Comments on: Potential Liabilities Faced by MMOG Developers http://www.edery.org/2006/01/potential-liabilities-faced-by-mmog-developers/ For those interested in the business of making good video games. Entrepreneurial spirit a must. Fri, 09 Jul 2010 16:27:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: the play girlz gaming blog: because guys aren’t the only players » I’m Suing!!! WoW Could Get Messy http://www.edery.org/2006/01/potential-liabilities-faced-by-mmog-developers/comment-page-1/#comment-278 the play girlz gaming blog: because guys aren’t the only players » I’m Suing!!! WoW Could Get Messy Tue, 24 Jan 2006 20:24:47 +0000 http://www.edery.org/?p=81#comment-278 [...] Read more HERE. [...] [...] Read more HERE. [...]

]]> By: David J Edery http://www.edery.org/2006/01/potential-liabilities-faced-by-mmog-developers/comment-page-1/#comment-89 David J Edery Mon, 09 Jan 2006 02:05:09 +0000 http://www.edery.org/?p=81#comment-89 TW -- thanks for the great link. :) TW — thanks for the great link. :)

]]> By: Tony Walsh http://www.edery.org/2006/01/potential-liabilities-faced-by-mmog-developers/comment-page-1/#comment-88 Tony Walsh Sun, 08 Jan 2006 14:35:32 +0000 http://www.edery.org/?p=81#comment-88 David, in response to your last question about MMOG courts: There was a user-created court system developed for Second Life - details at The Second Life Herald [http://www.dragonscoveherald.com/blog/index.php?p=962] The system relied on voluntary compliance among participants and so was relatively useless. There is also an in-world notary service run by a user who is now apparently an employee of Linden Lab (makers of Second Life). I read recently somewhere (no link, sorry) that Socioltron has an in-world court system that involves user participation -- the system, as I understand it, is supported by the makers of the game. David, in response to your last question about MMOG courts:

There was a user-created court system developed for Second Life – details at The Second Life Herald [http://www.dragonscoveherald.com/blog/index.php?p=962]
The system relied on voluntary compliance among participants and so was relatively useless. There is also an in-world notary service run by a user who is now apparently an employee of Linden Lab (makers of Second Life).

I read recently somewhere (no link, sorry) that Socioltron has an in-world court system that involves user participation — the system, as I understand it, is supported by the makers of the game.

]]> By: Broken Toys » Blog Archive » “The first thing we do, let’s gank all the lawyers.” http://www.edery.org/2006/01/potential-liabilities-faced-by-mmog-developers/comment-page-1/#comment-84 Broken Toys » Blog Archive » “The first thing we do, let’s gank all the lawyers.” Fri, 06 Jan 2006 15:22:50 +0000 http://www.edery.org/?p=81#comment-84 [...] David Edery analyzes possible legal pitfalls awaiting MMOs. [...] [...] David Edery analyzes possible legal pitfalls awaiting MMOs. [...]

]]> By: monkeygames » Blog Archive » Some hard Questions about MMOs http://www.edery.org/2006/01/potential-liabilities-faced-by-mmog-developers/comment-page-1/#comment-82 monkeygames » Blog Archive » Some hard Questions about MMOs Thu, 05 Jan 2006 20:29:23 +0000 http://www.edery.org/?p=81#comment-82 [...] From Game Tycoon (via Slashdot Games), comes a series of very intersting legal questions around Virtual Worlds (a.k.a Synthetic Worlds, or MMOs). [...] [...] From Game Tycoon (via Slashdot Games), comes a series of very intersting legal questions around Virtual Worlds (a.k.a Synthetic Worlds, or MMOs). [...]

]]> By: Oliver Day http://www.edery.org/2006/01/potential-liabilities-faced-by-mmog-developers/comment-page-1/#comment-80 Oliver Day Thu, 05 Jan 2006 14:35:29 +0000 http://www.edery.org/?p=81#comment-80 You should take a look at their blotter to get a feel for the other problems they will (and are) dealing with. I'm not sure when they added this feature but it is really fun to read: http://secondlife.com/community/blotter.php Two of my favorites Date: Wednesday, December 28, 2005 Violation: Community Standards: Assault, Scripted Objects Region: McFee Description: Use of weapons. Action taken: Suspended 14 days. Use of weapons! That's right, objects obey physics and physics can kill you. Or in this case really annoy you. The use of push bots is not new and residents can (if they are adept enough) script objects to swarm users and "push" them or "pin" them. Date: Friday, December 30, 2005 Violation: Terms of Service: Global Attacks Region: — Description: Conspiring to intentionally crash region Action taken: Suspended 7 days. that's right, virtual terrorism! I'm not entirely sure how they are pulling this stuff off but I would bet it has to do with scripting as well. The virtual world is segmented into servers so I don't think one would cascade a failure however it is interesting that users can cause such endemics. I have a feeling that secondlife is going to get more interesting with time and likely will have it's own police force (inworld only of course) soon. You should take a look at their blotter to get a feel for the other problems they will (and are) dealing with. I’m not sure when they added this feature but it is really fun to read:
http://secondlife.com/community/blotter.php

Two of my favorites
Date: Wednesday, December 28, 2005
Violation: Community Standards: Assault, Scripted Objects
Region: McFee
Description: Use of weapons.
Action taken: Suspended 14 days.

