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Virtual Property, Real Law: The Regulation Of Property In Video Games, Susan H. Abramovitch, David L. Cummings

Canadian Journal of Law and Technology

This article considers property created and used in the virtual realm of video games, which is often given real- T world value. From the unauthorized copying of designer clothes sold on Second Life for in-game cash, to real court damages awarded against game operators’ deletion of player-earned swords on Mir 3, a bridge has been taking shape from video gaming’s virtual economies to real-world economies. However, virtual property created in virtual worlds has yet to be formally recognized by North American courts or legislatures. This article attempts to touch on some of the legal considerations paramount in determining how such …