Let’s get straight to the point. By design if you “own” something then it is yours. You have rights when it comes to things that you own. You have expectations on how others treat things that are yours, and you want it replaced if it gets broken.
This concept isn’t alien to most of us and seems rather straight forward doesn’t it? Using the brief but straightforward design of ownership listed above we should be able to determine if we own something or not.
I was unceremoniously informed today that my better half would be purchasing the entire 7 seasons of Buffy within the next few days. Once that purchase is made we own that particular copy of those shows and by extension we can determine who borrow them or how we want them to be treated.
But what if we were merely to buy a ticket of a screening of all 7 seasons of Buffy? After we rub feeling back into our backsides are we then not entitled to a copy of the experience that we just purchased?
Of course not, that would be ridiculous. And if we pushed the issue, trying to take the theater’s DVD’s by force, then we would face a far more severe situation than being out $139.99 + taxes.
Over the years I have helped develop a few LARP games and this particular issue has come up at some time or another in each discussion of the LARP. What is it that the player, or ‘customer’, is entitled to in exchange for their money?
Going with the argument that they “own” their character by intellectual rights, and by extension “own” the experience allotted to the character then are they entitled to an equally experienced character when their first character is no longer permitted to attend?
And I say it that way with reason. If the LARP doesn’t “own” the character then they can’t very well break/kill it can they? If a company or entity broke your car they would be liable to replace it so why would it be different with anything else that you own?
However, if the player or “customer” was purchasing a ticket to which they received ‘rewards’ for ongoing attendance then they would simply be paying for the experience – as we all do when we go to the movies.
There is no legal requirement for the movie theatre to replace their reward program with another if you do not enjoy the program that they offer, or if they simply remove their rewards all together. That is of course if the reward program is written with the proper legal blabber.
Personally I liken a LARP experience to a fine bottle of Scotch. You pay a fine price for that fine bottle and the experience that goes with it but once you have finished the bottle, in whatever capacity, you can’t very well demand another one “because it belongs to you.”
I welcome your thoughts on the subject.
All the best in your future LARP events,
Kevin
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