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Dutch Court Punishes Theft of Virtual Property

Posted by timothy on from the pick-a-fight-your-first-day-with-the-toughest-avatar dept.

tsa writes "Last week, the Dutch court subjected two kids of ages 15 and 14 to 160 hours of unpaid work or 80 days in jail, because they stole virtual property from a 13-year-old boy. The boy was kicked and beaten and threatened with a knife while forced to log into Runescape and giving his assets to the two perpetrators. This ruling is the first of its kind for the Netherlands. Ars Technica has some more background information." In Japan, meanwhile, a woman has been arrested for "illegally accessing a computer and manipulating electronic data" after (virtually) killing her (virtual) husband.

3 of 276 comments (clear)

  1. The Dutch ahve never by geekoid · · Score: 1, Redundant

    sent anyone to jail for Assault and battery?
    I find that..odd.

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  2. Re:It's funny and sad... by Anonymous+Brave+Guy · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Yeah, the can of whoop-ass I just opened in Supreme Commander would probably have been considered bad form in real life, too. Admittedly, if I did have the option of flying half a dozen Continentals loaded with Titans and Percivals into the front yard of my nation's current leadership and then letting the bots do their thing, I might have to think long and hard about the ethics of the situation. ;-)

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  3. Exquise me? What about the crime? by Maxo-Texas · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Screw the virtual property- I'd think assault, battery, and using a deadly weapon should be addressed first.

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