INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PROTECTION FOR CONTENT CREATED WITHIN A VIRTUAL UNIVERSE

摘要

An approach that protects intellectual property rights in content created by users of a virtual universe is described. In one embodiment, there is an intellectual property rights protection tool for use in a virtual universe. A receiving component is configured to receive a request to protect intellectual property rights in content created by a user of the virtual universe. A database is configured to store content created by users of the virtual universe that have intellectual property rights therein. A search component is configured to search the database for content created by users of the virtual universe that have intellectual property rights therein that is similar to the content created by the user. An analysis component is configured to determine whether any preexisting intellectual property rights in content stored in the database precludes intellectual property protection of the content created by the user.