Mediation of Disputes in a Virtual Environment

Abstract

A mechanism for dispute mediation and resolution in a virtual environment is provided. The mechanism may involve the breach of a virtual contract and the determination of suitable penalties against the breaching parties. In some embodiments, the mechanism may include a judge or jury comprising members of the virtual community.

1 . A method comprising:
 providing a virtual environment wherein players are able to interact with each other and the virtual environment via avatars;   providing a dispute resolution module configured to resolve disputes between avatars in the virtual environment, the dispute resolution program being configured to:
 identify a virtual contract established between two or more parties in the virtual environment; 
 identify the terms of the virtual contract; 
 determine if one or more of the terms has been breached by a party to the contract; and 
 determine a penalty to be imposed against the breaching party. 
   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein determining if one or more of the terms has been breached by a party to the contract is performed automatically. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein determining if one or more of the terms has been breached by a party to the contract is performed in response to a request from an entity interacting with the virtual environment. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising:
 determining the parties to the virtual contract; and   alerting the parties that the contract has been breached.   
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising creating a queue of disputes to be resolved. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 receiving a bribe from an entity interacting with the virtual environment; and   altering the penalty.   
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising assessing the penalty. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the penalty is a financial penalty imposed against a virtual world financial account. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the penalty is a financial penalty imposed against a real world financial account. 
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1  wherein determining if one or more terms of a virtual contract has been breached comprises:
 identifying an entity who will review evidence regarding the virtual contract and performance by the parties related thereto; and   receiving a decision as to whether or not the contract was breached from the entity.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the entity is a jury comprising one or more avatars interacting with the virtual environment. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  wherein identifying an entity who will review evidence regarding the virtual contract and performance by the parties related thereto comprises:
 determining avatars in the virtual environment to be part of the jury.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein determining avatars in the virtual environment to be part of the jury comprises selecting avatars at random. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12  wherein determining avatars in the virtual environment to be part of the jury comprises selecting avatars based on one or more qualifications. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein at least one of the qualifications is the receipt of a payment from one or more parties to the virtual contract. 
   
   
       16 . A method comprising:
 providing a virtual environment wherein players are able to interact with each other and the virtual environment via avatars;   providing a dispute resolution module configured to resolve disputes between avatars in the virtual environment, the dispute resolution program being configured to:
 identify one or more virtual contracts established between two or more parties in the virtual environment; 
 identify the terms of the virtual contract; 
 monitor the activity of the parties to the virtual contract; and 
 determine if a term of the virtual contract is likely to be breached by at least one of the parties. 
   
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 16  further comprising alerting one or more parties to the virtual contract that the virtual contract is likely to be breached. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising:
 determining that a term of the virtual contract has been breached.   
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 18  further comprising determining a penalty to be imposed against the breaching party. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the penalty is termination of the virtual contract.