CopyBot
Encyclopedia
CopyBot is a debugging
tool used to access the virtual world, Second Life
. It is able to, among other things, export objects within Second Life
to an XML
file, which can then later be imported for use in the game. LSL
scripts cannot be copied at this time.
development team, and was created with such purposes in mind as an import/export or "backup" tool, or to assist in the development of AI
s and NPCs
.
These intended official applications required creator and owner permission, and a response to a disclaimer before content could be copied.
website. It was downloaded, edited and recompiled into the application which is now used to replicate objects and avatar appearances without the owner's permission.
This activity stimulated an emotional discussion in the Second Life community and numerous articles in the popular media. Residents also began selling links to the software in exchange for Linden Dollars (L$), Second Life's virtual currency.
CopyBot does not operate within the Second Life virtual world. It is written in C#, not LSL
. Software was distributed via third-party sites and services such as SL Exchange. Currently (April 2008), most legitimate Second Life out-of-world operations do not allow the distribution of CopyBot, although there are programs which use either original Copybot code (heavy modified) or this funcionality re-implemented as well as some kind of copyright protection (i.e. allow only copying items/dropping restrictions if you are creator). This is an attempt to recreate what was the original intention of CopyBot (backup purposes).
, notorious within Second Life
for their griefing of its users and their development of an alternative Second Life client, ShoopedLife, have taken charge in the development and release of the most recent versions of CopyBot. Notable achievements include the creation of a more user-friendly interface, IRC support, and the ability to copy "sculpty" prims.
The Patriotic Nigras continue development, and are currently working on implementing it into ShoopedLife to allow for easier use of CopyBot functions without requiring separate processes and Second Life accounts.
These new versions also incorporate "autopiloting" for bots when their accounts are not actively in use by their owners. This can be seen when the bot's location updates automatically in the GUI, and also when the bot's account owner actually logs in to SL as the bot itself. It is unknown at this time if PN is specifically directing the bots to attack various points on the grid, or if they are using the information collected during bot creation to obtain further information about the actual users of the program.
Debugging
Debugging is a methodical process of finding and reducing the number of bugs, or defects, in a computer program or a piece of electronic hardware, thus making it behave as expected. Debugging tends to be harder when various subsystems are tightly coupled, as changes in one may cause bugs to emerge...
tool used to access the virtual world, Second Life
Second Life
Second Life is an online virtual world developed by Linden Lab. It was launched on June 23, 2003. A number of free client programs, or Viewers, enable Second Life users, called Residents, to interact with each other through avatars...
. It is able to, among other things, export objects within Second Life
Second Life
Second Life is an online virtual world developed by Linden Lab. It was launched on June 23, 2003. A number of free client programs, or Viewers, enable Second Life users, called Residents, to interact with each other through avatars...
to an XML
XML
Extensible Markup Language is a set of rules for encoding documents in machine-readable form. It is defined in the XML 1.0 Specification produced by the W3C, and several other related specifications, all gratis open standards....
file, which can then later be imported for use in the game. LSL
Linden Scripting Language
Linden Scripting Language, or LSL, is the programming language used by residents of Second Life, a virtual world by Linden Lab.LSL has a syntax similar to C and allows objects to control the behavior of in-world objects of Second Life from the Internet via email, XML-RPC, and most recently, HTTP...
scripts cannot be copied at this time.
Original use
CopyBot was originally created as a debugging tool by the libsecondlifeLibsecondlife
libopenmetaverse is a software library that can be used in a third party application to communicate with the servers that control the virtual world of Second Life. It can be used both to query the state of the world and to send uploads and commands that will modify that state...
development team, and was created with such purposes in mind as an import/export or "backup" tool, or to assist in the development of AI
Ai
AI, A.I., Ai, or ai may refer to:- Computers :* Artificial intelligence, a branch of computer science* Ad impression, in online advertising* .ai, the ISO Internet 2-letter country code for Anguilla...
s and NPCs
Non-player character
A non-player character , sometimes known as a non-person character or non-playable character, in a game is any fictional character not controlled by a player. In electronic games, this usually means a character controlled by the computer through artificial intelligence...
.
- Possible uses of the import/export function:
- No reliance on Linden LabLinden LabLinden Research, Inc., d/b/a Linden Lab, is a privately held American Internet company that is best known as the creator of Second Life....
for data backup services. - Importing content created on other grids such as the preview grid (currently Aditi, previously Siva).
- Importing content created on a locally installed simulator (and thus not having to rely upon the availability of official simulators).
- Exporting one's own intellectual property to other environments.
- No reliance on Linden Lab
These intended official applications required creator and owner permission, and a response to a disclaimer before content could be copied.
Later revisions
The source-code for the official CopyBot was made available via the libsecondlifeLibsecondlife
libopenmetaverse is a software library that can be used in a third party application to communicate with the servers that control the virtual world of Second Life. It can be used both to query the state of the world and to send uploads and commands that will modify that state...
website. It was downloaded, edited and recompiled into the application which is now used to replicate objects and avatar appearances without the owner's permission.
