While it seems most comments over at /. over this story are.. well typical. But the linked article about virtual manifestation in a virtual world is interesting.

From the legal point of view, how are behaviors of avatars treated in relation to their « owner »? Diffamation, vandalism, annoying behavior, can those be sanctioned? Freedom of expression and association? Do those exist in a virtual world ? Is the owner of the server all powerful? Should he then be responsible?

Sound ridiculous, but then fighting over virtual domain names seemed ridiculous at one time too.