[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.