Virtual World Wrap-Up For The Week Of May 7, 2010

Welcome to the Virtual Worlds News Wrap-Up for the week of May 7, 2010. The Wrap-Up is where VWN spotlights stories that we didn't get to cover individually, but still make for interesting reading about the virtual worlds industry.

• Google's efforts with O3D, announced just over a year ago, to bring a standard for 3D to the Web through a plugin and API are being shifted. The new focus is to take it from its current plug-in implementation and turn it into a JavaScript library that runs on top of WebGL, which has emerged more quickly as a standard for 3D graphics in browsers. There's more info at the O3D blog.
• Linden Lab has previously announced that it would be including the ability to import designs from industry standards like Maya and and 3D Studio Max into Second Life. Now it's announced a date to launch a beta of the mesh import service in Q2 2010. 
• The University of Wales, Newport, is unveiling a3D museum containing historical information and publications about the area, including a 15th-Century ship for visitors to walk through. More info and video at the university's site.
• The Federal Consortium for Virtual Worlds has been growing. It now has 1,600 members and a conference starting May 13, reports NextGov.
• Pillsbury, which  announced a multidisciplinary divisionrepresenting clients in the virtual worlds and video games industry in 2008, is currently holding a legal writing contest for law students about intellectual property in virtual worlds and games. More info and deadlines are here.

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