Riptide Mage Posted January 28, 2007 Share Posted January 28, 2007 Taken from slashdot.org: The growing popularity of Massively Multiplayer games has brought the issue of ownership rights in virtual worlds, and the appropriateness of what is called 'real money transfer' (RMT) into an increasingly public light. The success of the company IGE, as well as the launch of Sony Online Entertainment's 'Station Exchange' service would seem to indicate that RMT is now an acceptable part of Massive gaming. The well-known auction site eBay has recently made a policy decision that may throw these assumptions into a different light. Following up on a rumour that's been going around I spoke today with a media representative for the company, who confirmed that eBay is now delisting all auctions for 'virtual artifacts' from the site. This includes currency, items, and accounts/characters; not even the 'neopoints' used in the popular Neopets service is exempt from this decision. Read on below for the company's rationale for this decision, and a few words on the impact this could have on future RMT sales. Mr. Hani Durzy, speaking for eBay, explained that the decision to pull these items was due to the 'legal complexities' surrounding virtual property. "For the overall health of the marketplace" the company felt that the proper course of action, after considerable contemplation, was to ban the sale of these items outright. While he couldn't give me a specific date when the delistings began, he estimated that they've been coming down for about a month or so. Mr. Durzy pointed out that in reality, the company is just now following through with a pre-existing policy, as opposed to creating a new one. The policy on digitally delivered goods states: "The seller must be the owner of the underlying intellectual property, or authorized to distribute it by the intellectual property owner." Given the nebulous nature of ownership in online games, eBay has decided the prudent decision is to remove the possibility for players to sell what might be the IP of other parties via their service. Mr. Durzy made it a point to say that initial listings of virtual property would not have punitive actions. Their assumption, he said, is that most users break with policies because they're unaware of them, rather than maliciously. Initial infractions will result in a delisting of items, and an attempt to educate the user on the policy. Persistent disregard for the policies, of course, will result in a removal of the seller's account. We've spoken before on the possibility of taxation of virtual goods in the U.S. and abroad, as well as the economic impact these sales can have. With the removal of a very popular, very public source of virtual currency and goods from the market, what does this mean for the future of RMT? Will small businessmen who previously worked via eBay now turn to larger independent sites like IGE? Given that eBay is ipso facto declaring virtual goods to be the property of the game makers and not the players who 'earn' them, what does this mean for the future of virtual rights in general? This has the potential to reduce the number of "autoers" since their primary source of sales will no longer permit them to sell. Read, Rejoice, Discuss: You make it sound like running through a few level 87 monsters is hard which it really shouldn't be at your level. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dazzuh Posted January 28, 2007 Share Posted January 28, 2007 Yeah but the sad thing is they can still get around it by saying Selling joke with free runescape account. Then nothing can be done about it. With money they will start doing the same. Currently not active on RuneScape. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riptide Mage Posted January 28, 2007 Author Share Posted January 28, 2007 I'm pretty sure eBay will see through that pretty fast. You make it sound like running through a few level 87 monsters is hard which it really shouldn't be at your level. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LGBR Posted January 28, 2007 Share Posted January 28, 2007 Noone uses Ebay for gold or account sales, only idiots who dont know what they are doing do, or they are just scamming The world would be a whole lot better if little green men in UFO's came down to earth to abduct rednecks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pacers45 Posted January 28, 2007 Share Posted January 28, 2007 It's about time they do something about it... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bones_Zero Posted January 28, 2007 Share Posted January 28, 2007 I'm pretty sure eBay will see through that pretty fast. eBay might know what they're doing, but technically it's not breaking a rule. There might be some "auctions may be removed at any time for any reason" thing, but "selling joke with runescape account details written on it" isn't technically selling the virtual items. I'm no expert though, so we'll have to see how this turns out. lulz @ rs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
