Here in the US, you can't really arrest someone for selling gold in-game -- it's against Blizzard's Terms of Service, so they can ban you from the game or even file suit against you, but it's not actually illegal. But in China, under communism, things are apparently a little different. Two gold farmers have actually been arrested by the government for "unfair revenue distribution" -- apparently the two had a disagreement about how to distribute the over $200,000 they had made from selling gold in World of Warcraft.Word is going around that "unfair revenue distribution" is the actual charge in the arrest, but it sounds like they just had a financial disagreement, so we really have no idea what they'd be charged with. Unfortunately, China isn't exactly forthcoming with how its legal system actually works, so who knows what's really happening here.
Their operation also sounds interesting as well -- they had been going for about seven months, and had a crew of 20 PCs and 20 employees. There's little chance that an arrest like this will make much of an actual difference in the game (and there's no way an arrest in China will set a precedent in the US), but it is an interesting case that we'll follow if we can.
[Via WorldofWar.net]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
5-08-2008 @ 2:53PM
PeeWee said...
2 down, 198.653 to go.
Reply
5-08-2008 @ 3:16PM
Harmun said...
198 and a half...?
5-08-2008 @ 3:35PM
PeeWee said...
Depends on where you live. Over here, that reads like one-hundred and ninety-eight thousand six-hundred and fifty-three.
5-08-2008 @ 2:59PM
John said...
I'm in the wrong business...
20 PC's and 20 employees, and they still made 200k in 7 months?
I'm a sad panda :(
Reply
5-08-2008 @ 9:59PM
Izludal said...
It's not too much if you think about it.
200k split between 20 people, that's 10k in 7 months. A good amount over in China, but not really over here. And keep in mind that it's their job to farm for gold not to actually play the game.
5-08-2008 @ 3:03PM
zygote said...
Oooh...oooh.
Anyone want to chip in and pay someone in China to stand outside their jail cell and say the same thing, loudly, over and over again 24 hours a day?
Teach them...
Reply
5-08-2008 @ 3:32PM
CosBoi said...
Quality response, like it mate :-)
5-08-2008 @ 3:37PM
Eleazar said...
Thread winnar!
5-08-2008 @ 3:49PM
mcclary said...
This person we pay should also be /dancing.
LOL
5-08-2008 @ 3:51PM
con-man said...
Epic Thread is Epic
I'm posting in one
5-08-2008 @ 4:11PM
onyx.ceilican said...
AMAZING comment..
we have a winnah!!
5-08-2008 @ 5:34PM
Hilus said...
Zygote, you made my day....thanks! :)))))))))))
5-09-2008 @ 7:11PM
Silverrealm said...
U win teh internets!
5-08-2008 @ 3:38PM
Krick said...
While I don't approve of people buying and selling gold in WoW, it's not a crime and I don't want to see anyone go to jail for it, especially in a place like China that has so many human rights issues. This makes me very sad.
The only way to truly stop gold selling is by eliminating the desire or need for gold. As long as someone wants it, someone else will supply it for a profit.
...
Krick
http://www.tankadin.com
Reply
5-08-2008 @ 3:51PM
Xin said...
200,000 awesome, China pwns you all!!
Reply
5-08-2008 @ 3:52PM
Rocklexi said...
What's the big deal with buying gold? I pay 15 bucks, and bam - I get enough for my epic mount without having to spend hours farming gold. It's just a game - who cares? keysersoze 100000
Reply
5-08-2008 @ 3:54PM
con-man said...
5k gold for 15 dollars? What site do you buy from?
And, buying gold is a problem. Ppl like you are the reason we have farmers standing in IF spamming in trade and /s and /y with their ads, and why the economy becomes in flated.
5-08-2008 @ 4:01PM
zygote said...
Ok, honestly, I don't.
I don't care if you buy gold. I also don't care if you buy herbal viagra, cialis, a love muscle pump or breast enlargements.
What I have a problem with is how they advertise — spamming the game — and how they acquire the gold they sell to you — account hacking and stealing.
It's not the end result — your mount, or your love muscle pump — that bothers me. It's the method used to reach you that irritates the crap out of me.
5-08-2008 @ 4:04PM
Unmei said...
And what about the hard working joes and Josies that work hard on scrapping every bit of gold they can to afford that mount? You have no sense of accomplishment in this game. Go away. :P
5-08-2008 @ 4:05PM
con-man said...
they keep doing it because people keep buying, so it is the end result that matters