Buttacwup Pwincess (seanabrady)

The growth of Bellisseria continues at a rapid pace. Each week new regions come online, new community areas spring up, and residents plan more activities with friends and neighbors. Buried in this flurry of activity around the continent are lingering questions about what is allowed, who controls what, and what the future might hold. I want to try and answer some of these questions today.

The covenant for Bellisseria states that "Activities and items that could be construed as commercial and for profit by Linden Lab are not permitted in the residential homes and houseboats in Bellisseria." I worked with Patch Linden, Senior Director of Product Operations for Linden Lab, to get some clarity around some of the common questions people have asked.

Recent events at the Bellisseria Fairgrounds raised a question that has come up often since Bellisseria launched in April, are we allowed to have tip jars out at our homes or events? According to Patch, tip jars are commercial as they solicit linden dollars and therefore not permitted in Bellisseria. Also, Patch clarified what areas of Bellisseria these rules cover.

Many people have questioned the last part of the rule in the covenant which reads, "...in the residential homes and houseboats in Bellisseria." Patch clarified this, stating that the covenant is in force "everywhere in Bellisseria." I asked about exceptions or exclusions to the rule at places like the fairgrounds, and the response was, "to be fair across the board, there will not be exceptions." One last point of clarity, some have suggested that since skyboxes are not near to homes and houseboats, these rules do not apply. However, "It (the covenant) applies to the entirety of the continent, top to bottom, left to right, side to side and all around."

One thing to keep in mind, running a business elsewhere in Second Life that performs work in Bellisseria, perhaps you offer landscape or decorating services, are allowed "as long as you are not basing your business out of Bellisseria." Also, nothing is preventing the sending of money directly from one resident to another so long as there is no solicitation of those transactions. In other words, if you like what someone is doing and decide to send them a tip or donation directly, that is allowed at your discretion.

Among all the discussions regarding commercial activity, were several concerns about the management of common areas in Bellisseria. Patch stated that no specific groups get special treatment or consideration regarding events and planning in these areas. Individuals, groups, anyone can take the time to plan an event and work with Linden Lab on the needed space and support to make it happen. All groups and Premium Residents are welcome to plan events for the Fairgrounds. Activities which are of interest to and support the Bellisseria community will receive the highest priority, but all proposed events that fit the maturity rating will be considered. The same holds for the more impromptu gatherings around Bellisseria at places like the Squishy Pickle in Brodovima. Patch said, "We think it's great that the community has come together to figure out and self-manage this."

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Speaking of events at the Fairgrounds, and possibly other similar venues in the future, a new Bellisseria Fairgrounds Events Registration form is available to enable everyone to more easily get your events scheduled. The form also includes the new Fairgrounds Usage Guidelines which provide additional clarity on hosting events.

I am thrilled to see Bellisseria continue to grow as it has. Being a part of the community has renewed my interest in Second Life in so many ways, and I am happy to continue to bring updated details on everything related to Bellisseria. Thanks as always to Patch and others who took the time to answer my questions.