San Francisco - Linden Lab, the developer of 3D virtual world Second Life, has named Mark Kingdon as its new CEO, replacing company founder Philip Rosedale, who will remain chairman. Since 2001, Kingdon has served as the CEO of Organic Inc., a digital communications agency. Prior to that, he had been a partner with the consulting division of PricewaterhouseCoopers. "Our search for the leader of Linden Lab demanded both tremendous business skills and a deep understanding and passion for Second Life and where it is going," said Rosedale. Kingdon will officially assume the role on May 15.

New York - IBM (NYSE: IBM) and Linden Lab, creator of the "Second Life" online virtual world, announced on Thursday that they will collaborate on the development of "enterprise solutions for security-rich, custom virtual world creation and collaboration" on the Second Life Grid platform. The platform allows organizations to create a public or private virtual environment using Linden Lab's 3D online virtual world technology.

Washington - An information hearing on virtual worlds before a U.S. House subcommittee was attended by both "Second Life" founder Philip Rosedale and a number of avatars who appeared on a video screen in the hearing room, Reuters reported. "It is likely that virtual world activities are somewhat more policeable and the law somewhat more maintainable within virtual worlds," Rosedale said, asserting that government intervention is not needed. "The virtual world has a degree of accountability...and traceability, which actually in many ways is better than the real world."

San Francisco - Linden Lab, maker of the online virtual world Second Life, is looking for someone to fill founder and chief executive Philip Rosedale’s shoes as he will step down, according to Reuters.

San Francisco - Vollee, the developer of an application that can stream console-quality video games to 3G mobile phones, announced on Tuesday that it has partnered with Linden Lab to offer a mobile version of its Second Life 3D virtual world. Beta trials for the Second Life Grid platform are now open for pre-registration, and are expected to commence in May. Vollee's other publisher partners include Activision and Codemasters.

San Francisco - Linden Labs, operator of the online virtual world Second Life, has instituted a ban on unregulated banking in the wake of the dissolution of an in-game bank which saw investors lose the equivalent of $750,000, Wired.com reported.

Milan - Fashion designer Giorgio Armani this week opened a virtual store to sell designer clothes for avatars within the virtual world "Second Life." In addition to virtual items, the Armani store in Second Life will feature links to buy real-world items at EmporioArmani.com. The grand opening of the store was attended by a Giorgio Armani avatar. "Finally, I can really be in two places at once," Armani said in a statement.

Los Angeles - HBO has acquired a documentary film created entirely within the "Second Life" 3D virtual world, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The 35-minute film "Molotov's Dispatches in Search of the Creator: A Second Life Odyssey" was directed by Douglas Gayeton, who also co-wrote and co-directed an interactive CD-ROM version of the film "Johnny Mnemonic," and was a member of Propaganda Films. HBO intends to air the film sometime next year, as well as submit it for Oscar consideration in the animated short subject category.

San Francisco - Linden Lab, which operates the "Second Life" virtual world, has implemented a new, voluntary identity verification system on the service. "With the option to verify aspects of their real life identity, such as age and name, Second Life Residents can begin to build trust and safety systems inside the virtual world and their virtual community." Robin Harper, vice president of marketing and community development for Second Life, told Wired.com. In addition to establishing trust between users, the company said the age verification can help virtual land owners and content publishers to screen minors from inappropriate material.

Tampa, Fla. - An online entrepreneur who devised code that allows avatars in the virtual world "Second Life" to have sex has filed suit against another anonymous Second Life user for allegedly copying and selling the code, the Associated Press reported.

Armonk, N.Y. - With corporate employees using online virtual worlds such as "Second Life" to actually conduct business, IBM has issued basic rules of conduct governing appropriate behavior online, the Associated Press reported. Through their avatars, or online characters, individuals have begun to conduct meetings and demonstrate product ideas, according to the report. Among the rules issued by IBM to its employees that use online world's for business: "Don't discuss intellectual property with unauthorized people. Don't discriminate or harass… Be a good 3D Netizen." The company does not have an avatar dress code, the report said.

San Francisco - Linden Lab's online virtual world "Second Life" announced that it has banned its residents from participating in any forms of online gambling, several months after saying it would no longer accept any classified ads or event listings related to "simulated casino" activity.

Chicago - Playboy Enterprises announced on Tuesday the launch of its presence in the online virtual world "Second Life," consisting of a rabbit-head shaped island designed by Sentient Services. Playboy Island in "Second Life" will house a virtual Playboy retail store, and play host to a variety of events, like performances from in-world music artists.

1. O’Reilly’s Where 2.0 conference has been “Mapping Central” for four years now. This year, it got 800 people. It is a great, unique event. But expect its focus to get increasingly broader as it tries to stay ahead of industry trends. For sure, the developers that have been its mainstay audience are sad to see it becoming more “corporate.” Even “the suits” say it isn’t as much fun (although time well spent).

Miami - A pair of virtual entrepreneurs have teamed to launch the Virtual Worlds Academy, which will promote the creative community in such worlds and host the first Virtual World Awards, to "recognize excellence and originality in virtual reality." Jon Jacobs (aka "NeverDie" in the Entropia Universe) and Ailin Graef (aka "Anshe Chung" in Second Life) both operate successful virtual businesses within their respective virtual worlds. "As the online community develops we think it's essential to document its history and its forefathers," said NeverDie. Submissions for the first Virtual World Awards will be accepted online through Nov. 15, with nominations to be announced in February 2008.