Second Life Bar Association Meeting Transcript
July 19, 2008

Transcript taken by Cat Galileo

Solomon Cortes: Welcome everybody. Thanks for coming.
Solomon Cortes: I understand that Second Life´s Relay for Life begins in an hour´s time, so I´d like to start now so we can make sure we
finish early and enable everyone who wants to take part to get there on time.
Solomon Cortes: This is just to remind everyone that this is a public meeting, and a transcript will be posted on our website at
www.slba.info afterwards.
Solomon Cortes: Hi Julynn
Solomon Cortes: We're just starting.
Julynn Lilliehook: Hi! all
Solomon Cortes: Our agenda today is: 1. Virtual Policy Network briefing with Ren Reynolds 2. Elections 3. SLBA Seminar Series 4.
Verification 5. AOB
Solomon Cortes: Hi Soro. I´d like to begin by welcoming Ren Reynolds to our meeting.
Solomon Cortes: Ren is the Founder of the Virtual Policy Network (www.virtualpolicy.net), a product strategy consultant at a virtual world
start-up, a regular contributor to the influential Terranova blog and a generally all-round virtual worlds specialist.
Solomon Cortes: I thought it would be great to hear briefly from Ren about the Virtual Policy Network and the conference he´s running on
virtual policy next week.
RenZephyr Zircon says thanks
Solomon Cortes: Ren, thanks for coming. Over to you.
Ashcroft Burnham: :-D
RenZephyr Zircon: thanks
RenZephyr Zircon: sorry, i'm on a slow connection
RenZephyr Zircon: ok
RenZephyr Zircon: so, the Virtual Policy Network is a think tank fouded to look at public policy issues of virtual worlds
RenZephyr Zircon: we aim to bring together 3 stakholder groups
RenZephyr Zircon: academics
RenZephyr Zircon: industry
RenZephyr Zircon: policy makers
RenZephyr Zircon: it's all about starting off local conversations and globalzing them
RenZephyr Zircon: as like politics, all policy and law is local in some sense
RenZephyr Zircon: but, many of the virtues and issues of virtual worlds are global ones
RenZephyr Zircon: and definitly so
RenZephyr Zircon: like any think tank we will be running events, and ill get onto next weeks in a moment
RenZephyr Zircon: creating reports and doing research
RenZephyr Zircon: we are just about to launch the policy news letter
RenZephyr Zircon: this will be a monthy breif on policy news around the world
RenZephyr Zircon: and there will be an annual report of policy changes
RenZephyr Zircon: on the research side
RenZephyr Zircon: one of the projects we are looking at
RenZephyr Zircon: and with all of this we are looking for funding
RenZephyr Zircon: so throw Lindens this way :)
RenZephyr Zircon: the project is a postive view of IP law in VW's
RenZephyr Zircon: much of the discourse has looked at the problems, but a number of legal academics want to try to put up some
solutions
RenZephyr Zircon: lastly, for the monolog, there is the event next week
RenZephyr Zircon: this is Virtual Policy 08, on 22 and 23rd
RenZephyr Zircon: it is hosted physically in the Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory reform
RenZephyr Zircon: the event is a key policy milistone for them in the run up to
RenZephyr Zircon: the Internet Governance Forum in India and some OECD stuff next year
RenZephyr Zircon: UK Gov have proposed discussions at both these events on virtual worlds and so far are leading the inter-governmental
discrouce
RenZephyr Zircon: the key areas that we are looking at at the conf are
RenZephyr Zircon: IP - which Solomon here is kindly though leading for us
RenZephyr Zircon: Finance - lead by US Tax law expert Prof Bryan Camp
RenZephyr Zircon: Goverence - lead by Jessica Mulligan
RenZephyr Zircon: and Kids Online lead by Future lab
RenZephyr Zircon: details can be found here
http://www.virtualpolicy.net/events.html
RenZephyr Zircon: will will aslo stream into SL via the Serious Games Institute theatre
RenZephyr Zircon: i think that's about it really for the me typeing stuff
RenZephyr Zircon: do we have time for questions?
Solomon Cortes: Thanks Ren, that was great. We appreciate you taking the time to join us today.
Ashcroft Burnham hopes so :-)
Solomon Cortes: Yes, we do have time for questions. Over to the floor.
