Blizzard sues creator of ACertainBottingSoftwareWe'reNotSupposedToTalkAbout
Hi all,
Thought you might find this interesting:
From this article:
http://www.theage.com.au/news/techno...207360290.html
The creators of the exceedingly popular online game World of Warcraft are suing the developer of a tool that makes it possible to play the game unattended.
Blizzard filed the suit against Michael Donnelly, the creator of [a certain botting software], arguing the tool - which automates many in-game actions - infringes on its copyright, breaks its End User License Agreement (EULA) and disturbs the game's balance.
Developers and players of online-only games like WoW have long battled tools that automate play, as users can gain an unfair advantage over other players by earning experience points, in-game money and other achievements without actually playing.
The [botting software] website boasts the tool can kill enemies, mine resources, monitor vital characteristics like health, mana and energy and move the character through the game world, all without the player being there.
"You can do something else, like eat dinner or go to a movie, and when you return, you'll have a lot more experience and loot," the website explains.
Donnelly offers a free limited trial version of the tool via the [botting software] website, but those looking for the full version must pay him $US25.
"[Donnelly's company] MDY has maliciously encouraged WoW players to exceed the scope of their licenses under the EULA and TOU [terms of use] by developing, promoting and supporting [bot software], 'bot' program designed specifically to exploit WoW and 'play' characters, increase their 'level' in the game to access more advanced game content, and acquire valuable in-game currency, all without actual human participation," Blizzard said in statement submitted to federal court in Arizona.
"[Botting] use severely harms the WoW gaming experience for other players by altering the balance of play, disrupting the social and immersive aspects of the game, and undermining the in-game economy."
Blizzard's case largely hinges on technical claims that Donnelly infringed its copyright because [botters] load a copy of WoW into their computer's memory, known as RAM. Donnelly said this is not copyright infringement because Blizzard permits its licensees to load WoW into RAM in order to play the game and [botting software] does not create any copies of WoW code.
MDY's court statement said Donnelly decided to fight Blizzard in court after "audacious threats" from the company, which involved a lawyer and an "unidentified private investigator" appearing at Donnelly's home, demanding he immediately stop selling [bot software] and return all profits made from [botting] sales.
To back up its case, Blizzard refers to a report by Indiana University associate professor Edward Castronova, which concludes that [botting]'s damages to Blizzard exceed $20 million per year.
Castronova said the damages relate to dissatisfied players quitting the game as a result of [botting] users, customer service costs in dealing with [botting]-related complaints and new players refusing to sign up when they learn about [botting].
Of WoW's more than 10 million users, over 100,000 have bought [botting], according to Donnelly.
The case is still in its early stages, with both sides awaiting a summary judgment before the case can go to trial.
Cheers,
Stealthy
