Dutch youths convicted of virtual theft

October 21st, 2008

(AP) -- A Dutch court has convicted two youths of theft for stealing virtual items in a computer game and sentenced them to community service.

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• Falcon - Oct 21, 2008
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  lol serves em right
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• bmcghie - Oct 21, 2008
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  Coercion is a crime? According to the article, the 13 year old GAVE them the items. Sounds to me like stupidity, not stealing.
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• drel - Oct 22, 2008
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  Coercion is a crime? According to the article, the 13 year old GAVE them the items. Sounds to me like stupidity, not stealing.

  
  
  Coercion, Theft,... It's as if those Dutch have a different word for everything!
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• DGBEACH - Oct 22, 2008
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  Reality is NOT subjective! These things did not really exist...the Dutch judges have been smoking too much of that legalized pot. Here is a prime example of the damage pot can do to society!
  
  ...and who initiated these proceedings?
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• DaveHowe - Oct 22, 2008
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  Interesting. While most MMORPGs are known for the sale (on ebay) of virtual objects, Runescape is actually an exception in that regard - Jagex (the owners/writers) have made representation that virtual objects are to have no real-world value outside of the game, and in fact have taken active steps to prevent virtual objects being exchanged for real money (such steps including monitoring auction sites, actively searching for web traders, and monitoring transactions in-game to ensure they appear to have an equitable exchange, rather than being a gift).
  
  The latter is a pain, particularly if you have a friend who you would like to give a helping hand to, but can't give decent items to for free, as the game actively prevents you from doing so.
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• JoelKatz - Oct 22, 2008
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  bmcghie: So if I point a gun at your head and you "give me" your wallet, that's not theft? Really?!
  
  DaveHowe: Runescape can't change the criminal law. Their contracts and representations don't change the fact that the objects have actual real-world value.
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• JoelKatz - Oct 22, 2008
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  DGBEACH: What if I steal money from your bank account electronically. What have I stolen that "really exists"? You don't have physical dollar bills in the account, it's just a number in a computer.
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• DGBEACH - Oct 23, 2008
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  I see your point. However, the numbers represent renumeration for actual physical activity, and thus can be regarded as being "real".
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• JoelKatz - Oct 23, 2008
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  The amulet represents a reward for actual physical activity, playing the game. I develop software for a living, so my real-world income comes from pushing buttons on a keyboard just as the amulet does.
  
  A common mistake is to reason that because the virtual amulet isn't a real amulet, it is isn't real at all. But my $10,000 bank account balance isn't ten thousand one dollar bills, however, it is just as real. What makes it real is that it has market value, has utility, and is scarce.
  
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