[Note: The following was posted by me in response to Timeless Prototype’s blog, in which he talks about Idea Theft and Credit. Timeless contacted me shortly after I posted because I made factual errors based upon assumptions. The following is different from the original post in that I have changed it to reflect the facts. Timeless was kind enough to talk with me about this. To see if I changed my mind after our discussion, go to this more recent post.]

A sadness has overcome me. Timeless Prototype has been talking to friends about selling off his Multi-gadget business. He’s one of the great scripters in Second Life. It’s the Swiss army knife for programmers in the virtual world. The device is useful, but what’s even more interesting is that Timeless created a distribution system to deliver upgrades. Once you bought a multi-gadget, you’d get free updates on minor version number changes, pushed to you. Having lived through the early stages of Second Life, Timeless is contemplating ending his multi-gadget business because of new competition and the frustration that real world companies entering SL may try to patent ideas that he and other scripters have previously developed. His argument is that back in the Good Old Days, scripters had an honor system. Once one scripter staked out a territory, another scripter wouldn’t impinge; it was a gentleman’s agreement. But now that new people are coming in, especially businesses, he grows weary of competing and contemplates patent protection.Other people will program other multi-gadgets that do the same thing his does. Instead of improving his, or otherwise differentiating himself, he’s decided to quit the multi-gadget business. That makes me sad.

Why?

Because Timeless Prototype is a great programmer. He’s delivered useful and creative solutions to problems. I admire him and I’m sad to see him go. But I’m really sad because here’s a great man who has given up on himself in this one instance. He’s become a tragic hero to me.

In a recent blog post, he contemplates software patents. He seems to be leaning in favor of software patents; it sounds like a software patent may keep in his multi-gadget business. But, really what he wants is recognition. He wants anyone who’s going to create a device that does one of the 60 things his device does to give him credit for the idea. Multi-gadget has many useful functions, like whispering who’s near you; flight assist so you can go higher and faster than normal; the ability to listen on any channel, etc. But it also has many not so useful functions like rezzing a bridge; rezzing a temporary hectic light storm; rezzing a flare; or rezzing a scripter’s Zen mat.

Let’s apply Timeless’ requirement to other fields. Say, music and art. The same requirement of attribution would mean that Bob Dylan would be required to cite Woodie Gutherie on much of his songs. Or, an Italian Futurist would have to cite Picasso on any of his works, because Picasso inspired the cubist movement, which inspired the Italian Futurists.

Certainly, whenever you hear a musician or artists interviewed, they are almost always asked who their influences were. But to require them to cite their influence on every piece of work seems…overbearing.

It sounds like Timeless is dancing around wanting a guild system…a cartel to keep the newcomers out…at least without proper homage to those that have come before. Let’s carve up this new world so that we don’t step on each other’s toes, he seems to be saying to my ears.

What I’m hearing is that Timeless may want an in-world government to enforce his patent rights, although he has not said that. Certainly, he can avail himself of existing laws and courts, but this is a hobby. He doesn’t have money for a real world solution in a virtual world “hobby”. So, Linden Lab’s argument that when it comes to copyright and patents, real-world processes can be used in the virtual world doesn’t help him. It’s simply too expensive.

So, he has four options:

• Quit.
• Do nothing.
• Call in the lawyers.
• Compete by evolving the multi-gadget to become a better product.

What should Timeless do? Well, if he’s done, if this is no longer fun for him, he should continue to sell of his multi-gadget business. But if he wanted to stay in, I’d suggest the following:

• Differentiate the multi-gadget into different products. Currently, he has everything and the kitchen sink. Break out the different functionality for different audiences.
• Concentrate on the customer experience. Currently, many of his objects use textures that look at home in a video game, either of the sci-fi or the dungeons and dragons variety. Work with a designer to create different looking stuff.
• Make it easier to use.
• Sign up more distributors.
• Hold scripting contests that exercise the new feature to generate word of mouth.
• Hold demonstrations in public sandboxes to generate word of mouth.

Timeless has the opportunity to lock out the competition by making the multi-gadget so good and having such good “branding” that others can’t compete. This is what the iPod has done. The iPod wasn’t the first MP3 player, but it has 75% market share because of combination of utility, good functional design, and style. Timeless can do the same thing.

Timeless, don’t quit just because you’re afraid of competition. You’re bigger than that.

Don’t compete by hiring lawyers. Compete by becoming a better you. Don’t be afraid of the corporations; a popular in-world scripter has more brand cachet than they do.

You want recognition? Release your code under Creative Commons or other license and make it requirement to retain the notice. Then write about yourself.

I understand that this is a hobby. But SL is also a great place to test out business and marketing processes. Part of the fun is being an entrepreneur without having real world constraints, like needing an inventory. Consider it a game and take the multi-gadget literally to the next level. Compete against yourself; don’t worry about what others will do. Then toot your own horn.

But giving up in anticipation of competition? It just doesn’t sound right to me.