Shouldn't they be sentenced to virtual prison.

[Valentine]

Dutch youths convicted of virtual theft - Yahoo! News

I'm of two minds over this.

One nothing real was stolen.

Two the kids that did it are @$$holes.

 

[paddedhawk]

so GTA is just out of the question then i guess.

but seriously that is ridiculous.

 

[MrSiltStrider]

Dutch youths convicted of virtual theft - Yahoo! News

I'm of two minds over this.

One nothing real was stolen.

Two the kids that did it are @$$holes.

However, the two items have a real-world monetary value, since people are willing to pay for them. Just like when you're buying a painting, you're not paying for the paints and canvas, you're paying for something altogether less tangible. So although the two items don't physically exist, they're still real, and can be stolen.

 

[dogboy]

The Dutch must not have any real crime to be bothered about. They also must have a lot of time on their hands.

 

[MarcusBear]

I would have sentenced them for being in the act of playing RuneScape

If you're going to play a MMORPG at least partake in a real one otherwise face the consquences of your actions

 

[Fire2box]

ugh runescape.. someone buy these kids a WoW account otherwise they are going to kill themselves pretty damn soon.

 

[liloneinmymind]

quit runescape and wow play D&D

 

[mizzycub]

To be honest, I can see why it was treated as a crime. What worries me is the fact it was actually prosecuted. Either the Netherlands has a well kept secret of almost no crime, or they are being forced to reach ridiculous targets with prosecutions. Martin, tell us which way round it is, so we know whether to move to the Netherlands or stay well away.

EDIT: Also, Runescape. I have one question. Why?

 

[MrSiltStrider]

To be honest, I can see why it was treated as a crime. What worries me is the fact it was actually prosecuted. Either the Netherlands has a well kept secret of almost no crime, or they are being forced to reach ridiculous targets with prosecutions. Martin, tell us which way round it is, so we know whether to move to the Netherlands or stay well away.

EDIT: Also, Runescape. I have one question. Why?

If you can see why it was treated as a crime, then why is it strange that it should be prosecuted? If someone steals something that is worth money, even if it doesn't physically exist, then they should be punished. Someone spent time (and money, if they're a subscriber) to earn something which is itself worth money. If that is stolen from them, then how is it any less of a crime than if someone walked into his house and stole a physical object worth the same amount?

 

[mizzycub]

I mean that while I can understand the theory, I would consider it a slap of the wrist offence. There are degrees of crime, and it is physically impossible in logistics and economic terms to punish them all. I haven't got an assessment of how much these items would cost in real money, but I doubt it would be much. From my point of view, if these crimes are getting punished, then the Netherlands is a paradise, or there are more serious crimes going unpunished. Unless of course the Netherlands spends absolutely loads on crime and punishment.

 

[chevre]

It's certainly not something that's acceptable, but damn. I would have thought in a case like that they'd just terminate your account on a ToS violation. It's not like you can take the "virtual amulet" with you.

 

[satyrical]

That's one of the funniest news stories I've read in a while.

 

[Fire2box]

I wonder if its a crime to hack the game and spawn items for yourself.

 

[IncompleteDude]

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.

 

[ShippoFox]

This seems pretty stupid to me. They should have just banned them, returned the items, and let it go. None of this was necessary. This isn't the same thing as bank accounts or copyrights.

 

[Tsendo]

"These virtual goods are goods (under Dutch law), so this is theft," the court said Tuesday in a summary of its ruling.

Makes me wonder if Netherlands based MMOs could be taxed on the monetary value of their items.

I wouldn't be surprised if the WoW or Runescape economy outstages several minor countries.

 

[Fire2box]

Makes me wonder if Netherlands based MMOs could be taxed on the monetary value of their items.

I wouldn't be surprised if the WoW or Runescape economy outstages several minor countries.

Some parts of the US are trying/tried to tax online gaming fee's such as WoW or EVE.

 

[CarKid]

That is rediculus. They didn't do anything wrong an it is a waste of the courts time in my opinion. They didn't steal it, they convinced the kid to give it to them........

 

[Martin]

Only in the Netherlands, we have crime here like every other country just our justice system if screwed up. Killers can often get away with 5 years if they don't try for the temp insanity plea. Which works more often then not. I think it's totally ridiculous stealing you can get few years in prison for and killing you can get maybe a year or 2 more for.

 

[andysetra]

Only in the Netherlands, we have crime here like every other country just our justice system if screwed up. Killers can often get away with 5 years if they don't try for the temp insanity plea. Which works more often then not. I think it's totally ridiculous stealing you can get few years in prison for and killing you can get maybe a year or 2 more for.

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