Linden Lab is dropping the boom on people who use their trademarks:

Domain Names. If you have a domain name that includes a Linden Lab trademark (such as http://secondlifesoftware.com), obtain a new domain name that does not use our trademarks, or that complies with our Guidelines and Terms for using "SL" or "inSL" with a domain name. Use the 90-day transition period to educate your customers about your new domain name. You can contact us about the original domain name for further guidance on what to do.

So, folks, this means my blog's URL is toast, eh?

But then...

No Use in Second-Level Domain Names. Do not use or register any second-level domain name that is identical, virtually identical, or confusingly similar to a Linden Lab trademark, including our Second Life and Linden Lab trademarks. A "second-level domain name" is the identifying part of a domain name that commonly refers to the organization or entity that registered it.

I'm using it in a tertiary domain name, not a secondary domain name.

Okay, so I pass that test.

As for this:

No Disparaging or Tarnishing Use. Never use any Linden Lab trademark in a disparaging or tarnishing manner outside the bounds of fair criticism or fair use. For information on fair use in trademark law, see here, among other resources, and consult a trademark attorney. To refer to our brand names, see Proper Reference to Linden Lab's Brand Names in Text.

As with everything I write, it has a double meaning.

Yes, you can read it as "Second Life is full of crap." If you're some kind of lame-brained literalist.

But it's really meant to be read as "Second Life is full of Crap."

Me. Crap Mariner.

It's full of me. The egomaniacal windup Idiot-In-Chief of Edloe Island.

And, for that matter, it's also you. Because, without us, it's really not much, right?

We put a lot of ourselves into it. (Why do I get the feeling that Linden Lab is forgetting that sometimes?)

Oh well. I guess I should write them as a courtesy and see if they explode.

*sigh*

REACTIONS:

Other discussions at Vint Falken and SL Bloggers.

Harper touches on The Cola Wars and Paramount & the Star Trek fanfics. Taking wait-and-see approach.

Dandellion is not amused.

Massively jumps in. But... um... what does Slovenia have to do with SL? (Sierra Leone is .sl)

I'm looking forward to see what happens with SLCN, SLNN, SLBrand, and SLbuzz. I really want to hear what Prokofy has to say on this... we'll find out soon enough, and I might even have enough swuft built up between my ears to say something constructive on it.

Slim Warrior's comment on Vint's site is a hoot.

Oh, and if Linden Lab allows some domains/brands to continue using the domain while stopping others because of the PG/Disparagement clause, well, I guess watch for the "FIC!" to fly.

Yeah, you could get mad about such things. But in the end, it's a company trying to lay the remaining bricks in the foundation for an IPO, and that would provide the company with greater resources.

Lots of folks are going to have a mad scramble in the next 90 days. Lots of gnashing of teeth, wailing, yadda yadda.

Lots of out-of-date feeds that need correcting. Big pain in the ass.

Shucky darn.

Me, I'll be fine. As a last resort, I'm preparing another subdomain that's:

• Funny.
• True.
• Doesn't mention anybody's product or service.

However, my Dear Abby Cease And Desist letter on the wall is getting lonely, and it would be kinda funny to put a Linden Lab one up there next to it.

Maybe they'll put the same amount of whimsy and humor in it as Abby's lawyers did. I still look up at that thing and laugh - it was written in the form of a Dear Abby letter, and that convinced me these folks, under the suits, were pretty cool and I should wander off and play in another sandbox with a more amusing subject. (Ariana Huffington - hey, I got mentioned in Time and Newsweek for that one.)

Stay tuned.