LL and Content

Way back in the mists of time – during the OpenSpace farago, to be precise, a number of people, myself included, wondered if Linden Lab weren’t considering a shift from merely supplying land to moving complete, ready-to-occupy prefab sims. Anne O’Toole actually gave voice to our concerns, as I mentioned in a past blog.

Now, in the latest from Linden Lab we find that the idea of the pre-fabricated sim direct from Linden Lab is actually about to become a reality. In amongst all the gloss of Torley’s video and the PR department’s carefully-compiled script is this nugget, commencing at 1:13 in the video: “We’ve also completely redesigned the land store experience to make to make it easier to use and understand. We’ve launched themed private regions which are ready to move into after purchase…” (my italics for emphasis).

Exactly what form these “themed private regions” will take is unclear – but I’ll frankly be surprised if they are not Homesteads – even if this does mean a shift in LL’s current policy that Homesteads can only be purchased by those owning at least one full sim. I’d even be prepared to wager that should this be the case, the policy will be revised so that those with a premium account will be eligible to purchase such “themed private regions”.  But – Homestead or full sims, this move (however it might be dressed up) marks a substantial shift for linden Lab, bringing them into direct competition with both private estate owners and content creators.

Perhaps this is also why Linden Lab is now seemingly keen to engage with the major land barons on the question of Mainland development, zoning  – and even perhaps future management(?) – as recently reported upon by Prokofy Neva. Taken together, these two moves are anything but coincidental – the one (Mainland zoning deals) smacks very much of sweetening the other (selling pre-fabricated private regions) and making it easier for the big land barons to accept.

Beyond this is a further spectre. Jack Linden has made no secret of the fact that Linden Lab are looking to create “partnerships” with those using Second Life who meet some pre-ordained criteria (details of which are unclear beyond the fact that anyone engaged in “Mature” (will that be “Adult” now?) activities are precluded from such partnerships). So…following-on from this, will we yet see certain content providers elevated to special status, able to supply houses and builds for these new “themed private regions” while lesser mortals are effectively locked out?

Indeed, are we starting down the road towards Second Life becoming an environment much like the much-hyped Blue Mars appears to designed as – where all content creators must in some way be “licenced” by LL in order to operate fully and effectively in-world?

I know it sounds outrageous to say this now….and I hope I am reading far too much into things. However, then you take this latest (somewhat buried) announcement with the likes of Jack’ comments in seeking partnerships and LL’s recent acquisition and rebranding of SL Exchange, one has to admit the paradigm seems to be shifting – and control could well be the name of the game. Certainly, it could be argued that reining-in content creation through the control of outlets and in a possible “licencing / partnership” arrangement with the Favoured Few in SL may well be the “simplest” long-term solution to the twin issues of IP protection and convincing the corporate world that SL is a “safe” place to “do business”.

Time will tell, as they say.