Chinese Justice

[Darian]

Note, this isn't just WoW, nor was the OT about WoW. Its for all MMorpgs. Some have an all-merchandising inclusive ToS, some don't. We'll see what holds up in future judicial systems and legislation. Its still virtual property, and I believe ownership of that property will eventually come into dispute enough to come to court.
[right][snapback]72833[/snapback][/right]

/nod

That was pretty much what I was getting at with this. The moment any jurisdiction ever hears a property theft case between two parties -- one of them not being the game provider -- and issues a ruling which in any way favors the "victim" or punishes the thief... the jig is up, as from that point forward no game will be able to claim that in-game property belongs to them.

(Well, a game could respond to such a thing by suddenly closing up shop in the jurisdiction in question, but that's awfully hard to do with the internet.)

NB: I'm actually quite opposed to anything which would tend to make legal the out-of-game acquisition of in-game cash and items, and I think that people who'd make a real-world case that they've been stolen from when if anything it should be "his character stole from my character" need to get a grip. However, the fact that Bob can "steal" from Joe's character without Bob's character being involved sort of clouds this.