem here isnt really whether it's a good idea or not in principle - it's a in practice thing.
Permissions should be switched to a 'mark intent' model which is enforced where legitimate servers are running, however - you simply cannot stop people from breaking those permissions one way or another. (And yes, breaking them *is* very simple to do if you know how, it's not complex nor time consuming with the right tools) |
I disagree. Here's why:
1. The permissions box DOES "mark intent."
2. In addition, you could always include something that more clearly marks intent, such as a license (and include a coded way of doing that, if you like, so that it goes along with all your items).
3. It isn't an "either/or" thing. There is no good reason for removing the box entirely, aside from what Gigs pointed out (keeping the uninitiated from believing that copying was impossible), which I don't consider anywhere near a good enough reason to get rid of that box.
4. You can never stop people from breaking things, breaking rules, and in general taking things without paying for them. You will never, ever, ever in this lifetime, achieve "1" on that score. No matter what. (Unless you kill everybody, I guess!) But that doesn't mean the only sensible default position to take is "0".
Quote:
-The problem comes back to numbers:
I have a number. Let's call it 34. I give you that number, then tell you you cannot copy it, or give it to anyone else (and dont you dare change it!). The only thing stopping you from doing any of those things is my request.
It's the same here - your objects, items, textures, etc are just very big numbers (1 byte = 8 binary digits) - but at heart, the above holds. Permissions were a good start for while SL was still small - but now we need something better, and that means grounding it in RL copyright law rather than the SL TOS - that way it survives "out of SL".
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It already IS grounded in RL copyright law. The permissions checkbox doesn't in the least discount the ability of a person to turn to real-life law; in fact, LL keeps telling everyone they can, and (by law) does their part re the DMCA process.
The permissions checkbox is simply an assist to that law. It's not an either/or thing.
If a thing can be done to make it easier to comply with said law (i.e., permissions boxes; clear statement of intent by the people running the online environment), then so much the better.
For example: If there were a way to completely prevent copying in
SL, would you just not do it? And rely on a piece of paper declaring intent instead?
So - since there is a way in
SL that does prevent a lot of copying, why throw that out?
No need to throw out the physical impediments to copying simply on some philosophical grounds that it shouldn't be needed, when it can, and does, serve the purpose quite well
In addition, you are discounting the huge psychological difference between a letter that says, "you may not copy my item," and a built-in checkbox that prevents you from copying the item (without an outside program), coupled with a statement from the people who run the online world that you will be kicked out if you do.
Let's be practical. You come into a world where things are available for sale, but everyone knows you can just copy them. No problem at all - just click, and click "take copy." How long do you suppose it is going to take before the economy tanks?
We aren't even talking about words in a book here; we're talking about actual items that receive actual use and in fact are the underpinning of nearly all that is ever done in
SL - worn, lived in, traveled in, used for fun as a gadget, sat on at a meeting.
If
SL decided to junk its permission system just because copying is physically possible, then there will be no more economy as we know it.
Now that doesn't mean other worlds can't try for some brave new economy! I just don't want this one ruined for the purposes of the economy we now have.
Nor do I want LL taking my things and setting things up so that other grids are allowed to easily use them without permissions, and without my approval.
And I truly don't feel that a new world which purposefully blinkers itself to what technological and policy means it could use to prevent copying will succeed as an economy consisting largely of pixel items. (It might succeed as something else, though.)
I have a question: A lady I know had her entire island of houses copybotted, and recently!! I asked her if it would help to have the houses unlinked, that I had heard that, and she said it would. (Apparently she didn't.)
She said that the copybot would deliver the whole thing in pieces, and it would be better to leave things unlinked, which is what I thought.
Is that true? Cause it's a pain to leave everything unlinked.
coco