[Opensim-users] Announcement of inventory tool (MyInventory), mostly of interest to grid operators/grid nauts

Thu Nov 15 17:35:02 UTC 2012

On Thu, Nov 15, 2012 at 5:48 PM, Fleep Tuque <fleep513 at gmail.com> wrote:

> Well, to clarify, a user _may_ have rights to copy items in their
> inventory from one grid to another, but they also may not  - it all depends
> on the individual license for the individual item.
>
> In the current server/viewer schema, the Copy/Mod/Transfer permissions
> preserved in the object edit window indicates a limited license applicable
> _only_ to the grid where the item originated, as far as I understand. This
> is the source of much confusion as many people interpret Copy/Mod/Trans
> permissions as a license applying to any grid, but it doesn't, it only
> applies to the grid where the item originated.
>
The issue is further compounded by different countries having different
laws. E.g. in my country no agreement exists unless it has been explicitly
agreed upon by both parties. I.e. I need to be presented with a clear
choice (Do you accept the TOS Yes or No), otherwise no agreement is made.
And even those agreements have their limitations, especially in regards to
end-users who are not used to complicated license agreements.

>
> An item creator can also make a separate license that applies permissions
> for other grids, which may give a user permission to copy the item to other
> grids, but the problem is, there's no mechanism to record that license and
> reliably attach the additional license to the item.  Sticking a notecard in
> the item's contents is not a reliable method since it can simply be
> deleted, or in the case of an Imprudence type xml import/export, lost even
> unintentionally.
>
>
Until the server/viewer schema supports the preservation of explicit
> licensing options for more than the originating grid (the most popular
> suggestion seems to be adding an "exportable" checkbox to the existing
> C/M/T scheme), I'm afraid we'll continue to be stuck in this murky state
> where no one is entirely sure of the provenance of any item except for the
> items they have created themselves, and no one really knows which items are
> licensed for copy to other grids and which aren't.
>
> It's an unhappy state of affairs for everyone, right now, IMO.
>
> I agree with you about the unhappy state for everyone, and IMO it needs to
be resolved if opensim wants to progress, MyInventory is not intended to be
a rip tool and I will implement what features it takes to prevent
MyInventory from being abused, but at the sametime, users need better tools
for managing their inventories in an open grid environment.

- Chris/Fleep
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Thu, Nov 15, 2012 at 10:23 AM, Mike Chase <
> mike.chase at alternatemetaverse.com> wrote:
>
>> Actually,  as the creator of an item I own it.  Not the “user”.  That’s
>> clear  because I get to set the permissions under which the next “owner” or
>> licensee can use it.  When someone acquires an digital asset I created they
>> get a license to use it.  The value of the creation itself usually far
>> exceeds what someone pays for it.   I only create in grids I trust because
>> the grid operator must defend my rights via a DMCA process.  So no a “user”
>> doesn’t have rights to copy items in inventory they “own”.  Because
>> ownership of digital assets doesn’t transfer.  Only a license to use them
>> for a purpose.****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> So in short I think some of your thinking about users “rights” is
>> somewhat flawed.  That doesn’t meant there aren’t protocols to do what you
>> want to do.   But yeah, I think providing such a tool is asking to get
>> sued. And it probably damages the reputation of OpenSim as serious software
>> for serving digital assets.  That’s a shame because there are a number of
>> closed grids trying to actually correct that assumption by providing a more
>> secure environment for content creators to operate in.  ****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> Just my 2 cents.  Do what you will with it****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> Mike****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> *From:* opensim-users-bounces at lists.berlios.de [mailto:
>> opensim-users-bounces at lists.berlios.de] *On Behalf Of *Snowcrash Short
>> *Sent:* Thursday, November 15, 2012 7:51 AM
>> *To:* opensim-users at lists.berlios.de
>> *Subject:* Re: [Opensim-users] Announcement of inventory tool
>> (MyInventory), mostly of interest to grid operators/grid nauts****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> Hi****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> Before this gets out of hand, let me clarify, this is not a backup
>> tool, at least no per se, one of the features is the ability to backup
>> content from an existing account (a backup which is governed by a policy).
>> ****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> The primary goal of the project is to move the inventory and the assets
>> to their rightful users and to empower the users to use the assets as they
>> want - within legal limits.****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> In an ideal world - except for special cases, the inventory and the
>> assets backing the inventory is controlled by the user, and that is the
>> goal of the project, to bring the inventory under the control of the user.
>> ****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> To this purpose it currently has two input streams supporting it (one
>> more is planned), the first is client side access to .iar files, the second
>> is download from the users existing inventory, to the extent allowed by law
>> and agreements made between the user and grid operators.****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> Knowing that only a few of the grid operators using Open Sim has policies
>> in place, this email serves as an invitation to make these policies public,
>> and to implement - to the extent possible - these policies in MyInventory.
>> ****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> The question of attribution is only relevant when the assets are being
>> distributed, MyInventory has currently no functionality for distribution.
>> The as yet unfinished and only hinted at third input stream deals with
>> distribution. The current implementation does not distribute any data, it
>> only grants a user simpler way access to the assets the user has rightfully
>> access to.****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> Best regards****
>>
>> Snowcrash****
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> ** **
>>
>> _______________________________________________
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>> Opensim-users at lists.berlios.de
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>>
>
>
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