Yehuda Kalay opened the panel by asking whether architecture design was a viable mode of regulation.
Kevin Collins made the argument that the physical aspects of architectural regulation would not be suitable, but the symbolic aspects may be. He noted that spacial disposition doesn't translate well in virtual environments - for example, people aren't as concerned about how their avatars sit on a hill as they would in physical space. He also noted that behavioural architecture would not be as effective - for example, people do not react as strongly when their avatars are placed on a cliff face as they would in physical space. The real ability for regulation through architecture comes from using signifiers to trigger behavioural patterns.
Yee Fen Lim had a great presentation about the conception of property in Second Life. She noted the characteristics of Second Life land included attachment, investment value, definability, a right to exclude, discretion to use and exploit. Interestingly, the land is neither indestructible or immune from repossession. Because the virtual land was definable, owners possessed the right to exclude and the discretion to use and exploit, Lim concluded that it had the requisite characteristics of property. She noted that it wasn't real property, but seemed very analagous to leasehold property. This recognition obviously has flow on effects for the characterisation of transactions between Linden Lab and customers. She concluded by suggesting that Linden Lab may consider or be required to offer greater certainty to buyers - removing summary extinguishment and introducing methods of appeal, review, and compensation.
Eric Champion made the interesting point that architecture is already narrative architecture - cf Jenkins.
Jeff Malpas noted a number of really interesting points which he believed had not been made in the conference to date:
1. the virtual is not autonomous - not independent from legal and ethical frameworks;
2. the character of a domain is determined by the actions and modes of actions which are possible. Useful space is created by limiting action - significance is created through what is not possible.
3. Agency requires orientation. Dimensionality (time and space) is necessary, and constrains modes of action. He wonders what are the minimum necessary conditions which allow actions and identity?
4. Consent - action is determined by two sets of rules: (a) constitutive rules, which define a domain through definining possible actions; and (b) normative rules. To enter a virtual world necessitates acceptance of the constitutive rules, but normative rules direct but do not define action.
5. No one form of political organisation can be assumed to be necessary. There is no democratic or autocratic imperative accross all domains (but there may be ethical imperatives).