Law and Virtual Worlds

Greg Lastowka writes "In light of yesterday's spirited discussion of the Shadowbane hack, I thought folks might be interested in this forthcoming article about the laws of virtual worlds. The article has three parts: 1) a history of virtual worlds (e.g. Space War --> MMORPGs), 2) a theoretical analysis of whether virtual world "property" can/should be treated as legal property, and 3) an analysis of whether virtual worlds can/should give rise to any other legal rights, i.e. rights of avatars -- an idea first floated by Raph Koster. I realize there are plenty of strongly-held and divergent opinions on this, so hopefully this might add to the ongoing conversation. Also, we're revising this for publication over the summer, so we will be reading the comments for any corrections/insights/humor that we can incorporate into our revisions."

Comments

Have Excellent Karma... willing to sell

[bigpat]

Will sell my Slashdot "avatar" for no less than $5000.

Many Insightful and Funny posts, not many Informative ones though. Currently one Moderator point left.

Seems straightforward enough...

[Anonymous Coward]

I can't wait until my virtual character files a virtual lawsuit which somehow nets me cold hard cash IRL. Go gray areas!

Re:umm...the civil rights of avatars?

[greymond]

I cast level 9 flame bait argument

You block with level 10 slashdot shielding

I cast Level 1 Alt F4

Poof your gone!

Virtual Lawyers

[Bull999999]

Now people can play lawyers on MMORPGs instead of Slashdot!

Re:Amazing amounts of

[Jad LaFields]

Speaking of which, can I get someone to live my real life for me? Specifically, the working/commuting/dental exams parts? I think part of the appeal of virtual worlds is that they are less contrained by the rules/laws of the real world.

One Solution

[Anonymous Coward]

Tiny little virtual violins.

paradox approaching...

[gosand]

Virtual property is worth something if people are willing to exchange it for money (and evidently this is the case). Your values are not my values, but value is in the eye of the purchaser (or in cases of extortion, the vendor...?) Having said that, I think it's nuts that people exchange money for this sort of thing.

If someone gives me a dollar for no reason, then I have given them nothing in return. There was an exchange there, even though one half of that transaction was nothing. Does that mean that nothing is worth something?

If so, then every day I work, I lose something (nothing) by coming in to work when I could be at home doing nothing (something). Therefore, my employer is robbing me of something (nothing) for 40 hours a week! Instead of just paying me for working, they are also taking away my nothing. I did not agree to that when I took this job, so now I can sue them to oblivion! USA! USA!

At some point, someone has to draw the line on this stupid shit.

Re:Amazing amounts of

[Jester99]

Congrats, you failed the section in 11th grade english when you learned about "sarcasm" :)

Coming this fall..

[ktakki]

...to NBC, Law And Order: Special Moderators Unit

Bailiff: All rise, the Honorable Cmdr Taco, presiding.

[...]

DA McCoy: Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, we will show beyond a reasonable doubt that on the evening of November 22nd, the defendant, Mr. H4x0rD00d, did knowingly and willfully employ an aimbot and an OpenGL wallhack during the commission of...

Defense Attorney: OMG, LOL! Objection!

Judge Taco: Overruled. STFU.

[...]

Judge Taco: Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, how do you find the defendant?

Foreman: On the count of wallhacking in the first degree, we find the defendant guilty. On the count of using an aimbot with intent to 0wn, we find the defendant guilty. On the count of misdemeanor page-widening, we find the defendant not guilty. On the count of trolling with intent to flame, we find the defendant not guilty. On the count of felony sock-puppetry, we find the defenNO CARRIER

k.