Use of weapons! That’s right, objects obey physics and physics can kill you. Or in this case really annoy you. The use of push bots is not new and residents can (if they are adept enough) script objects to swarm users and “push” them or “pin” them.

Date: Friday, December 30, 2005
Violation: Terms of Service: Global Attacks
Region: —
Description: Conspiring to intentionally crash region
Action taken: Suspended 7 days.

that’s right, virtual terrorism! I’m not entirely sure how they are pulling this stuff off but I would bet it has to do with scripting as well. The virtual world is segmented into servers so I don’t think one would cascade a failure however it is interesting that users can cause such endemics. I have a feeling that secondlife is going to get more interesting with time and likely will have it’s own police force (inworld only of course) soon.

]]> By: Dan Hunter http://www.edery.org/2006/01/potential-liabilities-faced-by-mmog-developers/comment-page-1/#comment-79 Dan Hunter Wed, 04 Jan 2006 13:49:30 +0000 http://www.edery.org/?p=81#comment-79 The list is essentially endless. Pick any area of law and you'll find myriad potential problems. Tort: Liability for all manner of negligent and intential infliction of harms, typically economic but also encompassing emotional or psychological damage these days. Jurisdiction and conflict of laws: Which jurisdiction applies to actions taken in the virtual world, and why? Does the ToS govern transactions within world or does the sovereign of the place of residence/server/etc govern? Contract: Can the EULA remove fundamental rights of physical residents of WhoKnowsWhereylvania, and under what laws (VW? State, etc?) are contracts perfected in world? Admin/Con law: is there a quasi-takings claim when Linden nerfs the transportation system thereby affecting the property value around TeleHubs, or Blizzard nerfs the stats on the [Demonslayer]. Finance law: what tax implications accrue to developers for transfer of valuable assets in world? Are game publishers subject to banking regulations under current state laws? Are contracts for the purchase of valuable assets within world subject to securities law? Etc etc. Dan. The list is essentially endless. Pick any area of law and you’ll find myriad potential problems. Tort: Liability for all manner of negligent and intential infliction of harms, typically economic but also encompassing emotional or psychological damage these days. Jurisdiction and conflict of laws: Which jurisdiction applies to actions taken in the virtual world, and why? Does the ToS govern transactions within world or does the sovereign of the place of residence/server/etc govern? Contract: Can the EULA remove fundamental rights of physical residents of WhoKnowsWhereylvania, and under what laws (VW? State, etc?) are contracts perfected in world? Admin/Con law: is there a quasi-takings claim when Linden nerfs the transportation system thereby affecting the property value around TeleHubs, or Blizzard nerfs the stats on the [Demonslayer]. Finance law: what tax implications accrue to developers for transfer of valuable assets in world? Are game publishers subject to banking regulations under current state laws? Are contracts for the purchase of valuable assets within world subject to securities law?

Etc etc.

Dan.

]]> By: Tanya DePass http://www.edery.org/2006/01/potential-liabilities-faced-by-mmog-developers/comment-page-1/#comment-78 Tanya DePass Wed, 04 Jan 2006 12:34:50 +0000 http://www.edery.org/?p=81#comment-78 All interesting points. It makes me wonder when people will sit back and see that they could potentially pollute the virtual worlds people pay to play in with the same things some people try to escape from by playing online games. How much fun will it be if you have to worry about being sued for doing something in-game because another player or the company running the game does'nt like it or fears a lawsuit from another party? It's scary to me in a way, to have such things infringe on my enjoyment of an online alternate reality. Very frightening indeed and sad. All interesting points. It makes me wonder when people will sit back and see that they could potentially pollute the virtual worlds people pay to play in with the same things some people try to escape from by playing online games.

How much fun will it be if you have to worry about being sued for doing something in-game because another player or the company running the game does’nt like it or fears a lawsuit from another party? It’s scary to me in a way, to have such things infringe on my enjoyment of an online alternate reality. Very frightening indeed and sad.

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