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Is Zynga Trying To Patent Virtual Currency?

Posted by timothy on from the start-with-virtual-cowry-shells dept.

sarysa writes "Techcrunch spotted a recent patent application by Zynga, attempting to patent virtual currency purchased with real money for use in a gambling context. It is unlikely that the application will pass due to a plethora of prior art where free MMOs that have gambling minigames would qualify, but Techcrunch also spotted that the application mentions Farmville as an example of embodiment. This indicates that Zynga may be attempting to patent non-refundable virtual currency as a whole. Should be interestering to see how this develops."

3 of 89 comments (clear)

  1. Fools by Greyfox · · Score: 3, Insightful

    ALL currencies are virtual. They have only the value that a group of people assign them.

    --

    I'm trying to teach myself to set people on fire with my mind... Is it hot in here?

    1. Re:Fools by julesh · · Score: 3, Insightful

      ALL currencies are virtual

      The application defines "virtual" as meaning "usable within the context of a computer-implemented game".

  2. Re:The Major BBS circa 1990 and poker. by Charliemopps · · Score: 2, Insightful

    I believe natives trading seashells and shiny stones as money predates your example by a couple of million years. Trading something that has no value for something that does, simply because we as a society have decided that thing is a virtual representation of wealth is the foundation of modern society. Money, by its very nature, is virtual.