I’m Suing!!! WoW Could Get Messy
This borders on the absolutely ridiculous. Not that I don’t agree that virtual property is essentially no different than “real world” possessions, but when they start trying to apply that logic to video games, I get a little confused.
Game Tycoon writer David Edery had a look at the possibility of legal implications of MMO gameplay came up with some startling ideas. Before you dismiss Edery a just another blogger, he does hold a position in the Comparable Media Studies Department at M.I.T., so the man does have somewhat of a clue about what he’s doing.
It may sound like a non-sensical topic, but given some of his points, and considering what some people already DO sue for…Look out.
Says Edery:
What happens when players (especially underage players) engage in “legally indecent” acts? Can EA (developer of Sims Online) be sued for letting a ten-year old operate a virtual brothel? Can it be sued by players who suffer real financial damages at the hands of a virtual mafia? Can players use legal means to prevent the deactivation of an MMOG, or to force developers to open source a game prior to deactivation? (i.e. to protect the value of their property?)
Read more HERE.
All I can say is: heaven help us if the woman that sued McDonald’s because her coffee was too hot, also gets ahold of this discussion.
“Can it be sued by players who suffer real financial damages at the hands of a virtual mafia”
How can you suffer REAL damages from a VIRTUAL entity?
\maybe I haven’t had enough coffee yet\
You suffer real financial damages at the hands of a virtual mafia, I’m guessing, if you buy game stuff from ‘farmers’ (like Gold in WoW), equipment… and then it gets stolen from you in game ? Then you lose whatever money you paid for it… and similarly, the person who stole it can potentially make that sum or more, by selling it for real money.
Ah ha – thanks.
This could be why I stick to FPS games – I olny have to worry about myself.
… it’s the end of the World (oW) as we know it … lalalala….