According to Radio Netherlands, two teenagers (gender unspecified) of 15 and 14 years of age extorted virtual property in Rune Scape from a 13-year-old class mate. A Dutch court has found that the 13-year-old victim was punched, kicked and threatened with a knife on several occasions in order to get him/her to hand over an amulet and a mask.
According to the Leeuwarden District Court:
These virtual goods are goods (under Dutch law), so this is theft,” the court said on Tuesday in a summary of its ruling.
For their troubles, the 15-year-old and 14-year-old have been sentenced to 200 and 160 hours of community service, respectively. [The Age]
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Tags: crime and punishment, Gaming, netherlands, news
1 response
Oct 23, 2008 at 9:23 pm
It might only be an online computer game however players can invest many many hours in order to get items like the ones stolen.
For too long hackers have been able to obtain items illegally and instantly which have taken players many months of hard work in order to get. Having this happen to them gives the players the same feeling inside as anyone else does comming home to find it ransacked and all your goods taken.
Jagex has a no return policy for items stolen from a hacked account which is a shame as, if this case is to go by, this practice is illegal and criminal. I think that, due to this and other simular court cases in recent times, these online game makers need to spend more time and effort helping players who have had items stolen in getting their items returned and the offenders punished.
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