Hi, I think you're the only one online who comes out and says the conference is "bootleg' -- they streamed the Boston U2 concert which brings up some significant copyright and IP rights in RL -- see my blog www.hollywood2020.blogs.com on this issue and concert.

Ms Schwarz, you seem to be somebody who doesn't know alot about U2, their music, their causes, their attitude towards passionate fans.

Do a websearch and you'll find interviews with band members and with Paul McGuinness, where they state clearly that they DO NOT mind people recording their concerts as long as those recordings are not sold or used in any way to make money off them.

The recordings U2 in SL uses will NEVER be sold by them, will never be used to make any money. Heck, they didn't even burn it on a CD yet, not even for a personal backup!

Do yourself and U2 and U2 in SL a favor and get the facts straight!

I do know that U2 encourages free personal use of their music. But they also sell it on iPod too-- if they wanted it totally given away they would put just post it on their website wouldn't they? I realize that Edge and the president of Interscope are big Napster fans (which now has a payment system too) BUT this was a replay of the Boston concert. Did anyone from SL U2 band try to get permission to do this. My guess if they had they probably would have gotten an okay from U2 but without that it seems open to controversy. At no time did I see the poster say U2 tribute band ( I know SL probably all knew that but it seems important to say especially since most tribute bands do NOT lipsynch the songs like the avatars did. It may fall under fair use and U2 may be fine with it.

Thanks for your reply, Ms Schwarz! You did your homework. ;-)

U2 in SL indeed contacted Principle Management in Dublin by phone, email and fax, but they never got an official reply saying "go for it".

They got emails back from ONE/DATA, saying that they are ok with promoting them that way.

Well, U2 in SL is out there since spring 2005 and the members are putting their butts on the line, as it looks right now. Let's hop all will work out!

Best Regards

Last year the principle person behind "U2 in SL" avatars made the following statement: "Yes, we have been in contact with Principle Management (U2's organization) and they are aware of our endeavor."

Demian said shortly after: "So I say it again! YES, U2's management, Principle Management in Dublin, is aware of the project and so are ONE.org and DATA.org."

Now we're hearing otherwise.

Further, this group initially displayed an apparent unwillingness to directly clarify the band's involvement... or lack thereof. There was, in fact, quite a bit of confusion about this last year. From July 2005 comes this online exchange:

Q: "I don't understand... was this a u2 involved event or was it just some avatars dancing to streamed music?"

A: "This was a concert with all the trimmings as best as it could be done in SL given the limitations here. We had ...{no direct answer here}"

Further confusion was added by members in comments such as this:

"They don't even tell who's behind the U2 in SL avatars, if they are alts, ..."

Add to that posts like this by avatars using the actual names of the band members:

"Yes, *wink* it was Bono-approved. And a lovely lass you are, Roseann! Was a pleasure chatting with you and other fans after our concert. And, thank you, one and all, for coming out to show your support of One.org to help Make Poverty History. It's our moment, our time, our chance. We're not looking for charity, we're looking for justice. We can't fix every problem, but the ones we can - we must.

The Edge, Adam, Larry and I hope to see you and everyone at our next gig in SL!

Bono Vox"

Lastly, while these in-world concerts are "free", so is a television commercial. While claiming they derive no benefit from this activity ("The people behind the project don't benefit in any way!" - Demien), as it turns out, there is a business using this material as a means of self-promotion (and I assume readers are aware that avatar skinners can potentially make tens of thousands of real dollars per year selling this stuff). See for yourself: http://www.imagehosting.us/index.php?action=show&ident=1206079

As to the legality of streaming the music, there have also been different answers to those questions. Here's one (you can read another above):

"Finally, regarding the music, last we knew, streaming music was allowed in SL and wasn’t something that warranted artist’s approval."

These issues raise serious doubts as to whether these people are selflessly promoting a cause or gaming the system. What's unfortunate is that when presented with an opportunity to be transparent, they've demonstrated hostility. If they're genuinely interested in promoting real life causes, they're certainly not helping their own.

CSVEN,

I think you might need to get laid. You are making a big stink out of something that you really have no business being in. In fact, I think what people need to ask themselves is what do YOU gain out of bitching about it? 15 minutes of fame? A chance to talk to the band? Or are you just a grumpy jerk whos parents didnt pay them enough attention?

Get a life, tool.