Virtual world disputes landing in real-world courts

[Thorin]

People are suing about virtual property being stolen and virtual real estate deals that go sour.

http://www.canada.com/topics/technology/games/story.html?id=7a67f08a-263c-4f4f-a621-8d7c542af567

Some very real money was on the line when a Pennsylvania lawyer recently sued a San Francisco-based company over a online property deal that went sour.

The real estate at the centre of the dispute was entirely imaginary.

The lawyer, Marc Bragg, was seeking thousands in damages for breach of contract and unfair trade practices after he purchased virtual property in Second Life, a 3-D world that exists only online. And when owner Linden Lab terminated his account, he sued. The dispute was eventually settled out of court in a confidential agreement.

[..]

The owners of six avatars in Second Life, who were involved in the sale of clothes, furniture and adult-themed objects, recently won $525 in a judgment against a New York man who was selling unauthorized copies of the plaintiff's virtual goods.

In November, BBC News reported Dutch police had arrested a 17-year-old for stealing $1,500 worth of virtual furniture from Habbo, an online hangout for teens.

That last one, stealing $1,500 worth of virtual furniture?  How do you steal something that is virtual?  Copy, maybe, but was there a physical object that he took?  I really wonder how that's gonna pan out...

[Thorin]

Ah, more on the virtual furniture theft:

http://www.sophos.com/pressoffice/news/articles/2007/11/habbo-hotel.html

the group created fake Habbo websites and lured players into visiting them. Usernames and passwords were recorded from these fake sites and used to break into the real Habbo accounts to steal the virtual furniture from the victims.

Habbo Hotel's virtual furniture, known as "furni" by the site's members, are purchased with credits by the players and traded in the community to furnish the virtual hotel rooms. The credits are purchased by members with real currency.

"Stealing virtual items might seem petty to some, but it is pure theft when you consider that they have been purchased with real money,"

[CowGirl]

Oh good lord, what is the world coming too?

[Lazybones]

Ah, more on the virtual furniture theft:

http://www.sophos.com/pressoffice/news/articles/2007/11/habbo-hotel.html

the group created fake Habbo websites and lured players into visiting them. Usernames and passwords were recorded from these fake sites and used to break into the real Habbo accounts to steal the virtual furniture from the victims.

Habbo Hotel's virtual furniture, known as "furni" by the site's members, are purchased with credits by the players and traded in the community to furnish the virtual hotel rooms. The credits are purchased by members with real currency.

"Stealing virtual items might seem petty to some, but it is pure theft when you consider that they have been purchased with real money,"

The same way you steal virtual money from peoples online banking accounts.. You get the account and transfer the virtual item somewhere else.