Intellectual Property, Copyright, Patent, & Trademark Law
Legal Drafting, Consulting, & Licensing Agreements
Aggressive Civil Litigation, Mitigation, and Arbitration
- Total Settled Disputes to Date 96%
- Total Unsettled Disputes to Date 4%
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What is COPS™?
The Community Office or Professional Standards (COPS™) is a reporting and rating system for Inworld consumers, vendors, service providers, and business owners which provides one of three (3) Ratings relating to business practices in Second Life™.
How Does the COPS™ Database Help Me?
When a Second Life™ User has an experience Inworld that seems unfair, or which violates traditional notions of fairness and professionalism, there are very limited options to address the issue. Real world legal action is sometimes not feasible, due to the amount of Lindens in controversy. Many users still find it important to address the issue in a manner which is very public and searchable by the Second Life™ community as a whole, unlike standard Inworld Abuse Reports.
The COPS™ Database provides a public record of all disputes arising on the grid, much like the Reviews system works on popular sites such as Amazon, Yelp!, and other online consumer rating systems. Unlike these systems, COPS™ provides real life legal analysis of all disputes, by a licensed attorney.
What Happens After I File with COPS™?
Once a party files a pleading with COPS™, a Final Decision is posted to the COPS™ Database, along with an official Report and Rating issued by the attorney. The Ratings and information provided are public, and may only be reviewed through the Appeal process. Once all filings have taken place on both sides of the dispute, a Final Report is posted to the COPS™ Database, along with an Official Rating.
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
The most reliable, honest, and professionally responsible users on the grid are given the “Good” Rating. This rating helps to ensure brand viability, and allows users on the grid to consume the products and services under this Rating with full confidence that the entity honors its clients as much as its own business. The “Good” users are the most highly recommended, and most sought after businesses on the grid.
The “Bad” Rating is reserved for users on the grid who by omission, accident, oversight, negligence, simple mistake or error in judgment, have acted in a manner which hinders the free flowing exchange of Lindens in the Second Life™ Marketplace, and which diminishes the trust and open standards of fair and honest business practices between consumers and vendors on the Second Life™ grid. The “Bad” users are not recommended, and should be approached with a “Buyer beware” mentality.
The “Ugly” Rating is applied towards users who have shown repeated or egregious acts of fraud, deceit, theft, trolling, griefing, spamming, and/or other unfavorable behavior which violates the Second Life™ Terms of Service, Community Standards, or otherwise destroys the standards of ethics fair play on the Second Life™ grid. The “Ugly” users are red flags to the user community of Second Life™ and should be avoided at all costs.
FILE A COMPLIANCE
Settle the Dispute, by Complying with the Terms- Submit your own Compliance Report to the Complaint
- Comply with all Terms in the Settlement Deman
- Compliance reviewed by a Real Life attorney
- Official Updated Report issued by the attorney within 48 hours
- “Good” Rating posted to the COPS™ Database, upon Compliance
- Respondent’s Compliance remains permanently in the COPS™ Database
- Respondent is searchable under Username, Alternate Accounts, and/or Business Name
- Complainant is searchable under Username, Alternate Accounts, and/or Business Name
FILE A COMPLAINT
Report Unfavorable Activity on the Grid- Submit your own narrative of the Complaint
- Complaint reviewed by a Real Life attorney
- Official Report issued by the attorney within 48 hours
- Official Report posted to the COPS™ Database
- Demand for Damages is issued to Respondent by the attorney
- Respondent has 5 business days to Comply, or provide written Response
- Decision is rendered in Final Report after 5 days
- Respondent is give a Good, Bad, or Ugly rating in the Report
- Respondent name remains permanently in the COPS™ Database
FILE A RESPONSE
Respond to Allegations of Wrongdoing on the Grid- Submit your own Response to the Complaint
- Response reviewed by a Real Life attorney
- Official Updated Report issued by the attorney within 48 hours
- Official Updated Report posted to the COPS™ Database
- Respondent is give an updated Good, Bad, or Ugly rating in the Report, as applicable
- Respondent’s Response remains permanently in the COPS™ Database
- Respondent is searchable under Username, Alternate Accounts, and/or Business Name
- Complainant is searchable under Username, Alternate Accounts, and/or Business Name
FILE AN APPEAL
Appeal an Official Report Posted to the COPS™ Database- Submit your own Compliance Report to the Complaint
- Comply with all Terms in the Settlement Deman
- Compliance reviewed by a Real Life attorney
- Official Updated Report issued by the attorney within 48 hours
- “Good” Rating posted to the COPS™ Database, upon Compliance
- Respondent’s Compliance remains permanently in the COPS™ Database
- Respondent is searchable under Username, Alternate Accounts, and/or Business Name
- Complainant is searchable under Username, Alternate Accounts, and/or Business Name