Virtual worlds are emerging as a popular new legal topic. They create a host of interesting opportunities as tools for legal practice, and at the same time are a medium that needs to be reconciled to laws from the physical world. 

The apparatus of the law is increasingly present in Second Life :

• You Can Watch your Trademark in Second Life
  The Non-Profit Virtual Intellectual Property Organization offers virtual trademark watch services and consultations on virtual property and trade to outside world corporations and legal entities through its “Customs Service”.

• Or Join the Second Life Bar Association
  California Lawyer profiles a few of the more than 200 legal professionals who have joined the Second Life Bar Association.

The virtual world is repleat with trademark issues, and real copyright litigation from there are now in courts. Harvard Law’s Berkman Center has offered courses entirely in Second Life, where I enjoyed a conference on Avatar-based marketing. Even Judge Richard Posner of the 7th Circuit Court of Appeals is attending conferences as an avatar.

But if you haven’t signed on yet, don’t worry; you’re in good company.  As I talk with practitioners, I find the level of interest among IP-law pros is still far higher than the number of them who have actually used such environments. There’s a good reason for this.

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