Ashcroft Burnham: Question:
Jai Baxter: No question :) just: bravo, good luck
Ashcroft Burnham: The "governence frameworks" that'll be discussed - what does that involve? Will any reference be made to (1) the
importance of virtual worlds having their own, internal normative systems and economies; and (2) internal governance systems, such as
that on which I am working, the Metaverse Republic? :-)
RenZephyr Zircon: i think that one of the key issues with VW's is what i call muli-layer governance
RenZephyr Zircon: or in EU terms, princples of subsidiarty
Ashcroft Burnham is intrigued.
RenZephyr Zircon: one of the questions i've posed is: for a range of issues, which are the approprite layer for actions to be taken
RenZephyr Zircon: and
RenZephyr Zircon: for those layers are there things where we have incompabitly
RenZephyr Zircon: so
RenZephyr Zircon: ninja looting in an MMO
RenZephyr Zircon: is not something we would expect laws to be set on
RenZephyr Zircon: indeed, we might not even assume a provider would do that
RenZephyr Zircon: that might simply be a group or guild norm
Ashcroft Burnham: Ahh, it's like sport? The government doesn't set or enforce the rules of football, but the law still applies to the players? :
-)
RenZephyr Zircon: tho in Entropia where there is fixed currency ratio we might
RenZephyr Zircon: yes, and sports law is a very good parallel
RenZephyr Zircon: the relationship beween norms and law there is very subtle
Ashcroft Burnham: What about virtual-world specific norms for things that aren't expressly games? The Metaverse Republic, for instance,
aims to use in-world enforcement mechanisms to enforce in-world contracts.
Ashcroft Burnham: (See
http://www.metaverserepublic.org
 for details)
RenZephyr Zircon: for example, with sports that are widly recognized there is more leeway given to governing bodies, than to minor sports,
because they have more power to norm
RenZephyr Zircon: and of course, activity that would generally be illegal is ok in a sport context
RenZephyr Zircon: e.g. punching in boxing
Ashcroft Burnham: Ahh, but punching is always lawful if there's consent :-)
Solomon Cortes: This is a great example of the discussion that the VPN is here to stimulate. But we also ned to keep to time!
Solomon Cortes: Are there any other questions for Ren at the moment?
RenZephyr Zircon: well, it is and it isn't, i think there are limits to concent in and out of sport, there are intersting bdsm cases about that,
Spanner was the last on i think
RenZephyr Zircon: was gonna say that in SL etc it's harder as there is no magic cricle or estanlisehd community norm
RenZephyr Zircon: SL itself is highy hetrogenous
Solomon Cortes: (Ren - are you able to stay until the end, to discuss further? If not, perhaps you won't mind if people IM you to follow up
separately at another time?
RenZephyr Zircon: sure
RenZephyr Zircon: one more or should i sit
Ashcroft Burnham: Ahh, the MEtaverse Republic is all about setting up community established norms :-)
RenZephyr Zircon: well then one has two issues, one how to get those norms, and two, how to enforse them
RenZephyr Zircon: why shoul LL be bound to enfours them
RenZephyr Zircon: A Tale in the Destert is the best eg to look at, they have gone the furthest in that direction
Ashcroft Burnham: It won't be - we'll enforce them ourselves using a distrubted banishment database :-)
RenZephyr Zircon: EvE Online is doing something but it's not quite as one would think
Ashcroft Burnham: A system tied to a provider won't work in an OpenSim world.
RenZephyr Zircon: well, i simply don't recognize your authority :)
Solomon Cortes: Ash, Ren, thanks for this illuminating discussion.
Ashcroft Burnham: You don't have to :-) You can be banished from subscribing land whether you do or not.
Ashcroft Burnham: (Sorry to take so much time...)
Solomon Cortes: Are there any other questions for Ren?
Solomon Cortes: Alright, Ren, again, thanks for coming today and briefing us on the VPN. It´s an incredibly interesting and important
initiative and we are sure it´s in good hands.
RenZephyr Zircon: thx
RenZephyr Zircon: thankyou all
Lexis Looming claps
Solomon Cortes: 2. Now I´d like to turn to elections. It´s July, and time to get the process underway. Cat, as Ben can´t be here, would you
brief us please on what happens next?
Ashcroft Burnham claps.
You: thank you
You: Good morning
Lincoln Beck: Good evening :)
navets Potato: afternon
Solomon Cortes: Hi Lincoln. Thanks for joining us.