the_drunk_dude Posted January 28, 2007 Share Posted January 28, 2007 there will ALWAYS be account selling, its good that they are no longer mainstream though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PHOsho Posted January 28, 2007 Share Posted January 28, 2007 I think there should be a national pwn-autoers day. when like a bunch of tipit mods, go around searching at most autoed places and report them all!!! RSN:P H OshoProgress: Out of Tutorial! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SirHartlar Posted January 28, 2007 Share Posted January 28, 2007 It is a start but more drastic measures need to be taken to stop gold farming and account selling in my opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Infi Posted January 28, 2007 Share Posted January 28, 2007 I think there should be a national pwn-autoers day. when like a bunch of tipit mods, go around searching at most autoed places and report them all!!! Tip.it moderators have no authority in the game besides reporting normally, unless they are a Player Moderator, in which their reports have more importance to Jagex. All players can go to websites which break Jagex rules and report them directly to Jagex. 99 Hits, Attack, Strength, Defence, Mage, Summoning, Slayer, Ranged, 96/99 Prayer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Star_Fox Posted January 28, 2007 Share Posted January 28, 2007 kudos to eBay. they should do something about the runescape categorie though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warned Posted January 28, 2007 Share Posted January 28, 2007 Yay, no more NFS on ebay on bankpictures :P The secret of creativity is knowing how to hide your sources. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bubsa Posted January 28, 2007 Share Posted January 28, 2007 No one uses eBay to buy gold, autoers or accounts anyway. Not seriously. This is how much you all raised for charity. Thank you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pandaman115 Posted January 28, 2007 Share Posted January 28, 2007 I'm pretty sure eBay will see through that pretty fast. eBay might know what they're doing, but technically it's not breaking a rule. There might be some "auctions may be removed at any time for any reason" thing, but "selling joke with runescape account details written on it" isn't technically selling the virtual items. I'm no expert though, so we'll have to see how this turns out. It still breaks rules. Your account must be YOURS ONLY. [Admin Edit: No naming names in a negative light] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eyrelex Posted January 28, 2007 Share Posted January 28, 2007 I'm pretty sure eBay will see through that pretty fast. eBay might know what they're doing, but technically it's not breaking a rule. There might be some "auctions may be removed at any time for any reason" thing, but "selling joke with runescape account details written on it" isn't technically selling the virtual items. I'm no expert though, so we'll have to see how this turns out. It still breaks rules. Your account must be YOURS ONLY. That's breaking the Runescape rules, but not the eBay rules, although i'm sure anyone with half a brain can see through that ploy. Check out my Pocket Slot idea! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Riptide Mage Posted January 29, 2007 Author Share Posted January 29, 2007 No one uses eBay to buy gold, autoers or accounts anyway. Not seriously. I know that, but its a very good start. Since eBay isn't just taking action against runescape selling. You make it sound like running through a few level 87 monsters is hard which it really shouldn't be at your level. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timmay929 Posted January 29, 2007 Share Posted January 29, 2007 Amen. This may help cut down on autoers finally. 122 Combat : 99 Hits : 99 Attack : 99 Strength97/99 Defence : 99 Fletching : 99 Woodcutting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peronix Posted January 29, 2007 Share Posted January 29, 2007 Yay, no more NFS on ebay on bankpictures :P Yeah, ebay nubs just got pwned. No more NFS all over my pics. I think this pretty much means that real world item traders in RS pretty much have nowhere to turn to sell their stuff now. Companies like IGE won't buy/sell RuneScape stuff because of the rule against it. I'm hopeful that this will cut back significantly on autoers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aus_Fighter Posted January 29, 2007 Share Posted January 29, 2007 Noone uses Ebay for gold or account sales, only idiots who dont know what they are doing do, or they are just scamming He is right.. If you want to sell gold you don't sell it on eBay lol.. They go to underground sites so it's harder for Jagex to catch them Respect- Oy_the_Great, Lode, Bubsa, Weezcake, Thrash111, Gloric, Vmser, Pianofrieak2, Runemetsa Sigs Made By - Pink Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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