[durovo]

I don't get why the interviewer suggests that the author deserves some compensation. Did metaverse as an idea did not exist before Snow Crash?

[wmf]

Vaguely similar ideas existed in True Names and Neuromancer, but no, the metaverse as we imagine it today did not exist before Snow Crash.

[rel2thr]

Also Tron, Tron is basically a metaverse I would say

[ootsootsoots]

I’d consider human spiritual realms the precursor to meta verses we can actually implement.

Tons of visualization through art, and ways and means defined through story.

Of course tend to need to be very literal about these things.

Frankly a computer meta verse isn’t that interesting

I’d rather figure out how to grow neuron structures that let me believe or have skills in anything and just babysit this stupid fleshy husk literally

[CamperBob2]

I'm reminded of the master-class hissy fit Harlan Ellison threw when The Terminator came out. He sued, claiming ownership of the general concept of robots from the future. I'm not sure how it shook out, legally, but to this day the T1 film credits include the producers' "grateful acknowledgement to the works of Harlan Ellison."

So there's certainly precedent for Stephenson to claim the moral rights to a "metaverse," whatever that is.

[DonHopkins]

I Have No Trademark But I Must Sue!

[NetHaven]

Oddly, I went to a talk by him once and he mentioned he briefly thought about suing when the Matrix came out based on this story.

[wanderingstan]

More important is the name itself. A billion dollar company just renamed itself based on a name Stephenson coined.

He’s right that compensation isn’t legally due—but he should be proud!