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
