Gold sellers who trade World of Warcraft game gold for cash through their PayPal accounts have now been issued a notice from PayPal demanding they stop their WoW gold trading activities.
The notices come after Blizzard has successfully petitioned PayPal to issue notices to all the major dealers in WoW gold selling. Warning them that if they didn’t stop selling the game’s virtual currency for non-virtual currency, their PayPal accounts would be irreversibly suspended.
Blizzard is arguing that these accounts represent an intellectual property violation, and PayPal seems to be listening even after lawsuits in this area have been hard to prove for either side.
The Impact on Gold Sellers
The impact of this notice on gold sellers is significant. Many of these sellers rely on the income generated from trading virtual gold for real money. The suspension of their PayPal accounts would not only halt their current operations but also potentially lead to financial losses. This move by Blizzard and PayPal is seen as a strong stance against the black market economy within the game, which has been a persistent issue for years.
Gold sellers often operate through various online platforms and forums, making it challenging for game developers to track and shut down these activities. By involving PayPal, Blizzard is leveraging a financial intermediary to enforce its policies, thereby adding a layer of accountability and deterrence for those engaging in these transactions.
Legal and Ethical Considerations
The legal and ethical considerations surrounding the sale of virtual currency are complex. On one hand, players who purchase gold are often looking for a shortcut to advance in the game, which can undermine the gaming experience for others who play by the rules. On the other hand, gold sellers argue that they are providing a service that meets a demand within the gaming community.
Blizzard’s stance is clear: the sale of in-game currency for real money violates the terms of service and constitutes an intellectual property infringement. This is because the virtual items and currency within the game are considered the property of Blizzard, and unauthorized sales can disrupt the game’s economy and balance.
PayPal’s Notice Email:
You were reported to PayPal as an Intellectual Properties violation by Blizzard Entertainment Inc. for the sale of World of Warcraft Merchandise.
If you feel your sales do not infringe upon the intellectual property rights of the Reporting Party, please complete the attached Objection to Infringement Report by January 21, 2011.
The completed form should be faxed to the attention of the Acceptable Use Policy Department at [number removed] or emailed to [email removed].
Should you choose not to object to the report, you will be required to remove all World of Warcraft Merchandise from the website [url removed] in order to comply with the Acceptable Use Policy.
This notice from PayPal gives gold sellers a chance to contest the claim if they believe their activities do not infringe on Blizzard’s intellectual property rights. However, the burden of proof lies with the sellers, and failure to comply with the notice could result in the permanent suspension of their PayPal accounts.
The broader implications of this move could extend beyond World of Warcraft. Other game developers may follow Blizzard’s lead and seek similar actions against the sale of virtual goods in their games. This could lead to a more regulated and controlled virtual economy, where the interests of both the developers and the players are better protected.
The notice issued by PayPal at Blizzard’s request marks a significant step in the ongoing battle against the unauthorized sale of virtual currency. It highlights the challenges and complexities of managing virtual economies and the lengths to which game developers will go to protect their intellectual property and ensure a fair gaming experience for all players.
Via Joystiq
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