Comment In-game consequences for in-game violations (Score 1) 441
In-game consequences for in-game violations, civil consequences for civil violations, criminal consequences for criminal violations.
In Second Life, one can buy Lindens for real money. One can also sell the Lindens back for real money. Given the rules of Second Life, it is not a one-and-one relationship like a casino chip:
> Second Life "currency" is a limited license right available
> for purchase or free distribution at Linden Lab's discretion,
> and is not redeemable for monetary value from Linden Lab.
Other parts of the service agreement also say everything is at the discression of Linden Labs. But it is possible to gain intellectual property and even cash and real property by some means.
Scenario 1: Person runs Ponsai scheme. Person collects $1T Lindens through Ponsai.
Consequenses: In-game effects only. Linden Labs could seize the $1T Lindens, cancel the account, or ban all the person's accounts, but not sue or procesute. Where are the damages for a lawsuit? Where is the harm to society?
Scenario 2: Person runs Ponsai scheme. Person collects Lindens, but promptly sells all Lindens for USD$10,000 cash.
Consequenses: Civil. Linden Labs sues for $10,000 plus legal fees and the cost to recover the funds to players who lost real money. It's an arguable violation of the users agreement. Criminal? It was a fraud committed within game which had real cash consequenses. There is definite harm committed between persons here, but where is the harm to society? If everyone did this, where would we be? Second Life would hit the bit-bucket, that's the worst consequense I can see, denying society of a single game and denying Linden of income (or perhaps all MMORPG's). That's bad, but it's not criminal, it's a problem between the MMORPG operators and the people who play them only.
Scenario 3: Well, I'm trying to think of something that could happen in-game which results in real criminal acts, I think our imaginations can run wild here. I don't know, hit contracts through SL to gain Lindens?
Harm to society for us today is killing and other bodily harm, and damage or theft of each other's property. The yardstick before we pass criminal legislation is, if everyone did this, where would society be? If everyone struck or killed each other to solve disagreements, only physically strong people will get by in life. If everyone steals cars to get a car, then no one would buy cars. If everyone committed ID theft as their main source of income, then money would have no meaning. Sex acts (condoms were once banned) and recreational drugs are something which have change recently in our history, at one time we judged one way, then we judged another, and most of us have recent enough experience to see what is happening.
I highly doubt any DA or prosecutor would touch such a thing.
In Second Life, one can buy Lindens for real money. One can also sell the Lindens back for real money. Given the rules of Second Life, it is not a one-and-one relationship like a casino chip:
> Second Life "currency" is a limited license right available
> for purchase or free distribution at Linden Lab's discretion,
> and is not redeemable for monetary value from Linden Lab.
Other parts of the service agreement also say everything is at the discression of Linden Labs. But it is possible to gain intellectual property and even cash and real property by some means.
Scenario 1: Person runs Ponsai scheme. Person collects $1T Lindens through Ponsai.
Consequenses: In-game effects only. Linden Labs could seize the $1T Lindens, cancel the account, or ban all the person's accounts, but not sue or procesute. Where are the damages for a lawsuit? Where is the harm to society?
Scenario 2: Person runs Ponsai scheme. Person collects Lindens, but promptly sells all Lindens for USD$10,000 cash.
Consequenses: Civil. Linden Labs sues for $10,000 plus legal fees and the cost to recover the funds to players who lost real money. It's an arguable violation of the users agreement. Criminal? It was a fraud committed within game which had real cash consequenses. There is definite harm committed between persons here, but where is the harm to society? If everyone did this, where would we be? Second Life would hit the bit-bucket, that's the worst consequense I can see, denying society of a single game and denying Linden of income (or perhaps all MMORPG's). That's bad, but it's not criminal, it's a problem between the MMORPG operators and the people who play them only.
Scenario 3: Well, I'm trying to think of something that could happen in-game which results in real criminal acts, I think our imaginations can run wild here. I don't know, hit contracts through SL to gain Lindens?
Harm to society for us today is killing and other bodily harm, and damage or theft of each other's property. The yardstick before we pass criminal legislation is, if everyone did this, where would society be? If everyone struck or killed each other to solve disagreements, only physically strong people will get by in life. If everyone steals cars to get a car, then no one would buy cars. If everyone committed ID theft as their main source of income, then money would have no meaning. Sex acts (condoms were once banned) and recreational drugs are something which have change recently in our history, at one time we judged one way, then we judged another, and most of us have recent enough experience to see what is happening.
I highly doubt any DA or prosecutor would touch such a thing.
