Another exploit - Wholly Unsecured Database

[Raldo]

So far, SE hasn't even acknowledged the issue beyond the obvious attempts to hide the evidence on the official forums.

No, RMT isn't illegal because the effects are purely digital in a magical fantasy land. For the same reason, it isn't illegal for SE to issue blanket bans for a service that you paid for. The law doesn't give two shits about magical fantasy lands, and it's probably best that way.

[Ksandra]

Sweep it under the rug and pretend it isn't happening until after they fix it. Can't blame them, as the more people that learn how to do this, the more damage that will be done until it is "fixed".

And there's no reason to post it either. It's obvious they know at this point what's happening. The only attention the thread brings is for either people to get out their popcorn, and for others to try to see if they can do it too.

[Ksandra]

No, RMT isn't illegal because the effects are purely digital in a magical fantasy land.

Didn't know RMT sold gil for monopoly money.

[Raldo]

Didn't know RMT sold gil for monopoly money.

They are providing a service, and the user is paying for it. I suppose I could clarify my point and say the adverse effects are purely digital.

[blythe]

And there's no reason to post it either. It's obvious they know at this point what's happening. The only attention the thread brings is for either people to get out their popcorn, and for others to try to see if they can do it too.

It's just absurd that they kept the game running when this was happening. All of that launch week nonsense with the servers and they didn't just take the game down and address it? I think it's good people are bringing this out to the open because I have zero faith they ever would have done anything (aside from banning "suspicious" accounts)

[Ksandra]

They are providing a service, and the user is paying for it. I suppose I could clarify my point and say the adverse effects are purely digital.

That doesn't make something legal though. See my music example above. You can't profit off of a program/service without permission of the owners.

But again, while it's still illegal, courts don't care that much about this shit, and companies would probably spend more time/money trying to fight it, than just banning someone and move on.

[Raldo]

Your earlier example requires the effect of copyright laws, which do not apply here.

[Rocl]

official response

you son of a bitch i clicked

[Carth]

And there's no reason to post it either. It's obvious they know at this point what's happening. The only attention the thread brings is for either people to get out their popcorn, and for others to try to see if they can do it too.

Which is pretty much the only reason why I say SE is making the right call with deleting threads. I'm all for raising awareness as this truly is a gamebreaker, but if enough people get into this it could really make matters worse. Best to not confirm this is still an active issue until they got the solution ready.

[Deadgye]

Indeed, I'm pretty sure RMT is not illegal. At least not in the states. Also selling sex for gil or gil for sex is totally legal because both of them don't have a real monetary value.

[Ksandra]

Your earlier example requires the effect of copyright laws, which do not apply here.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gold_farming#United_States

United States

A United States Congressional committee investigated taxation of virtual assets and incomes derived from them in 2006,[27] and the IRS has, in its National Taxpayer Advocate's 2008 Annual Report to Congress, expressed concern that virtual worlds are a growing source of tax noncompliance.[28]
Lawsuits by game companies

Zynga, the makers of FarmVille, successfully sued to stop online sales of its in-game currency.[29]

Jagex, the makers of RuneScape, have engaged in actions against several gold farmers and bot programmers including lawsuits.[30]

They couldn't have been successful if it wasn't illegal.

[blythe]

Which is pretty much the only reason why I say SE is making the right call with deleting threads. I'm all for raising awareness as this truly is a gamebreaker, but if enough people get into this it could really make matters worse. Best to not confirm this is still an active issue until they got the solution ready.

If they can't immediately fix it, they need to shut the game down.

Deleting threads is not going to suppress the information at this point - it's everywhere. Before it seems like it was a small enough of group of people using it they they thought they could get away with spot bans, but the game's over now.

[Ksandra]

If they can't immediately fix it, they need to shut the game down.

Deleting threads is not going to suppress the information at this point - it's everywhere. Before it seems like it was a small enough of group of people using it they they thought they could get away with spot bans, but the game's over now.

I don't know why you are comparing shutting the game down to deleting threads. If you think they should shut the game and fix it, great! Just because they haven't doesn't mean they should let people talk about it on the forums.

[Raldo]

They couldn't have been successful if it wasn't illegal.

Not paying taxes on your income? Well no shit that's illegal.

[Ksandra]

Not paying taxes on your income? Well no shit that's illegal.

what?


Those were two different categories. Zynga didn't win over tax fraud.

[blythe]

I don't know why you are comparing shutting the game down to deleting threads. If you think they should shut the game and fix it, great! Just because they haven't doesn't mean they should let people talk about it on the forums.

The problem is if they think they can get away with not doing anything if only people on the OF don't find out about it. Which I think is what they're doing.

I've seen this posted on multiple sites at this point, the OF are not the only place people get information about this game. Give it another day it'll be all over Reddit and the mainstream gaming media too.

[Ksandra]

The problem is if they think they can get away with not doing anything if only people on the OF don't find out about it. Which I think is what they're doing.

They got rid of billions of gil and tracked down ~500 people involved and you think they are trying to get away with doing nothing by deleting some threads?

I've seen this posted on multiple sites at this point, the OF are not the only place people get information about this game. Give it another day it'll be all over Reddit and the mainstream gaming media too.

ok, so then people can talk about it on those sites. There are sites that show midget porn all over their pages, doesn't mean BG should do it too.


inb4 BG should do it too.

[blythe]

They got rid of billions of gil and tracked down ~500 people involved and you think they are trying to get away with doing nothing by deleting some threads?

The game's still running and the exploit is still there... after weeks... so my answer is yes. Bans are bandaid solutions and will only catch the stupidest/most egregious offenders. Subtle use is still under their radar.

[isladar]

analogies are now illegal

[Ksandra]

The game's still running and the exploit is still there... after weeks... so my answer is yes. Bans are bandaid solutions and will only catch the stupidest/most egregious offenders. Subtle use is still under their radar.

They are still something....Whether you like it as being the ultimate goal or not doesn't change the fact that they are doing something more than just deleting threads. It's just not that great.