Blizzard could sue gold farmers
Individuals and organisations found artificially harvesting or farming in-game items and currency might face more than just being barred from MMO titles like World of Warcraft, according to the latest word out of Blizzard today. The developer has actually called in a legal team and are now threatening to sue parties involved in 'gold farming' activities in their hugely popular World of Warcraft MMO game.
Blizzard are concerned that farming activity damages the economics of their persistent online world, Azeroth, as well as spoiling the gaming experience for genuine gamers. "Blizzard has filed a federal lawsuit against the operators of Peons4hire, a popular gold-selling organization which many of you have no doubt seen advertised. As part of the lawsuit, the operators of Peons4hire have been asked to immediately cease all in-game spamming efforts by all entities and websites under their control," commented Blizzard's 'Eyonix'.
Blizzard are threatening to instigate legal action against 'farmers' like Peons4hire should spamming continue, and the developer have also introduced various technical solutions of late aimed at disrupting in-game spamming from farmers.
Various MMO titles are now so big that the re-selling of in-game money or items can be big business for those involved. It is unsurprising, then, that firms such as Blizzard are working extra hard to maintain control of the virtual worlds they have created. More soon.