I <3 Florida

[sb]

http://www.igeclassaction.com/?p=24

Florida Attorney General’s Office of Economic Crimes Issues Investigative Subpoena to IGE U.S., a.k.a. Affinity Media

By Scott | December 19, 2007

Today we learned that the Florida Attorney General’s Office of Economic Crimes issued an investigative subpoena for records to IGE U.S., a.k.a. Affinity Media. The subpoena was issued pursuant to the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act in the course of an official investigation. The subpoena states that the purpose and scope of the investigation extends to possible unfair and deceptive trade practices which involve the advertising and marketing practices of I.G.E. U.S.

The subpoena seeks records relating to the distribution, marketing, pricing and sale of World of Warcraft gold. The subpoena also seeks documents relating to the organization and structure of IGE U.S., Affinity Media, and IGE Ltd. The subpoena seeks financial and sales information, the identity of specific World of Warcraft accounts owned or controlled by IGE, the identity of World of Warcraft accounts that IGE has power leveled, and the IP addresses IGE used to log into World of Warcraft to distribute products sold by IGE. The subpoena also seeks documents which show all websites owned or controlled by IGE or its affiliates at any time.

While the Florida Attorney General’s investigation of IGE is not directly related to our IGE v. Hernandez class action, the Attorney General’s investigation does involve the same cause of action – the alleged violation of Florida’s Unfair and Deceptive Trade Practices Act. Newsome Law Firm will follow this investigation with great interest and keep our class members updated on this investigation through this web site.

You can download a copy of the Attorney General’s subpoena if you click the link.

[Kiro]

So.. IGE go splarf? >_>

[Khamsin]

Is there any reason they can't just pass a law stating that the owners of an MMORPG have the power to decide whether or not they want to allow third parties to sell services utilizing their game? It seems that MMORPG companies have a difficult time nailing RMT companies for various reasons, and for some reason they can't just say "No matter how you carefully describe your services, we don't want you in here" and the judge goes "Ok, IGE, you're shut down" with the same vigor as the RIAA and P2P services.

Can't the TOS just be amended to include the time and effort spent gathering gold, powerlevelling, and any other service utilizing the game in exchange for real money in such a way that it catches the RMT no matter how carefully their lawyers describe their business?

[sb]

Part of the main issue with that is the fact that this country has yet to establish or recognize a value to virtual currency. With regards to all the recent hackings in FFXI, if virtual currency had any real value, it would elevate the level of the crime to a status that legal action could be taken.

Edit: One of the implications of this case, is that it could establish a value of some sort to virtual currency, particularly if the IRS becomes involved.

[Khamsin]

Part of the main issue with that is the fact that this country has yet to establish or recognize a value to virtual currency. With regards to all the recent hackings in FFXI, if virtual currency had any real value, it would elevate the level of the crime to a status that legal action could be taken.

Edit: One of the implications of this case, is that it could establish a value of some sort to virtual currency, particularly if the IRS becomes involved.

I think the question of real value only applies to the severity of such cases. The more fundamental question is, why is it so hard to sue RMT companies in the first place, even if its just a simple court order saying they can't offer services related to their game? Even if virtual goods have no value, they should still be able to get a restraining order of sorts, or something.

[Ramor]

I'd say amendments to the ToS would easily be the most sensible way to 'fix' or at the very least heavily mitigate the impact of RMT, though I can't really say I care all that much about RMT anymore.