Suit against Linden dismissed by French court
By Adam Reuters
SECOND LIFE, July 2 (Reuters) - A court in Paris dismissed a complaint against Linden Lab on Tuesday that was filed by a French group opposed to adult content within the virtual world.
Linden Lab said in a statement: “The Tribunal de Grande Instance in Paris dismissed the complaint filed by the French association Familles de France against Linden Lab, holding that the evidence brought by the association was unduly biased and should be thrown out.”
Families de France and the Departmental Union of Families’ Associations of Ardeche alleged that Second Life features “pornographical, scatalogical and zoophiliac” content as well as advertisements for tobacco, alcohol and drugs.
The groups were ordered to pay 4,700 euros in court costs to Linden Lab and to trade groups representing the telecommunications industry.
Second Life has come under increasing pressure from European governments to crack down on adult content and access by minors. Linden Lab said its age verification system to verify that users are 18 years or older will be available in the “near future.”
(French-language coverage from Reuters is available here)
