ok, time to speak: a friend has found this blog today and has sent me the link. i would have appreciated having heard from it earlier, as i am part of the topic here with my photography at * p_OO_f * gallery http://slurl.com/secondlife/Envy/28/221/22 but as the whole discussion started, it moves on in an inappropriate way, and in parts unrealistical, uninformed, expressing opinions rather than knowledge.

firstly i would wish to say that vint isn´t an official in charge person of the rezzable/NPIRL at all, as confirmed by rezzable authoroties (like by miki gymnast, who indeed is). still she behaves like she had anything to say, also did towards me, up til threatening. but perhaps this blog is her way out of that: nothing to say, no true research done, still expressing opinions about not well researched or irrelevant legal situations.

secondly izikael novi, who started the whole story by accusing me of copying her art, is in fact publishing black swan pictures on her flickr site without naming light waves or rezzable http://www.flickr.com/photos/26379671@N02/ (light waves btw hasnt any problem with me taking and selling pictures, sadly black swan is owned by rezzable, and he only gets commission on sales of his sculptures. is that ethical? well, a type of agreement for sure: build us a sim for free, and wull have you participate on possible profit....).

izikael has published private chat conversations, and only bits of them, which seemed to serve her purpose. she left the resolutions out complety, also those bits where is no resolution. that behaviour is illegal in several senses: first she acts against linden TOS by publishing private IM, secondly she acts against TOS by publishing private IMs others had. thirdly the whole rezzable group, or ego essex, acted against TOS by copying private IM into group chat to read for their whole group. so dear rezzables, please watch what you and your members do :) publishing and spreading IMs that can be cut out and manipulated can cause all of you to get bannend from SL :)

talkign about photography, it is not against the TOS, unless it is privately closed sims or private people. you can discuss it as much as you like, sim-millionaires like anshe chung have tried it before you in vain.

i guess we need to look at two sides here: one is fact, one is wish to be. there is no such thing as content protection on SL, it all belongs to linden labs, and we rent it. the rest is consent and respect.

what i was glad to learn about is the pride and emotions of people take in their building. and learning that i owe more respect, and am now really glad to name all artists my photography is based on, if recognizable. funnily most of the 3D artists, and even some 2D artists appreciate it (notecard at my gallery). and those who don´t, make the drama we are in.

those who like their art being photographed are aware that any promotion is good promotion. and also that 2D is not replacing 3D. light waves loves his tied angel fly around the web and SL on pictures, because it brings attention to his 3D art. what rezzable does here is not protecting the artist, but their own income, because they sell each statue for L$ 35,000. how much does the initial artist light waves get from that in comission? i don´t know...

the misunderstanding with izikael novi was simple, and simple to solve - from my view: i took pictures a 3D environment at NPIRL, called underworld, for what it still is to me. izikael said - as she sells single textures there - i was copying pictures. that wasnt my intention, i wanted to catch the overall athmosphere. when she saw my pictures the gallery and was in pain about them, i took them off. easy. but that wasnt enough, as it seems.

gary kohime even blamed me for offering a totally manipulated picture for sale of a sculpture i BOUGHT from him. so where do we start, and where do we stop with pride? when i buy a piece, it is mine and i do with it what i want. or not?

i am working really well with many of the high class 3D artists in SL. i take pictures, as they are, or change them in PS. i also get my good arts customers in, who have several sims and can take many prims, and help 3D artists to sell their pieces. i am not living in the illusion that a picture can replace the 3D piece. but i am living in the belief that 3D in RL and SL are a different arts form than 2D. and both have the right to be there. the eiffel tower is an amazing built, but not all can have it in their living room. and to be honest with you, i will not see it any different in SL. apart from showing and naming more appreciation.

for now the legale situation as such is that anybody can drool about it as much as they like. lawyers from all nations can discuss, or those who might have read an article and sell it as their knowledge. SL belongs to linden. all we can do is discuss constructively and share respect. and not trying to harm somebody´s good reputation with in fact illegal methods. especially not when "unclean" oneselves. and especially not against TOS. and we shall never underestimate people´s ego.

i have learned a lot the past week. firstly that i owe more appreciation and naming to my fellow artists, 3D or 2D (which i thought showing them in my articles and sales for them - but yet perhaps not obvious to some...). and that i do now in every picture and notecard.

secondly that SL is really small, and that an inmature behaviour of some can cause real harm, unrealistic discussions, up to shrink-ready behaviours.

my idea for all of us for a next situation like this would be: ask first before you knock down. is there perhaps a misunderstanding? is a drama needed, or can it be solved in an easy way?

RL laws do not apply in SL, but universal laws indeed do - that is my belief. and i am grateful for what i had the chance to learn. i hope some others do so too :)