Additionally, anyone can research these matters through the US Patent and Trademark Office http://uspto.gov and the US Copyright Office http://copyright.gov .

That said, I am pleased and proud to be a member of Artist's Voice. The work being done is important, and is not being covered, to the best of my knowledge, by other creators' groups. And because the group is NOT a witch-hunt group, there are no new victims created by the group.

Indeed, the Artist's Voice group is led by content creators – for the most part, content creators have the most invested in world.. However, AV is as dedicated to educating and protecting consumers as it is to educating and protecting content creators.

Consumers do not deserve to be hoodwinked by thieves and con artists – they work just as hard for their Lindens as content creators do. They deserve to be treated with respect, and should be afforded the dignity of knowing the products they purchase are authentic.

The Artist's Voice council and its members understand that the virtual world we inhabit is created and grows though the efforts of content creators, but knows, just as well, that it would all be pointless without the consumer base.

2. Apple Logo and Apple-owned Graphic Symbols: You may not use the Apple Logo or any other Apple-owned graphic symbol, logo, or icon on or in connection with web sites, products, packaging, manuals, promotional/advertising materials, or for any other purpose except pursuant to an express written trademark license from Apple, such as a reseller agreement.

http://www.apple.com/legal/trademark/guidelinesfo…

Ah, I was in too much of a rush to get to the first official Artist's Voice meeting!

If you would like to join the Artist's Voice, please submit an application. We would love to have you!

It is an example.

Trademarks are used for getting protection over short words such as company slogans, logos, symbols, etc. Whereas a copyright is to get protection over works one has created such as literary works, artistic works, etc.

I think "The Artists Voice" is a great idea but might want to make sure you understand and are using the correct terminologies. Copyright and Trademark are not the same thing, and they cover different aspects of creation.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trademark_infringeme…
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright_infringeme…

It's a grand idea, this group, but if you ever hope to educate people, you must get your terms correct.

Great to read about that, Content Theft definitely must be brought into light for most residents. I can tell that am tired of inspecting folks hair and find out that is a copied one, and most times I feel tempted to warn them about that matter, but at the same time I feel like punching a knife or fighting a lost cause due to lack of knowledge or means to spread the message clearly and easy to get.

Oh, and please don't forget that many folks wearing stolen items don't have english as first or second language, but I am sure many wouldn't support stolen goods if aware of it.

Hugs and have a great week, oh and again sorry for any typos or grammar failures, lol.