This activity stimulated an emotional discussion in the Second Life community and numerous articles in the popular media. Residents also began selling links to the software in exchange for Linden Dollars (L$), Second Life's virtual currency.
CopyBot does not operate within the Second Life virtual world. It is written in C#, not LSL
Linden Scripting Language
Linden Scripting Language, or LSL, is the programming language used by residents of Second Life, a virtual world by Linden Lab.LSL has a syntax similar to C and allows objects to control the behavior of in-world objects of Second Life from the Internet via email, XML-RPC, and most recently, HTTP...
. Software was distributed via third-party sites and services such as SL Exchange. Currently (April 2008), most legitimate Second Life out-of-world operations do not allow the distribution of CopyBot, although there are programs which use either original Copybot code (heavy modified) or this funcionality re-implemented as well as some kind of copyright protection (i.e. allow only copying items/dropping restrictions if you are creator). This is an attempt to recreate what was the original intention of CopyBot (backup purposes).
Current development
A group called the Patriotic NigrasPatriotic Nigras
The Patriotic Nigras are a group of griefers in the online world of Second Life.While the PN are known mainly for the disruption of Second Life and its users, they have also established themselves on the video sharing website YouTube, where they have posted videos of their activities including...
, notorious within Second Life
Second Life
Second Life is an online virtual world developed by Linden Lab. It was launched on June 23, 2003. A number of free client programs, or Viewers, enable Second Life users, called Residents, to interact with each other through avatars...
for their griefing of its users and their development of an alternative Second Life client, ShoopedLife, have taken charge in the development and release of the most recent versions of CopyBot. Notable achievements include the creation of a more user-friendly interface, IRC support, and the ability to copy "sculpty" prims.
The Patriotic Nigras continue development, and are currently working on implementing it into ShoopedLife to allow for easier use of CopyBot functions without requiring separate processes and Second Life accounts.
These new versions also incorporate "autopiloting" for bots when their accounts are not actively in use by their owners. This can be seen when the bot's location updates automatically in the GUI, and also when the bot's account owner actually logs in to SL as the bot itself. It is unknown at this time if PN is specifically directing the bots to attack various points on the grid, or if they are using the information collected during bot creation to obtain further information about the actual users of the program.
Current variations
From the open source code of Copybot, several businesses have formed promoting safe and responsible use. Among these is Inventory Backup. Inventory Backup promotes the legal and responsible use of the CopyBot program to protect creations and offers video tutorials to help learn the software.Public reaction
- Resident outcry and virtual protests quickly followed a meeting on November 13, 2006 after Linden Lab met with residents to discuss the use of Copybot.
- Several Second Life merchants threatened to close up shop unless CopyBot was blocked by Linden Lab. Though the possibility of CopyBot's technical removal has been disputed in the past.
- Moopf Murray claimed to have been the subject of abuse and harassment from other Second Life Residents due to a product he created being used by the Residents selling links to the unofficial copybot program (the other Residents used a vendor created by Moopf).
- Moopf later claimed to have had an official Abuse Report sanction filed against him by Linden Lab
- In 2007, University of Michigan law student Kurt Hunt published "This Land Is Not Your Land: Second Life, CopyBot, and the Looming Question of Virtual Property Rights" in the Texas Review of Entertainment and Sports Law. In his article, he argued that the CopyBot controversy highlights the extent to which developers and users of virtual worlds disagree on the appropriate legal status of virtual propertyVirtual propertyVirtual property may refer to:* A group-theoretic property that holds virtually* The analogue of property in a virtual economy...
. He also suggested that CopyBot provides perhaps the best example yet of how the instability of virtual worlds may threaten economic development and emerging property rights.
Official Linden Lab statements
- Cory Linden announced that using CopyBot or similar tools to copy intellectual property in violation of applicable laws was in violation of Second Life's Terms of Service.
- You agree to use Second Life as provided, without unauthorized software or other means of access or use. You will not make unauthorized works from or conduct unauthorized distribution of the Linden Software.
- Despite the large volume of complaints left in the two CopyBot related blog entries, as of November 16, 2006, Linden Lab reported that they had received only slightly more than 50 official complaints relating to the malicious use of CopyBot.
- On Friday, April 11, 2008 laurap linden stated the following:
- CopyBot Infringement - A Terms of Service Violation
- Finally, to reiterate our policy on CopyBot: Any use of it to make infringing copies of our customers' e-houses violates the Terms of Service and may result in suspension or banning of Second Life accounts. If you believe that a Resident has used CopyBot (or a similar application) to make infringing copies of your content, please file an abuse report and provide as much information as you can to support your claim. Although technology can’t prevent the copying of data drawn on your screen, we don’t tolerate Residents who seek to profit from infringing use of CopyBot.
- We're sometimes asked why Residents are allowed to have or sell copying devices. The answer is that there are legitimate uses of a copying mechanism. It's the infringement that we don't allow and won't tolerate..