Law Commons^™

Who Monitors The Monitor? Virtual World Governance And The Failure Of Contract Law Remedies In Virtual Worlds, Hannah Yeefen Lim

Vanderbilt Journal of Entertainment & Technology Law

This Article is a study of the interaction of rules and contractual terms within the context of fraudulent conduct in virtual worlds. It makes two main arguments: first, that virtual world providers cannot generally be trusted to regulate themselves; and second, that contractual remedies alone do not provide players with useful solutions to player disputes. The Article highlights the shortcomings of relying solely on the existing web of contractual documents to resolve the issues and disputes currently experienced in virtual world communities. Starting with the applicability of real-world laws to virtual worlds, this Article examines a case study that demonstrates …