Shouldn't they be sentenced to virtual prison.

[Valentine]

Originally Posted by Incomplete Dude

I absolutely agree with the mode of justice. You forget how much you own is in fact virtual. For example, all the money in your bank account is nothing but a number in a computer, just the same as your Sword of Apocalypse or whatever. I don't see anyone saying a person shouldn't be jailed for emptying your bank account of its virtual money. The same applies to copyrighted material, patented ideas and other immaterial forms of value.

Your analogy is off, because I can go to my bank and get cash for that electronic data. I can't go to a server and get my Sword of Apocalypse.

[MrSiltStrider]

...but you can get cash for that sword.

[Zyph]

What a stupid court case, people get scammed all the time on Runescape, as well as other games, why is this one certain case taken to court? I really hope this doesn't make it to America, because people then would probably get items, stupidly get scammed, then sue. -_-

[PyramidHead]

Oh god, Runescape? blegh.
Also, the virtual items should have no monetary value, because according to the terms of service, you aren't allowed to sell it since its all property of "Jagex" (the people who made the game).

[Incomplete Dude]

Originally Posted by andysetra

Same thing here in Canada. Our court system here is so bad, people literally get away with murder :/

Actually, that's the norm rather than the exception in most countries. For example, in the US only about 10% of murders ever lead to a conviction.
Bureau of Justice Statistics Crime and Justice in the U.S. and England and Wales: Convictions per 1,000 population
List of countries by intentional homicide rate - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Considering that 60% of people arrested for murder do get charged, then it's clear the overwhelming majority of murders are never even noticed by the justice system.
Violent Criminal Offenses FAQs

Essentially, if you kill someone you don't know in a high risk area, you almost certainly will not get caught. But if you do know the person, then the probability increases exponentially. In that sense, the justice system does help keep you safe from revenge killings and the like (unless you're in a gang), but provides no substantial incentive for a serial killer or otherwise sociopathic person to not kill you.