[sldev] Permissions - A content creator's view

[Nicholaz Beresford]

Tofu Linden wrote:
> An arbitrary license for objects seems very similar (albeit
> potentially legally stronger - though I Am Not A Lawyer) to the
> existing Covenant scheme for land, though I'm not sure how much
> utility/traction the Covenant scheme has proven to have so far.

I think it would be a step into the direction of social engeneering.

If you have a place where to look that's a good start ... like the
headers or license.txt in source code.

It may not help with people who like to break rules, but take PG/
Mature for sims for example.  I (and I guess most people) see the
flag and modify their behavior accordingly or just leave.

Sure with PG there's abuse reporting, which is about as weak as
copy protection via permissions, but it helps to structure the
relationships between residents, owners, visitors.

If there is a way to communicate intent, people can act accordingly
and I'd not underestimate the power of complaints (like IMing or
pestering or boycotting a vendor who had violated the content
creator's intent).  If "never for sale" or "copyleft" or "see
license" would be a well known flag displayed in the inventory
(like currently "No modify"), it's hard to imagine a shop owner
would accidentally miss it.

I believe that most people are acting fair most of the time,
it's just that currently the tools for a particular camp of
creators aren't really there.



Nick