“It is therefore important to understand what these regions are; they are provided for light use only, not for building, living in, renting as homes or use for events.” http://blog.secondlife.com/2006/09/21/information-about-openspaces-void-regions/

This suggests that there should be NO Openspace landlords. It appears that many people took the opportunity to buy cheap land but then use it to rent out in order to make a profit, expressly against the conditions of purchase. I suggest there are three basic mistakes made here by Linden Lab(R):

1. They should have been more proactive in clamping down on the renting of OS land much much sooner. They let things slide too early and the problem just escalated.

2. They have penalized everyone who owns OS land at the expense of those who abused the system. I do not know how many people stuck to the rules and how many broke them, but the demonstrable reality is that everyone has been hit. it would have been political better to identify and sanction those who were clearly manipulating the OS concept and leave the others as-is.

3. There is no “grandfathering” allowed. Folks who bought in good faith have to face the increases as well as new buyers from January onwards.

Eurydice (and thanks for posting) is one of those who appears to be in the group of “innocent bystanders” who is not renting out or running a business” but has “light use.” Now admittedly – and I got the information from your Flikr site, Eurydice – she may be using it to live on (”It’s just a quiet home base for when I’m not out spending my $L’s.”) but unless there’s a big house with furniture there it’s hard to see how that could demonstrated.

Openspace always seemed to be to be the Second Life(TM) equivalent of “Green Space” or “Green Belt” property – a way of slowing the urbanization of server space and maintaining some “natural” environmental features. Almost like a private version of the US National Parks system or the UK’s National Trust.

Sadly the Openspaces have now become fields of war rather than fields of green and only some flexibility on the part of Linden Labs is likely to make the outcome much more than bitter and acrimonious.

BTW, Wayne34, if you are paid through until September 09 the price increase should not affect you until next September. I’d check with your landlord, but if you’ve paid him the money in advance he should have put it directly toward the cost of your sim tier at the time you paid it.
I was told by a sim owner who has her sims paid 6 months in advance that the price increase will not affect her until the six months is up.

For the rest of us, Jan 1st is *not* when the increase comes into effect ~ it begins 1st December, as most landlords pay the tier one month in advance.
Merry Christmas from Linden Lab!

A lot of my money goes to LL. Now I got kicked ASS by LL because off 70% Price Raise!

This taktik is not the right way to tread your Costumor`s.

I am very upset. I have to leave this place, because I can not afford it anymore. Maybe like 10.000 of SL People in the same Situation. This is..what we call in Germany “A RIP OFF”