So, holodeck. Even though we won't see it in our lifetimes (perhaps ever, given that it seems a little too sci-fi), I got to thinking, purely a hypothetical post:

If you guys were operators/creating the regulations governing its use, how would you do it? I think TNG barely scratched the surface of the...questionable...ethics of a true simulator.

1. How do you approach copyright?

The same way we do now? In current day, we have idiot companies squawking if you use one of their characters names for a half second in a movie or game, so how far does it go in the future? Would there be some huge fine for creating a Batman program?

2. How do you approach personal rights/privacy?

So, given that everyone )yes, everyone, don't lie) would undoubtedly create a sex program featuring a celebrity or something right off the bat, how does that work? It's just a projection of light, but is it infringing upon their personal rights to create a hologram of him/her? Personally, I wouldn't care if someone wanted to use my likeness, and I doubt most people would. Any usage of my person is a projection of me and not my actual self, so I don't see how I could complain in any way.

3. How do you approach violence/crime?

What if you had a potential murderer, pedophile, rapist, or some other such delinquent who wanted to use the holodeck to get their "fix"? Do you allow it? Not only is there no harm in what they do inside a simulation, but it keeps them from doing it in the real world where actual people could be victims. How tight would your restrictions be?

There are probably a million other questions just as disturbing. :/