You: Our Exec. board terms run from August 1-July 31 (with the exception of President/President Elect)
Lexis Looming: Good Day
You: so it's time for the new board to be elected
Solomon Cortes: And hi, Navets. Good to see you.
You: We urge anyone who is interested in becoming more active to run for a position in the 2008-09 SL Bar Association board.
You: We have the following positions: President-Elect/President; Vice President, Communications; Vice President, Finance; three members
of the executive board.
Solomon Cortes: Cat is just taking us through the election process which is now getting underway.
You: Here's a bit more info on each. Details are in the bylaws at
http://slba.info/slbabylaws.html
You: President-Elect/President: The President will run General Meetings and act as the public face of the organization. The President-Elect
takes over the office of President on February 1 of the year following elections. In the meantime, the current president continues in that
role.
You: In order to allow the President to carry out his or her duties as the public face of the SLBA, the President-Elect (and thus, the
President) must (a) be a lawyer qualified to practice law, conduct litigation, act as advocate, and/or give legal advice, in at least one first-life
jurisdiction, in accordance with the laws and rules of professional conduct (if any) of that jurisdiction and (b) make his or her "first life"
name and bar memberships publicly available. No other offices require lawyer status or disclosure of any first life information.
You: Vice President, Communications:
You: The Vice President, Communications will manage the web site and forums and takes office August 1.
You: Vice President, Finance :
You: The Vice President, Finance will handle financial matters and takes office August 1
You: Excecutive Board (three members) The Executive Board consists of the President. the President Elect (during the portion of the year
that the office exists), the Vice Presidents, all former Presidents, and three elected members.
You: The three elected members are members at large & dont' have speciric assigned duties.
You: The formal role of the Executive Board is to set the agenda for meetings and make administrative decisions on proposals that need not
go before the entire membership.
You: OK - like i said, more details at slba.info
You: Here's how the timing worls
You: SELF NOMINATION OPENS TODAY at
http://www.slba.info/forum/YaBB.pl?board=administration
 Deadline to self-nominate: Saturday, July 26, 5 pm Pacific (SLT)
You: note, there is a 2007 elections forum - ignore that - I don't have permissions to change it
You: Election box will be set up in this office Sunday, July 27. Voting will remain open until Saturday, August 2, at 5pm Pacific (SLT).
You: Henri DeCuir will set up a voting box similar to last year's, if you remember that.
You: I dont' have details on how that works
You: Election results will be announced Saturday night after voting closes.
Solomon Cortes: Cat - looks like we may have a slight timing glitch: I think you said earlier that the new officers take up their positions on
1 August?
You: LOL
You: yes, i just noticed that too
You: let's close nominations Friday, July 25 at 5 pm, open voting July 26, and close voting July 31
You: if that's ok
You: This will all be posted on the website, forums and Ning site
Theophan Paine: That is a tight schedule.
You: yes it is
Solomon Cortes: Sounds good to me - is that in line with whatever we're required to do under the byelaws and what we've previously
posted re the 2008 elections?
You: we would have had more time if last week's meeting went off on schedule
Theophan Paine: If we don't elect someone on time don't the current officers and directors serve until their successors are elected?
You: I believe so Solomon.
Solomon Cortes: I think that's right, Theophan, I don't think there'd be a gap.
You: there's no set schedule in the bylaws.
You: questions, suggestions?
Solomon Cortes: It would be good to get evryone's views: any preference for whether we close voting on Jul 31 or August 1?
Theophan Paine: I would personally feel better if there were more time for the election process to complete.
Solomon Cortes: Theophan - do you mean leave until August 1, or are you suggesting pushing back further - say an extra week?
Lexis Looming: As Cat said it is due to technology problems beyond our control... I think the ever so slightly accelerated schedule should
work fine
Solomon Cortes: Jai has a good point. The election / holiday timing isn't really ideal.
You: but that would be important in any case
Abbey Zenith is Online
You: I guess there would be an issue with folks being out of town
You: I didn't see Jai's comment
Lexis Looming: Yes group notices daily for a couple days before the closinig of each event would be helpful
Solomon Cortes: So would those in the room prefer that we actually extended the process? My only concern is that none of us would want
to do this without the endorsement of the association: no one on the exec would want to do this other than in the interests of the
association. I don't think anyone would want it thought they did this in order to prolong their term of office.
You: I'm happy to push it back and to continue on ex-board until they are held
Buzz Aldrich: I'm not on the board and I don't see a problem with extending it to allow those that might not be here, present, or available in
the near-term to vote.
