The Gacha Ban From Two Owners' Points of View

 

After the end of the month, the gacha ban ordered by Linden Lab will take effect. The end of an era of Second Life shopping, the ban is being cheered by some, and cursed by others. But how will this affect the owners? The Newser reached out for answers, and two people who make money through gacha machines responded on how the ban will affect them.

Read more in Design.
 

SL16B Applications Now Open, "We Are Excited To Return to Being More Involved" Says Linden Lab

Last Friday, Linden Lab announced on the official blog that applications for the Second Life Sixteenth Birthday Celebration, the SL16B, were now being accepted. They also announced that they would "return to being more involved in the organization of all the events."

As we blogged earlier this month (Announcing “SL16B” - Second Life’s Sweet Sixteen!) SL16B is coming this summer - and part of the celebration means we will be opening applications for Volunteers, Exhibitors and Performers. This year, we are excited to return to being more involved in the organization of all the events. In addition to the official Music Fests, costume parties,  and Shopping events, of the last few years, we’re also returning to our roots and participating more in the development and planning of the main SLB celebration.

Except for the SL3B, Linden Lab ran the first eight Second Life Birthday events. Then on April 2012, they announced they would not be organizing one that year. It was up to the residents to organize one, and eventually a team led by Doc Gascoigne did. "The Birthday" was saved. Although the Lab would slowly get a little involved with the Music Fest and a shopping event, Doc's team would continue organizing the main event up to the SL15B. The Newser would declare them "Persons of the Year" for 2018.

Exhibitor Application  - Applications close on May 15th, 2019  (Exhibitor Policies)
Performer Application  - Applications close on May 15th, 2019 ( Performer Policies)
Volunteer Applications  - Applications close on May 15th, 2019
Merchant Application - Applications close on June 1st, 2019
The applications to audition for the Music Fest are not yet available.

So after several years, apparently Linden Lab will once again be running "The Birthday." It should be interesting to see how things go.

Announcement: Fourth Annual Castle, Home and Garden Merchant Sign-Up

4th Annual Castle, Home and Garden Contest
June 3rd-24th
Merchant sign ups are now available, with various packages being offered! We've gotten many inquiries on when merchant sign ups would come out so you could plan ahead-- and here they are!
https://goo.gl/forms/SMFeYNbxf0wH4ggx1

Any questions, please message Rowena Dubrovna in world.
Thanks!

News and Commentary: A Potentially "Taxing" Problem for Second Life Content Creators Outside the US

By Bixyl Shuftan

Psyke Phaeton, the maker of a security orb, was threatened with being thrown out of Second Life by Linden Lab. Not because his products are causing problems, but because he refused to provide tax documentation to Linden Lab.

On August 1, Psyke wrote on his blog that he had gotten a message from Linden Lab that he had to provide an IRS form, a W8-BEN, otherwise his account would be terminated in 28 days. Psyke wrote that he would not be providing the information for two reasons. One, he isn't an American but an Australian, and saw no obligation to pay. Two, he didn't want to make any contributions, however small, to what he saw the US government as eroding its Constitution and saddling its citizens with massive debt, and other actions.

So Psyke made his security orb free on the Marketplace, preparing for the end. Then someone on the Second Life Universe forums found some documents online that informed that as an Australian resident who does not travel to the United States, he doesn't have to pay any taxes to the US. Oops! "Well, that is a little embarrasing isn't it. Perhaps LL needs to be more clear about the consequences and less threatening. Now to reponder everything."

While Psyke may now be off the hook (except perhaps with fellow posters on the SLU forums), the incident does bring up some questions about Linden Lab's policies in this area. Originally it was just newly created accounts at the time of the new requirements (Nov 2013) that had to comply. Psyke's rezz date is listed as October 12, 2003. Also, some countries prohibit their residents from giving companies based outside their borders certain information. Might they possibly end up in a catch-22, choosing between in trouble with Linden Lab, or their real-life authorities?

Maybe there should be an alternative to expelling merchants whom decline to turn over tax information, at least those whom have been in Second Life for many years, live outside the United States, or both. Instead, just take away their ability to do business. Perhaps blocking them from using the Linden Exchange and thus unable to cash their Lindens into real-life currency, or "freezing" their Linden accounts so that while money continues to come in as people buy their items, the user can't spend it?

Something to think about.

*Addition* Psyke isn't the first content creator with this problem mentioned in the Newser. Earlier we wrote about Meissa Thorne, whom had been banned by the Lab for this reason.

Sources: Psyke phaeton's Blog, Ciaran Laval, Nalates Things and Stuff , SL Universe Forums, 

Bixyl Shuftan

Luminous Designs

The Steelhead Steampunk community is known for it's friendly folk and craziness. But some of these folk do more than just provide chuckles. Lumina Elvehjem, better known to her neighbors as Lumi, runs her Luminous Designs store there. She provides Steampunk era clothes to both neighbors and visitors, as well as some whimsical items that could only come from the mind of a Steelheader. Recently, Second Life Newser stopped by to see what she has to offer.

Read the story in Design.

The Breeze is Back

Some of you remember Breezes Babi from Second Life Newspaper. Her "Breezes Thoughts" certainly were a fresh breeze. We're pleased to now post her articles here as well.

Read her "Virtual Impressions" in Places.