July 18, 2008
California Bar Association Sanctions Legal Training in Virtual World
In a sign that virtual reality is becoming mainstream, a program in the virtual world Second Life, on the application of law in virtual worlds is counting for continuing legal education credit by the State Bar of California.
The blog, Legal Pad, states the four-part speaker series, which is sponsored by the Second Life Bar Association, began Tuesday with 25 avatars in attendance. The first session lasted two hours and included a discussion about copyright and trademark infringement.
The session went well except for a few glitches, the blog reports. “Some couldn’t log on, some couldn’t hear, and then there was the fashion crisis. Kate Fitz, the Sacramento County law librarian who was instrumental in getting accreditation for the program, said a glitch caused her ‘nice suit skirt’ to look like bike shorts.”
The Wall Street Journal also ran an article Thursday that says virtual worlds “have quietly slipped into the mainstream.”—Andrea L. Foster
Posted on Friday July 18, 2008 | Permalink |Comments
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Give it ten years… maybe it really WILL be mainstream. For now, it apparently still counts as news.
— Mildly Incredulous Jul 18, 06:26 AM #
I don’t think it will take that long, as the previous comment indicates. Economics will drive this trend combined with a generation already oriented to this technology (Web 2.0.) In addition, more people will have access to the best professors.
— Raymond W. Lucas Jul 18, 10:00 AM #
After I read the text of this article, I checked the dictionary to see if I had forgotten what “sanction” means. I didn’t – it was just used improperly here.
— anon Jul 21, 02:18 PM #
Anon—Look again. “Sanction” is one of those words with opposite meanings: to give approval, or to condemn or penalize. They’re called autoantonyms. Like “fast” or “cleave.”
— Bob Rosenberg Jul 21, 02:45 PM #