It's no secret that Second Life users are intensely protective of their virtual world. But do their sentiments put the virtual world at odds with the countless corporations utilizing it to promote their brands? A recent article from Forbes.com would lead one to believe that it does. The piece lists a bunch of companies that have fallen victim to virtual attacks by anti-corporate SL users (Nissan, American Apparel), and details the commercial failures of others (Wells Fargo, Starwood Hotels).
Beyond all this, though, the article is replete with funny quotes. A couple of choice bits follow.
Says David Churbuck, web marketing VP at PC manufacturer Lenovo:
Erik Hauser, creative director of Swivel Media, the digital agency utilized by Wells Fargo:
I have to question whether or not people are in a mindset conducive to being advertised at when they visit Second Life. Certainly, corporations have to rethink the whole "build it and forget it" attitude, but that raises another question: do the benefits of a virtual presence justify the resources required to maintain something dynamic? At least for American Apparel, the answer seems to be no.
Sex, Pranks and Reality (free registration required) [Forbes.com]
