Settlement reached in Kenzo copyright case
By Eric Reuters
SECOND LIFE, Dec 4 (Reuters) - Thomas Simon (Second Life: Rase Kenzo) has reached a settlement with the six Second Life content creators suing him for copyright violation, representatives for the parties told Reuters on Tuesday.
Simon is to pay US$525 in damages, and the parties involved are not to comment on the settlement, according to Simon and Frank Taney, lawyer for the plaintiffs. The settlement was first reported by VirtuallyBlind.com.
The six plaintiffs originally sought US$7000 in damages, terms rejected by Simon.
“I knew that if they had anything on me, they would have asked for more than US$7000,” Simon said. “I made US$525 playing a video game, so I now I break even, it’s not the end of the world.”
“I’m not paying their legal fees, they’re paying that themselves,” Simon said. “They might call that a win, but I don’t call it a win.”
Simon said he’s unsure if he’ll return to Second Life. If he does, he’s obligated under the agreement to inform the plaintiffs of any new alternate accounts.
Taney wouldn’t discuss Kenzo, but he said similar cases like Eros vs. Robert Leatherwood show that copyright in Second Life can be enforced.
“Some people think it’s a joke and real-life laws don’t apply to Second Life,” Taney said. “The judge in the Leatherwood case took it very seriously. There will come a point there will no longer be any dispute.”
