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Second Life Now Has Reporters, Taxes
No offense to online world Second Life, but my desire to exchange a life in this sordid world for a sparkling clean virtual life is starting to wane.
(Welcome to Second Life)
For those who joined the revolution late, keep in mind that Second Life is an online community that allows members to participate in a new world. Each member picks an avatar, a graphic representation of themselves, and then participates in a game-like world along with other members. Sounds like a great escape, right? Maybe not.
It turns out that canny members can actually make real-world money off the online world. Members can create clothing, buildings, special features and more - and then charge other members in real money. Now, government economists are taking a close look at this money changing hands - and are wondering where their cut is.
"Right now we're at the preliminary stages of looking at the issue and what kind of public policy questions virtual economies raise -- taxes, barter exchanges, property and wealth," said Dan Miller, senior economist for the Joint Economic Committee of the U.S. Congress.
(From Virtual economies attract real-world tax attention)
And, if that wasn't enough, it turns out that Reuters, the international news agency, has just opened a virtual news bureau. A correspondent will live the life of an avatar, gathering news. Adam Reuters will start doing what reporters do. Can virtual paparazzi and dunning tax collectors be far behind?
(Reporter Adam Reuters at Second Life)
Scroll down for more stories in the same category. (Story submitted 10/16/2006)
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