Theophan Paine: I will certainly not resign and no plans for vacation this August beyond weekend getaways.
You: someone make a motion with dates :)
You: someone make a motion with dates :)
You: wow, lag
Solomon Cortes: LAright, well I'd like to put a proposal to extend the process to the vote. I suggest we proceed on the basis that the period
for self-nomination has started. We close nominations on 10 August and run the vote through until 17 August.
Theophan Paine: I make a motion we open the polls on August 1 and close them at midnight SLT on Friday August 15.
navets Potato: secon
Ashcroft Burnham: Two conflicting motions?
Lexis Looming: Theo what is your nomination period?
Solomon Cortes: Let's go with whichever Navets was seconding and then vote. Navets?
Theophan Paine: Solomon -> As Cat was suggesting until August 1, but maybe it could be a little later.
Theophan Paine: Actually after you second the motion it can be discussed and amended either is fine by me.
Buzz Aldrich: how about opening nominations today, ending July 31st, then voting August 1st through 15th.
Buzz Aldrich: I would make amotion for that time
Lexis Looming: What Buzz said sounds good to me
Buzz Aldrich: I DO make a motion for that time
Theophan Paine: Solomon -> I think you need to make a ruling on which motion we are going to discuss and amend before voting.
Lexis Looming: that's 2 full weeks for each step
Solomon Cortes: Let's go with Buzz' proposal.
Buzz Aldrich: Formally: I make a motion that we open nominations today, close them July 31st, hold voting from August 1st through 15th.
Theophan Paine: Isecond Buzz's motion!
Solomon Cortes: Let's vote.
Buzz Aldrich: Aye
Abbey Zenith is Offline
Theophan Paine: Aye.
You: aye
Ashcroft Burnham votes aye.
Lexis Looming: aye
Solomon Cortes: All those in favour?
navets Potato: aye
Forelle Broek: Aye
Soro Dagostino: Aye
Solomon Cortes: (Please remember, the meeting is open to the public, but only SLBA members may vote).
Solomon Cortes: Any more in favour?
Solomon Cortes: Those against?
Solomon Cortes: Abstentions?
Solomon Cortes: Abstentions?
Solomon Cortes: Then, assuming SL hasn't crashed and you've actually all just disappeared, the vote is carried!
You: :)
Lexis Looming: lol
You: the new times then
You: SELF NOMINATION OPENS TODAY at
http://www.slba.info/forum/YaBB.pl?board=administration
 Deadline to self-nominate: July 31, 11:59 pm Pacific (SLT)
You: Election box will be set up in this office August 1. Voting will remain open until August 1, at 11:59 pm Pacific (SLT).
Solomon Cortes: Cat - would you mind posting this on the site, and informing Ben, as our returning officer.
Buzz Aldrich: Cat, August 15th at 11:59pm ending
You: absolutely.
You: whoops, thanks Buzz
Solomon Cortes: I had one further question. Do we need additional roles for education and social? One option is keep these within the
scope of the Comms role. Another option is to create specific roles on the executive (we´d need to amend the byelaws). What does everyone
think?
You: I think the positions are a good idea but we're short on time at this meeting :)
Solomon Cortes: Anyone disagree?
Solomon Cortes: Keep these within Comms this time round?
Buzz Aldrich: The new guy (moi) says that sounds fine :-)
Solomon Cortes: Alright, well, on that basis, let's move on.
You: Thanks folks! look for the threads in SLBA's forums.
Solomon Cortes: Next, a quick update on the SLBA seminar series. We had our first event last week. Cat, would you mind providing a
quick report?
You: Sure
You: this is exciting news
You: as you probably know
You: The SLBA, Field Fisher Waterhouse and my Virtual Worlds Law Library have teamed up to put on a continuing education speaker
series this summer.
You: Our first seminar, given last Tuesday by Solomon Cortes, went very well. It was the first-ever in-world continuing education class
accreditated by the California bar and by the SRA of England & Wales.
You: It was an overview of "Virtual Worlds Legal Issues" - scheduled for 1 hour, but many stayed for 2 to hear the whole talk and ask
questions.
You: Good attendance (at least 26), the technology mostly worked well, and we got enthusiastic comments.
You: We also got some nice coverage in some blogs. (links at
http://slba.info/speakerseries.html
You: Next up: Juris Amat presents "IP Enforcement in Virtual Worlds" this Tuesday, July 22, noon Pacific (SLT).
