The Collabor88 event is under new management, and the website also received a makeover. I like the new content, cos they even have the full catalog of each round posted on the site for convenience. June’s theme is “Chill Pill” or 90’s, that wonderful decade full of so many iconic things.

I saw a few things posted on Plurk that were inspired by RL items, so I asked my friends if they thought these things were alright to reproduce in SL. It was the Plastic Combo TV from Vespertine and the Furby, from Fashionably Dead (Toast Bard). What followed was general confusion — some people thought the Furby might be “inspired” so it’s not violating copyright, and the overwhelming majority agreed that taking video cover art was probably not okay.

As a shopper and a blogger, I do want to stay informed about these things. Some really rude people on Plurk assumed that asking was equal to “pitchforking” or forming a “hate campaign” against said creators. It’s not. I just wanted to know for MY own enlightenment, and for current and new creators to learn from this and know what is acceptable and what is copyright infringement.

The creator of Vespertine (Amelie Knelstrom) was notified, so she corrected her mistake by removing ALL of the VHS with movie covers from the package. My picture above represents the “before” — a version that is no longer for sale. The current version only includes the tv, empty boxes of home-made VHS, and a blank but editable VHS cover. Once she apologized for the mistake and corrected it, citing that she was in a rush and under a lot of stress to get the item out asap, people were happy with the outcome. I didn’t see anyone say anything negative about her brand or the item itself. Unfortunately, a lot of people on Plurk like to cause drama and censor other people, going as far as saying that asking such a question about copyright is causing drama. Never be afraid to ask questions, it’s the only way to know for sure.

Do you think using art from RL for SL creations is okay? Is creating an ‘inspired’ item violating copyright? Let me know in the comments!

I also picked up this Boatneck Dress from Fashionably Dead, the Aiko headpiece and bangle from LaGyo, Lydia Slingbacks from Ingenue, the Peace Marquee Light from Floorplan, the Blue Lagoon tv from Vespertine (the fixed version) to decorate my new house (more on that later).

What I’m Wearing:

Pink Fuel – Harley (Peach)
Exile – Fire To The Rain
LaGyo – Aiko bangle Collabor88
LaGyo – Aiko headpiece Collabor88
Fashionably Dead – Boatneck Dress (Teal Pink) S Collabor88
BOOM – Friendship Bracelet Arcade
SLink – Mesh Hands (av)
Ingenue – Lydia Slingbacks (Shocking Pink) Collabor88
SLink – Womens Medium Height Barefeet

*note: the Vespertine VHS were rezzed by my friend, since I do not have this version. I asked to borrow them for the pic cos I wanted to discuss it.

Check out this fabulous post written by Aemeth if you want to read more about this topic.

A Word of Advice

OMG it’s comic speech bubbles!!! Monso will be releasing a set of My Speech Bubbles at the next round of The Arcade (September). It’s hard to tell in my picture, but the sign is 3D mesh, and a sound plays when you click on it.

If you like comic style art, contact Aemeth Lysette in-world to commission a portrait!