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Dutch Supreme Court Sees Game Objects As Goods

Posted by Soulskill on from the you-stole-my-cloudsong dept.

thrill12 writes "The Dutch Supreme Court ruled on January 31st that the taking away of possessions in the game Runescape from a 13-year-old boy, who was threatened with a (real) knife, was in fact theft because the possessions could be seen as actual goods. The highest court explained this not by arguing it was software that was copied, but by stating that the game data were real goods acquired through 'effort and time investment,' and 'the principal had the actual and exclusive dominion of the goods' — up until the moment the other guy took them away, that is."

11 of 136 comments (clear)

  1. MOD PARENT DOWN... oops, it's the story by LostCluster · · Score: 5, Informative

    They left out an important fact in the summary... he didn't lose the things under the rules of the game, he lost them because the suspect threatened him with a knife. This puts it in the same category as "give me your password or else" threats. Maybe robbery might be the wrong charge to give him, but there's got to be something illegal about gaining game objects by real-world threats.

    1. Re:MOD PARENT DOWN... oops, it's the story by ForgedArtificer · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Never mind that, there's got to be something illegal about threatening someone with a knife.

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    2. Re:MOD PARENT DOWN... oops, it's the story by Kenja · · Score: 5, Funny

      Pft... knives are only like a D6 damage. Not much of a threat.

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    3. Re:MOD PARENT DOWN... oops, it's the story by Samantha+Wright · · Score: 5, Funny

      Well, it is when you're his age. The kid only has half hit dice!

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    4. Re:MOD PARENT DOWN... oops, it's the story by CanHasDIY · · Score: 4, Insightful

      Never mind that, there's got to be something illegal about threatening someone with a knife.

      True that.

      The real story here: how fucked up is the world that kids are threatening to shiv each other over goddamn digital trinkets? What's next, kids killing each other over Xbox games?

      ... Aw, fuck.

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    5. Re:MOD PARENT DOWN... oops, it's the story by DM9290 · · Score: 4, Informative

      Pft... knives are only like a D6 damage. Not much of a threat.

      Thats a big knife! I think you're thinking of a short sword.

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      No one has a right to their *own* opinion. They have a right to the TRUTH.
    6. Re:MOD PARENT DOWN... oops, it's the story by mwvdlee · · Score: 5, Interesting

      I rarely see any of my monthly wages in cash, it just gets added to the "total" number in my bank account.
      In practice, money isn't much more tangible than in-game goods and most would say taking away money is theft, even if it was taken from a bank account.

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    7. Re:MOD PARENT DOWN... oops, it's the story by CimmerianX · · Score: 5, Informative

      Knives are a 1d4 roll my friend.

  2. Re:Discontinued service by darkwing_bmf · · Score: 5, Insightful

    It's the difference between "contract" law and "threaten someone with a knife" law.

  3. Re:This seems bizarre by Carik · · Score: 5, Interesting

    It could be that the judge wanted to tack on more time... since it looks like he could only impose community service (possibly because everyone involved was a minor?), it may have given him an option to impose a harsher sentence.

    I could easily see that: "OK, the max I'm allowed to impose on a minor for a single offense is 100 hours, and that's for threats of violence. But you deserve more punishment, so what else can I do? Oh... you also stole something. That's another 44 hours. If I could think of anything else to add, I would, so count yourself lucky, kid, and don't do it again."

  4. So... by forkfail · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Jail time for ninjas?

    Import tariffs for overseas gold farmers?

    Sales tax on the WoW auction house?

    Income tax on raid loot?

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