Editors Note: We are not producing the Virtual Worlds Forum, clearing up any confusion

I cannot tell you how many people have asked me if we are producing upcoming show in London.  We are not.  The Virtual Worlds Forum is not produced by Virtual Worlds Management. The organizers of that event have repeatedly referred to it as the Virtual Worlds Conference, inviting confusion with our Virtual Worlds Conference and Expo which was just held in San Jose and our Virtual Worlds 2007 Conference in New York earlier this year. Given the confusion I decided to register to attend the event in London but Sasha Frieze, the event's organizer, emailed me, telling me I'm not allowed to attend because I am a competitor. Not cool since she attended our Virtual Worlds Conference in New York in March. She even asked for and received a discount for that show. I'm all for fair competition but Virtual Worlds Forum management has pushed this to the edge, deliberately creating confusion in the marketplace. I'm trying to be proactive with this post.  I hope this clears the issue.

We are not producing the Virtual Worlds Forum.

Comments

[Nick Wilson]

She REFUSED you entry?

[chris sherman]

Yes, that is correct.

[Prokofy Neva]

Go get 'em Chris!

[Aaron Delwiche]

Competition is one thing, and it's understandable that either one of you might not want to advertise the other's forum on your site or include their fliers as part of your materials. But denying you entry to the conference because you're a competitor is completely at odds with the spirit and history of our industry.

[Nate Randall]

I am sorry to hear that. Being a Media Sponsor for both events, our hope was more coverage and increasing the visibility of Virtual Worlds in general.

Your first two conferences have been top notch and we look forward to future events.

Best of luck squashing the confusion. As you know, we can relate to your current situation.

Our best wishes,

Nate Randall
RCE Universe

[len]

A compliment: the organizers of that forum enabled the Web3DC to have a booth and enough resources to man it and consult with the vendors attending. The Web3DC is the authors of the ISO standard for 3D on the Web and a consortium whose participation agreement mandates unencumbered IP to ensure the standard is open to all to implement. While the organizers of the Interoperability Forum intentionally shut out representatives from this and other standards group, the organizers of the conference did not.

People, remember this gesture by these folks. Karma is absolute in nature but the only justice you get is from other people with a decent heart and the moxie to make good on that. When you see that happening, don't forget to cheer.

Somehow the spirit of the web lives on. Good on you guys, and from all the old trolls like myself and all of the kids who's future this really all about, THANK YOU! and BLESS YOU!