The Sentience Island Covenant.

Below is the Sentience Covenant's latest version, applicable to the island of Sentience (Sentience (163,121,25)). It is modified upon request by the Sentience Advisory Council.

The last update was made on May 30th, 2007.

Sentience is a private sim owned by Nobody Fugazi, who will be referred to as 'Estate Owner' below.

The intent of this covenant is to protect the interests of parcel owners and the Estate Owner such that a good experience is had by all. This document is subject to revision, and parcel owner participation in this process is outlined in the section on Governance.

New purchasers who are NOT purchasing from Nobody Fugazi, Estate Owner, should check the section on tier - particularly the last section.

*General*

This is a residential sim. Land may be sold and resold, allowing residents to gain equity with the benefits of residential zoning.

Valuation of the land after original sale by Estate Owner is independent of the Estate Owner, and will be controlled by owners of the parcels.

*Governing Principles*

Sentience is an island based around community with a focus on encouraging creativity. Thus governance exists (see section on Governance).

The Principles are:

(1) Good Faith.
(2) Quiet enjoyment of all.
(3) Tolerance and Equality (as opposed to intolerance and inequality)
(4) Minimization of rules through rigid application of common sense.
(5) Provide an environment which allows and encourages community participation to assure the other principles.

*Governance*

Owners of parcels will be part of the Advisory Council for the Island. While the Estate Owner remains the entity who shall assure zoning policy, owners of parcels will be permitted and encouraged to take an active role in decision making which affects zoning and the covenant itself. This is not a democracy, but a participative means for the land owners to assure that their interests in land ownership and experience on the island of Sentience are taken into account.

Estate owner retains authority to assure the interests of the Island are maintained.

*Common Areas*

Common areas are open to all land parcel owners and the public with the understanding that such areas are under control of the Estate Owner, under the conditions of the Covenant and as advised by the Sentience Advisory Council. Use of the Common areas is encouraged (it is deeded to the Sentience Advisory Council Group), and common sense rules apply. Feel free to use the area and make it better, and use it for building projects.

Large building projects should be done above the Common areas so that the central area is not obstructed.

*Security*

All parcels are expected to have certain land settings to assure that griefing is minimized. This includes, most importantly, setting auto-return to on.

In the case of island wide griefing, estate level bans will be put in place immediately. In the case of a parcel owner being involved, the Advisory Council will have an active role in assessing what should be done once temporary measures have been put in place by the Estate Owner.

*Commercial*

As a trial, owners of land parcels on Sentience will be permitted space at no cost in the commons where they may place their works up for sale in tasteful areas. JEVN and other vendors are not permitted; notecard vendors will be required to assure a low lag sim. In this way, land owners get a bonus and have a place to display their works outside of their own residential area.

This is a mature area, but blatant sexual and weapon (things which could be used to damage residents) related sales items are discouraged in the common areas to assure a certain level of respect to residents from visitors.

* Tier*

Tier will be paid to Estate Owner on the first of each month. This tier is dependent on the tier which the Estate must pay to Linden Labs.

As of June 1st, 2007, land tier will cost L $2200 per month per 1024m and additional L $2100/month for additional 1024 m lots.

If you have PayPal, you can buy Linden dollars, thus no PayPal service is provided at this time. If this becomes an issue, this shall change.

The Owner of the parcel must pay this to the Estate Owner on the first of each month. A 72 hour grace period will be given, during which the Estate Owner will attempt communication through instant message, notecard and group messages as appropriate.

Sometimes bad things happen to good people, and it is not the intent of this document or the Estate Owner to punish good people. Instances will be dealt with on a case by case basis by the Estate Owner. Community is valued, and leniency will be granted as long as possible - up to 2 weeks. In issues where privacy is not a concern, a land owner may ask review by the Advisory Council within this 2 week period.

The Estate Owner cannot call an Advisory Council meeting in such situations, as the privacy of the land owner is implicit and resolute. Thus only the land owner may waive privacy issues. However, the Estate Owner must send notice that an action is in progress within the first 10 days, allowing 3 days notice to the Advisory Council on the closure of such action.

If Tier is not paid within 2 weeks of the 1st of the month, the land will be reclaimed by the Estate Owner and placed on the market at a cost not to exceed 8 Lindens per meter with other residents being given option to purchase at a lower cost.

Arrears of Tier are the responsibility of the land owner , and sale during a two week period where tier is due makes the new land owner responsible for the arrears.

*RULES*

(1) Catch-all: Enjoy yourself without adversely affecting others.

(2) People for whom rules are created will have their name associated with the rule (example: The Nobody Fugazi Rule).

(2) No 'global' ban lines are permitted; you may ban individuals but you may not set an area to limit only specific people or group(s). The reason is that the ban lines are Ugly.

(3) No 'security orbs' are permitted.

(4) Spinning items are discretionary. If your neighbors complain, they come down. Period. Talk to your neighbors!

(5) Disputes with neighbors are to be brought up to the Estate Owner via IM and notecard (IMs get capped). In situations which are not clear cut, the Advisory Council will assess the situation and advise the Estate Owner after temporary solutions have been put in place.

(6) Skyboxes must exist above visible range in the sim.

*UPDATES*
Information on the dates of update to the covenant will be added here.

* The first version is dated April 21st, 2007.
* May 30th, 2007:
(1) Inserted explanation of tier for residents with more than 1024m.
(2) Further explanation of use of common areas, which is expected to be further discussed.
(3) Added explanation of 'weapons' under commercial. Display weapons are fine.
(4) Added rule for skyboxes (permitted!) in the Rules section.