You: There is a brochure at the back of this room, (the red poster) feel free to take a copy and pass it along to others in-world.
You: Here is a link to info, including a PDF flyer, and the registration page:
http://slba.info/speakers/franklin.html
You: It will be FREE and offer 1 hour california MCLE credit (like all the seminars).
Ashcroft Burnham: And CPD? :-)
Buzz Aldrich: What is the process of certifying such a course for CLE in one's state? (I'm in NV)
You: FFW doesn't seem to be doing that for this session - Solomon, any info on that?.
You: Talk to me after please Buzz :)
Buzz Aldrich: Sure np
You: any one else who is in a diff.s tate, too
You: Three more are scehduled - July 29 (internet fraud, Theophan Paine); Sept. 9 (Trademark Infringement in Virtual worlds, Legal
Writer); Sept. 16 (legal research on the internet, Cat Galileo).
Solomon Cortes: Ash - we're hoping to get CPD for these, but there's a possibility that we may not get it through for the second event.
We're trying to get this moved along with the Law Soc and will keep you posted.
Aisln Baxton: Canada?
Ashcroft Burnham: Excellent!
You: I must say that the qualifications of the speakers (other than myself) are extraordinary
navets Potato: lol
Solomon Cortes: Cat - you are very modest!
Solomon Cortes: I´d really like to thank Cat and Geri for their incredible efforts in helping to put together the series, and make it such a
success.
You: not to downplay myself, but the others are all well-published etc
Solomon Cortes: We´ve had some great feedback and a lot of coverage. This has been an excellent initiative for the group.
Ashcroft Burnham: Indeed!
You: We're really excited about this and want to encourage folks to come (whether or not they need or can use the continuing ed credits)
Please, please spread the word on blogs or groups that you think will be interested.
Solomon Cortes: Given the timing, would you mind Cat if we move on to the next agenda item?
You: And please regsiter and come yourself.
You: sure, all done. thanks!
Lexis Looming claps
Lincoln Beck claps
Solomon Cortes: Thanks Cat. So, next, credential-checking. Lexis has kindly prepared our application form, and Ben and I have both gone
through the process so that we can in turn credential check those who will be running the process / applying for the service.
Ashcroft Burnham claps.
Solomon Cortes: However, there´s one more step we need to take before we offer the service. We need to prepare the documentation that
clarifies precisely what the service is – what it does confirm, and what it doesn´t. Lexis has also very kindly agree to work on this. Lexis –
would you like to add anything?
Lexis Looming: I don't have much to add.....
Jai Baxter:
Lexis Looming: I will be working on that statement
Lexis Looming: and urge everyone who wants to to apply
Lexis Looming: The cost is only $10.00 USD
navets Potato: are we going to submit the $10 via paypal on the SLBA site?
Buzz Aldrich: Solomon or Lexis, what is going to be the benefit of credential checking, other than ensuring one is a licensed attorney? I
guess in the U.S. it's easy by going to the Bar's website of the specific state and seeing their status.
Solomon Cortes: To answer Navets, we anticipate payment in Linden. There is a payment box that will be available for the purpose.
Deco Straaf is Offline
Solomon Cortes: To answer Buzz, there's a good deal of discussion on the subject on the forum: www.slba.info. I'd also be happy to discuss, as I'm sure others would too, but so we keep to time, may we do so after the formal close of this meeting?
Jai Baxter: :) the subject that never dies
Buzz Aldrich: Ok, I'll check there then, thanks.
Solomon Cortes: Lexis- thank you again for taking this on. You did a masterful job with the application form, as I'm sure you will with the
remaining documents.
Lexis Looming: I'll be happy to talk to you later too Buzz, but I do need to go to Relay for Life...I have a sick friend to support there
Solomon Cortes: Is there any other business before we close?
Solomon Cortes: So - I think this is a week of two world records for the SLBA. First the first ever legally accredited in world training session,
and - second - we close an SLBA meeting on time! Thank you everyone!
Ashcroft Burnham claps.
navets Potato: thaks
Theophan Paine: here, here.
Lexis Looming: yaay
Soro Dagostino: YAY! (yay!)
Solomon Cortes: The meeting is now closed. Thank you everyone for coming today and participating so helpfully. Thanks as well very much to Ren, our guest speaker.

---

Created on ... July 19, 2008