Rosedale, other virtual world execs to testify before Congress
By Adam Reuters
SECOND LIFE, March 31 (Reuters) - Linden Lab’s soon-to-be-ex Chief Executive Philip Rosedale and other virtual world executives are set to testify before the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce on Tuesday. Among the topics on the agenda: “safety issues and the use of real currency in virtual online worlds, as well as the growing presence of educational institutions, non-profits and other real-world organizations in online virtual worlds.”
Congressional Joint Economic Committee economist Dan Miller announced more than a year ago that he was preparing a report on virtual world taxation and currency issues. But Tuesday’s hearing does not appear to be connected with that long-awaited report.
See the full statement below.
Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet
Hearing on Online Virtual Worlds
The Committee on Energy and Commerce will hold a hearing on Tuesday, April 1, 2008, at 9:30 a.m. in room 2123
Witnesses will testify on the evolution, culture and future of online virtual worlds. These increasingly popular websites, such as Second Life, Zwinky and There, allow people to interact with each other over the Internet through virtual selves, or avatars. The hearing will explore safety issues and the use of real currency in virtual online worlds, as well as the growing presence of educational institutions, non-profits and other real-world organizations in online virtual worlds.
Please visit http://energycommerce.house.gov for more information.
WITNESSES INCLUDE:
Philip Rosedale
Founder and Chief Executive Officer
Susan Tenby
Senior Manager, Community Development
TechSoup
Dr. Larry Johnson
Chief Executive Officer
The New Media Consortium
Colin J. Parris, Ph.D.
Vice President, Digital Convergence
IBM Research
IBM Corporation
WOW, looks like US congress is laying the ground work for Taxing Virtual Worlds…..
Mon Mar 31, 2008 9:03am PDTYes, it doesn’t ‘appear’ to be connected to the specific report mentioned. But, it’s the first step toward some kind of taxation, I’m sure.
Just look at all the Governor’s clamoring to get their hands into the pockets of Internet users now.
The politicians are simply itching to get their hands into this, they just aren’t sure how to go about it.
This is the first step to that end.
yes, just my opinion, but…
heheh.
Mon Mar 31, 2008 9:03am PDTThis is a very odd collection of witnesses … ???
Mon Mar 31, 2008 9:03am PDTActually its a GREAT collection of witnesses, who are in a good positions to speak to the uses of virtual worlds for business collaboration (IBM), education (NMC), and social and charitable action (Techsoup.) Color me optimistic.
Mon Mar 31, 2008 10:03pm PDTAnyone notice it’s April Fool’s Day?
interestingly tho, on the site it does read that in toda’ys events … huh
Tue Apr 1, 2008 2:04am PDTEm… and how does the US Congress think it’s allowed to tax me… in the UK?
Europeans (like me) are already having to pay an additional 17.5% (or more) Value Added Tax on LL fees such as Land Tier or Memberships.
They need to remember that SL is *global*, even though the company is based in the USA - just like the internet.
So trying to tax in-world is just un-workable - imagine all the different rates that apply, depending on where you live. The only sensible point of taxation is when you move money out of SL. That implies you are *making* money, and therefore should be taxed.
Anybody that puts money *into* SL (changing $ into L$) has already paid tax on it.
Tue Apr 1, 2008 2:04am PDTIt actually is not an odd collection of witnesses at all. These are people who are actively involved in doing real life collaborations, conferences and research in Second Life and other virtual worlds. This committee, which includes Rep. Ed Markey (D-MA), is discussing technology, academia and virtual society. I’m looking forward to seeing some real light, as opposed to the usual heat, being shed on this subject today. Markey, by the way, held the first ever “blended reality” Congressional press conference in SL last December.
Tue Apr 1, 2008 6:04am PDTNo, rikomatic, it’s not a great collection of witneses. That is, sure, individually, they all do fine work, starting with Philip and going on down. But they are all completely ecstatic and uncritical boosters of Second Life. None of them are critical. None of them have written in an unbiased, critical matter about this platform that pays them salaries. That’s the problem.
To be credible, a hearing should have critics as well. I view this whole thing as pre-cooked.
Tue Apr 1, 2008 7:04pm PDT