[...] blog has kindly translated the Court Ruling in the RuneScape Case that was the subject of a post a couple of days ago. As the virtual amulet and virtual mask as defined in the case at hand meet the aforementioned [...]

You’ll find the translation at: MindBlizzard – Court Ruling in the RuneScape Case

If such a ruling ever became the norm, it would spell the end of the MMO industry, at least as we know it today. If Sony wanted to close Everquest, it could suddenly become liable for damages for all of the “lost property” of the players there. Scary stuff!

I think that in this case, the judge’s comments regarding electricity were valid; if I recall right, he compared the theft of the property to theft of electrical service, which is depriving the user of the service (or adding more cost to the service), not of a physical thing, but is still considered theft.

That works out OK. Then the “theft” is not of an object, but of the use of part of a service you have paid for. This covers the MMO, puts the kids who beat up (in the real world, guys, not online!) the other kid in deeper hot water, and sends a message that this sort of behavior is not OK just because it deals with imaginary items.

On top of this we would need to have the organizations (teams, referees, etc) around Hockey not interfere when it happens. That player would be robbed of something, maybe the player would be robbed of the ability to make use of the investment of the club.

We need a better real-world analogy than stocks.

Yes, stocks are more than just virtual. They are a piece of paper that carries ownership in the corporation.

The closest thing I can think of is music/song rights. Paul McCartney bought most the the Beatles song rights, and makes money every time one is played. But the right itself is what I’m talking about. It has no physicality to it. The song is the song, not the CDs or albums that carry it. But every time it’s played, the owner to the rights has the right to collect for that use.

Come to think of it, Raph, you posted some stuff about song rights once or twice a few years ago, I think.

Anyways, you may not be the one who made the song, but if you bought the rights, you own it. In MMOs, you paid for the rights to use the thangs you earn by paying for the account or directly if it’s RMT through the producer.

There’s still a difference though. The song rights are yours and no one else’s. The thangs are only rented, I guess. I wonder if anyone ever “rents” the use of a songs rights out to someone who then claims the rights to the only use of it? Say in a TV ad?

In summary, virtual goods are property that whatever virtual proprietor is responsible for making the rules and regulations for. Also, the current punishments for out of game theft or coercion are insane and uncalled for. A small fine and the return of the taken virtual property seems much more fair.

The boys forced him to a house and there he was kicked and threatened with a knife, until he transferred the goods and credits…

I don’t think that means they forced him into a virtual house…

A U.S. court probably would not have arrived at the same ruling. Over here, the attackers would have been treated as adults under the law, and charged with assault, battery, attempted murder, and then theft (as theft can apply to unlawful appropriation of services.) They would be imprisoned for a long time, not merely ordered to perform community service.

And then the press would have a field day, interviewing “experts” a la Jack Thomspon to condemn how murder simulators like Runescape incite children to violence. Watchdog organizations would rush to the aid of the children who were convicted, claiming that they were brainwashed by fancy, multimillion-dollar marketing campaigns…