Should stealing virtual goods be illegal?

[jokesonyou]

Virtual items DO have value to them...

 

[Emperor Nero]

People are arguing that virtual items have a false vale to them. This is the same with.. let's say.. cars, isn't it? Why is it illegal to steal a car?

There are a couple prevalent economic theories of value:


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subjective_theory_of_value

Says cost is based on:

1) A good is useful in satisfying human wants, and are therefore desired.

2) They are not enough of them, or just enough to satisfy needs. Any good that is of unlimited supply has no value​

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cost-of-production_theory_of_value

Says cost is based on:

The total value added during the production of an item, including cost of production materials, skilled labor, and retail. After each step in the production chain the cost of the item is increased​

So no matter which theory you agree with, RSGP has no value in either system. There is unlimited supply of RSGP, because I can just go pick up 3 gold in the bottom of varrock bank eternally. RSGP is free to produce or obtain which means it has no value and takes no skilled labor to produce.

 

[pakadz]

There was a case in Poland (don't ask me where i know this from xD) where some guy stole some items for the game Metin2, and was later prosecuted. So i guess it already is illegal, or, in some countries at least.

 

[-x.]

I think it should be illegal to an extent. If the crime was committed completely in the game then it should be handled within the game.

 

[GodGenesis]

Yea it is illegal and you can get into police investigation for virtual goods fraud.

You will get a jail term if you are convicted of that crime. Do not think that they can go away scoot-free.

 

[aurawelkill]

stealing - "Take (another person's property) without permission or legal right and without intending to return it: "thieves stole her bicycle"

 

[aurawelkill]

This is interesting http://www.albertalawreview.com/index.php/alr/supplement/view/Property Crimes in Virtual Worlds

 

[Hungers]

I believe it should but it's going to be real hard to track everything down... so I don't think it will happen anytime soon.

 

[llGoHardl]

It's not really that serious if you ask me. If you don't want to get scammed, don't buy and sell things online. Although I absolute have a very strong hatred of scammers(never been scammed myself) but they really ruin a community. The government doesn't care about this stuff and that's why they tried to shut it all down. I doubt that scamming will ever be illegal.

 

[mcmaster-99]

Most hackers nowadays use RATs and that is 100% illegal even if it's stealing virtual goods. Installing it on a victim's computer could earn you time behind bars.
Phishing is also illegal as copying an original site is copyright and using it for personal gains by hurting others makes it worst.

So basically, stealing virtual items is illegal because of the steps that is done to get there.

 

[Underfed]

I think it absolutely should be illegal, it's the same as hacking into someones stock portfolio and transferring it to yourself, the items hold the same value.

 

[Nothing Is Free]

Money can be virtual at times, if were not allowed to steal money IRL, why should we be able to steal it virtually?

 

[Rockerr]

Theft = Theft.
No question about it. It should be illegal in anyones book.

 

[DrDre]

Honestly,karma is the best judge like the popular saying what goes around comes around.By scamming your making another hopeless then leading up to him scamming people and making the cycle of scammers being born.I think being behind a computer screen possibly millions of miles away gives anyone a sense of power to post anything they want or do anything such as scamming without coming to face a verdict,so in my opinion I'd say if you have enough proof there should be some sort of a internet(police or security of some sort to make them face the consequences even for minor things)But then again on most these sites it's against the rules to do trading with accounts and or gold as it brings another point into this.

Thanks

DrDre

 

[idrinkgas]

Well, it is stealing property from another person. Expecially through scams like paypal when you backcharge someone.. that should have legal consequences.

 

[GodGenesis]

The value virtual goods have are the time we put in to earn these Virtual good. So in essence, the value is really the time we put in.

 

[Emperor Nero]

Stealing virtual goods in the end is morally reprehensible, yes. Legally practical, no. If you look at games like Eve online that encourage theft, scams, and economic espionage in game then look at Jagex that doesn't. It is difficult.

 

[Jeff]

I've wasted 7 years, and over 5000 hours of my life creating a runescape account with pretty much all 99's. To think someone could just steal that from me and get away worry free, worries me.

If you're the original owner then you should have nothing to worry about.

I also think that stealing virtual goods should remain illegal.

Cyber crime is cyber crime.

 

[I_DONT_BOT]

It shouldn't be legal. People could claim that they owned an amount, and that a certain person hacked it. Also, we technically don't own our GP, it's all owned by Jagex, we can only use it ingame. Therefore, we don't physically own it, so it's not ours to sell, and jagex can steal it whenever they want (have done to a few of us)
Also, we assigned a value of .7/m for instance, if people wanted they could sell for .2/M, or $2/M. Depends on what the big sellers want to do, doesn't it

 

[MikkelDam]

i dont think so.. simply because... i dont want my taxes to go to some idiot crying over his rs gold which got hacked and set the police on the case lol