SDForum Virtual World SIG chairs and members will be hosting a number of sessions at this year’s Engage!Expo (http://www.engageexpo.com) Sept. 23-24 in San Jose.

Here’s a list of the sessions posted so far:

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Wednesday September 23, 2009
1-2pm
http://www.engageexpo.com/sj2009/schedule/social.html

How Venture Capital Sees Social Media
Times are tough, but that only makes venture capitalists look closer and harder at investment opportunities. Learn what some of the most active investors from the Angel and VC camps are looking for today from social media start-ups and existing companies intent on tapping social media for future success. Bring your business plans, elevator pitches, and questions as this session will offer unparalleled access to venture capital’s most demanding and analytic minds.
Jeremy Liew, Managing Director, Lightspeed
Scott Raney, Partner, Redpoint Venture
Stewart Guenther, Co-founder, Venture Capital-Private Equity Roundtable
Shai Goldman, Director, Entrepreneur Services Group, SVB Capital

Panel Moderated by SDForum CEO
Susan Lucas-Conwell, CEO, SD Forum (moderator)
http://www.engageexpo.com/sj2009/speakers/susanlucasconwell.html
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Wednesday September 23, 2009
4-5pm
http://www.engageexpo.com/sj2009/schedule/law.html

Comparing Virtual World/MMO Business Models: Make the Right Choice
Understanding the major differences between subscription-, microtransaction-, and advertising-based revenue models is just the start of understanding revenue streams and what’s right for your business. With hybrid models rapidly being created — and legal ramifications evolving along side business — it literally pays to include a legal expert or legal team in at the design phase of your online product. This session will help lay the groundwork for your developing business and will present issues concerning liability that need to known early. Leave with the mantra that it’s going to be significantly more cost effective to include lawyers in the design phase rather than connecting with counsel to fix what’s gone and broke post-launch.
Sean Kane, Attorney, Kane & Associates LLC
S. Gregory Boyd, Davis & Gilbert LLP - Attorneys
Steve Hoffman, Chairman & CEO, RocketOn
Keith McCurdy, CEO, Vivaty
Reuben Steiger, Virtual Greats
Steven Goldstein, Senior Counsel, Stubbs Alderton & Markiles, LLP
Features Virtual World SIG Co-Chair at-large
Corey Bridges, Co-founder, Executive Producer and Marketing Director, Multiverse
http://www.engageexpo.com/sj2009/speakers/coreybridges.html

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Thursday Sept. 24, 2009
Vertical View: Exploring Industry Adoption of Enterprise 3D Technology
Thursday 09/24/09  11am-12pm
http://www.engageexpo.com/sj2009/schedule/tlc.html

Enterprise Learning and Collaboration is ubiquitous across industries. All companies need to educate their employees and the majority of them need to collaborate at a distance to get work done. However, not all industries are created equal when it comes to adopting 3D technologies for enterprise learning and collaboration.

Eilif Trondsen will facilitate a discussion with four industry representatives on: Where they think their respective industries are on the Adoption Curve, What the early successes they see are, what the cultural and technical barriers to adoption are, and What that particular Industry vertical needs in order to increase adoption.

Features Virtual World SIG Co-Chair
Eilif Trondsen, Research and Program Director of the Virtual Worlds Consortium, SRI Consulting Business Intelligence (moderator)
http://www.engageexpo.com/sj2009/speakers/eiliftrondsen.html

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Thursday September 24, 2009
11am-12pm
http://www.engageexpo.com/sj2009/schedule/law.html

Best Practices in a Worst Case Scenario: How to React Intelligently to a Security Breach
When your game, world, or network is hacked or otherwise intruded upon by malicious elements, what steps does the law compel you to take? When do you need to inform customers? What about law enforcement — when do need to bring the authorities into the situation? With each state having different standards, different statutes, and different penalties for non-compliance, it pays to know ahead of time how to react. This session will fortify digital entertainment operators with the information they need to protect their business, and their customers, when a breach occurs.
Steven Davis, CEO, IT GlobalSecure Inc.

Features Virtual World SIG location sponsor Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP partner
Benjamin T. Duranske, Attorney, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP
http://www.engageexpo.com/sj2009/speakers/benjaminduranske.html

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Thursday September 24, 2009
230-330pm
http://www.engageexpo.com/sj2009/schedule/law.html
Understanding Freemiums, Special Offers, Rewards, Content and Gambling
Today’s business model of choice may be freemium, but what are the legal issues a freemium model presents? Know how your game’s approach to currency, trade, cashing out, and exchange for real world items will be interpreted and plan smart, by planning ahead.
Matt Mihaly, CEO, Sparkplay Media
Farnaz Alemi, Attorney, Jenner & Block LLP

Features Virtual World SIG location sponsor Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP partner
Benjamin T. Duranske, Attorney, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP (moderator)
http://www.engageexpo.com/sj2009/speakers/benjaminduranske.html

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Complete list of speakers is here: http://www.engageexpo.com/sj2009/speakers/index.html

See you there!

[-Bob Ketner]