Is Linden Lab positioned to merge with, buy out, or partner with 3D model communities? While weekends are for idle speculation and this is based on nothing other than a hunch, I can’t help thinking that Linden Lab would place a new competitive stake in the sand if they were to do one of the above.
With Tom Hale’s announcement that Linden Lab will allow mesh imports (footnoted with the helpful comment of, well, “maybe”) it strikes me that if they do so they’ll be missing out on a significant chunk of possible revenue as residents scurry to 3D warehouses to purchase objects for placement in Second Life.
Could Sites Like 3DVIA Get Swallowed Up by a Linden “Mega 3D Content Portal”?
As a reminder, mesh import would allow people to create objects in third party applications like Poser, 3DS or Maya, and then import those models into Second Life. The technology is demonstrated in this video:
There is already a significant community of people developing 3D models mostly for the fun of it. But there’s some cash changing hands as well, as sites like Runtime DNA, Content Paradise and, to a lesser degree, 3DVIA demonstrate. Meanwhile, Google has its Sketch-Up Warehouse and other sites offer free model downloads.
Runtime DNA: The XStreet for 3D Content
The details of the Lab’s mesh import function are a little fuzzy. It’s unknown, for example, whether it will allow direct import of any OBJ or standard 3D file. If the Lab elects to put a step in between – for example some sort of conversion utility, it might allow them to maintain a proprietary base for the 3D objects. In other words, what comes IN might not necessarily go OUT, and by placing a conversion step within imports, they might be able to claim that 3D content has been modified upon being brought into Second Life, and perhaps prevent DMCA claims from other 3D model sites.
But what seems to make more sense is for the Lab to try to take a cut on both ends: collect fees where the objects are purchased and sold, and collect them again when users bring objects into Second Life.
Consider the thousands of people in Second Life who create stuff, and the terrabytes of data which this represents. Then consider that Content Paradise bragged about having 5,000 models when it relaunched its portal this summer.
The Lab would be well positioned to deploy a ‘buy-em-up-and-roll-em-up’ strategy, creating either strategic partnerships or outright buying other 3D content marketplaces. With the infrastructure represented by XStreet, a new “developer portal” coming soon, and the community forums and service to the Second Life community, the Lab could become the 3D content marketplace not just for Second Life, but more generally.
OK…as I said, it’s idle speculation – but what do you think? Do you think we might see Linden Lab go on a buying spree?
“what comes IN might not necessarily go OUT”
They can go out, one way or another.
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“by placing a conversion step within imports, they might be able to claim that 3D content has been modified upon being brought into Second Life, and perhaps prevent DMCA claims from other 3D model sites.”
As Toyota’s recent legal victory has shown, 3D files are not necessarily – in and of themselves – covered by copyright claim. This is still a gray area but I’m not sure how this will benefit them.
Not sure buying another 3D content site is worth the hassle. Modelers tolerate Turbo Squid; they don’t necessarily like it… or the reportedly high percentage they take from a sale. Right now I’d say there’s plenty of room for more 3D content sites.
I don’t have any inside information but I would love this direction. There is so much good 3D content out there and its a shame to have to recreate everything again in-world.
One problem is that this does mess with the SL economy in this area and content creators that work entirely with in-world tools are a bit concerned about opening things up. It would be hard to compete with the pros using $5000 3D tools or even the free but completed high end tools.
CSven – yes, all content can be copied (i.e. can go out) – but I can’t help wondering whether when exporting you lose some of the mesh properties of the original model as imported.
Mark – agreed on the SL economy comment – I found it fascinating at a recent Metanomics forum that most of the content creators present had no issue with opening the doors this way – it was seen as making the Grid a ‘better place’ and would benefit everyone in the long run. But we’ll see how that plays out – I guess it’s part of the “change” that Philip keeps warning about?
the IP issues would/SHOULD overwhelm Lindens Legal abilities.
Dassault is the owner of the 3dvia site, and i believe its an offshoot of the virtools platform they bought. Frankly Dassault buying LL is more likely reality from a size pov.;)The largest contributer to 3dvia is doschdeigns, they control there IP, not 3DVIA, and they could if they wanted, entered SL at anytime… why not?.. ask them;)
IP violations are rampant – not unexpected- at google wharehouse – as google continues to make money off others IP or privacy any way they can.;)
attaching “product sales” to these model community sites via SL is just another IP stealing act, or too much of a headache -cost- for a LL.
besides… mesh import will flood SL with the google warehouse works anyway… and the amount of illegally sold IP/ designs/ etc that will be needed to be policed on XLStreet- under new TOS, or soon inworld will be very large.
will LL license models from a legal owner like a dosch? well they should, but they wont., why spend money if “crowds” will make it for free or steal/reproduce it digitally in 3d for LL to make millions as they make pennies(L$), off the investments of others., like at the google warehouse.
Format conversion is a protected right under copyright (except as allowed by fair-use). You can’t alter the format of a copyrighted work without the copyright owner’s consent.
Please no… don’t even give LL the idea of becoming a major 3D content dealer. After the mess they’ve made of the Xstreet website, with its outsized fonts, misaligned EVERYTHING and general air of ineptitude, the idea that they could try to create a wider ecommerce initiative is chilling…
yes sorry to have to agree that the new website and xlstreet are horrible examples of interface design. Theres a major lack of structure and intent for finding information or recalling where information was found. If the goal was “simplify for the new” and “amplify activity/sales for the invested” they certainly will have to prove that this design does that. I dont think it will.
btw- just some thoughts about what could help the entire LL product design issues.— the folks at maxping were kind enough to want to repost this 15 year old article —its been refound by 3d metafolk every 5 years or so.:) of course it is beyond “code” or any “single companies service/program” so it’s value to today’s autistic will be i expect minimal;)
http://maxping.org/virtual-life/other/the-interface-2d-to-3d.aspx
cube3;)
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BTW, on the subject of SL and websites – it looks like it won’t be long before SL can run right inside your browser window. WebKit/WebGL browsers (that’s everyone except Internet Deplorer) are already taking steps toward running OpenGL-based games (like SL) as native right inside browser windows. More here: http://blog.wolfire.com/2009/09/preview-of-webkits-webgl-canvas3d/
Since OpenSim and Second Inventory complicated the content question, it does seem inevitable that the content economy will migrate to established “warehouses” no matter where they are. With the billions changing hands in that space and 130-something percent increase last year of the “virtual goods” economy it makes sense for Linden Labs, or anyone interested in making serious money going into the conceptual/3d age, to set themselves up as providers in this space. In other words, Linden Labs would be very foolish to not at least try to become a 3d content warehouse along with, or combined with the others. It remains to be seen if they have it together enough to capitalize on that opportunity. Maybe this post will bring their attention to it a bit, but we probably all agree there are plenty of other priorities ahead of it.
tbh I assume that mesh-import will be subject to the same limitations current sculpties have node-wise. That just the import-step of creating the sculpt-texture will go away. This means that even though there is a zillion of 3D models out there, still only very few will seamlessly import into SL. For more complex models you need to break the components apart in the external 3D application, import them as seperate (sculpted) prims, and reassemble them in SL again. I expect that simply one cumbersome step in between will get removed, but in essence everything will stay the same. SL as it is now is too much limited by odes/vertexes in its performance, that LL surely will not enable the import of complex objects with thousands and tens of thousands of nodes.
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The Raven King seeks to eexplain Copyright useage…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAyQf8uykEw