Is this illegal - Guild Wars Forums

loopysnoopy · Jan 18, 2011, 12:25 AM // 00:25

I was searching on Ebay to day for a collectors edition of prophices and to my amazement I saw loads of people selling in-game items. To my amazement I decided to contacted ebay and asked them about people selling them all they said was it is not hurting no one should i query this to anet ?
I'm 100% sure they shouldn't be doing this. Again if this has been answered ignore me and close as my searching sucks.

**Marty Silverblade** · Jan 18, 2011, 12:27 AM // 00:27

Selling in game items for real money is illegal. Contact ArenaNet if you want. I wouldn't bother, but if you really want to, go ahead.

EDIT: Also, EBay should be your last resort for games with a one use code. You're running the risk of buying a used CD-key, which is useless.

MisterB · Jan 18, 2011, 12:38 AM // 00:38

It's not against the law in many parts of the world, no.
It's against ANet's rules in the EULA and RoC to trade items or gold in game for money, and they will take action (possibly including, but not limited to: temporary suspension, account termination, item and/or gold deletion) in game if they catch you. They are not going to file any legal charges against you.

loopysnoopy · Jan 18, 2011, 12:43 AM // 00:43

I only have baught Eotn collectors edition brand new I don't buy if it's second hand. But you may have a point as if Arenanet doesn't already know about it; it may be the case where they can't stop it shame really.

As it makes all titles easy to get.

Quaker · Jan 18, 2011, 03:52 PM // 15:52

It is not "illegal" to sell in-game items - it's against the GW EULA (End User Licensing Agreement). There is also nothing "illegal" (in most countries) about the items being on eBay, and it's not up to eBay to keep track of all the assorted EULAs out there.
Being "against the EULA" means that ANet has the right to ban accounts and take other measures to counteract the sales, but it does not mean that the sales become "illegal" in the sense that you can be charged for selling the items.

Think of it this way. Let's say you were to give your old iPod to a friend with the agreement that he not give it away or sell it to anyone else. If he was to sell it anyway, it wouldn't be illegal - the cops wouldn't come to his door to arrest him for selling the iPod. But you could legally sue him for "breach of contract".

With GW and ANet it's the same sort of thing. You agreed to an agreement not to buy or sell in-game items for real-world money (when you clicked "I accept" on the EULA). This doesn't make the sale "illegal", but it does give ANet the legal right to take action against you.

Just Sai · Jan 18, 2011, 09:24 PM // 21:24

narc on them
go man, do it

Cool Name · Jan 18, 2011, 10:04 PM // 22:04

I just looked now and I couldn't find any Guild Wars items, on ebay.com or ebay.co.uk.. maybe they did take them down? Or can I just not find them?

Lithril Ashwalker · Jan 18, 2011, 10:31 PM // 22:31

lol IN GAME items for REAL world items(example:money) is wrong and CAN result in a ban.
against EULA.

u CAN buy the GAMES online like collectors eotn because the game itself had to first come from a distributor which anet WOULD get the MONEY for putting it on the shelves in order to be put on ebay in the first place

Voodoo Rage · Jan 19, 2011, 12:00 AM // 00:00

I bought Factions Collectors Edition on ebay for a pretty decent price, so you CAN get it there. Obviously buy from a reputable seller and do it at your own risk.

killerbot3009 · Jan 19, 2011, 12:25 AM // 00:25

lol, ebay rules that In game items and accounts can not be sold, as they are not yours to sell and they remain the property of the Game company...However there is nothing stopping you from selling an item eg a sheet of a4 paper with a free game account/item.

It is a very good way of getting around it as many WoW players use it.

EDIT:
but be warned, i do not think this is a good idea lol. as it ruins game economies

loopysnoopy · Jan 19, 2011, 01:15 AM // 01:15

Yup i understand now it's just that i thought it was weird to see these on ebay of all places and to the person who could not fine them i was on .uk and clicked world wide then up popped 250 ectos for ??40 and mini polar bear for ??144. But tbh with you would have to be insane to buy these items for your hard earned cash

I think I have got all info from this as far as I am going to get cos I don't want to start a flame war I have contacted Anet about this with a few pictures of the actual things been sold I hope they do something about it

Can be closed now thanks guys

Jan 18, 2011, 12:25 AM // 00:25	#1
loopysnoopy Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: England Guild: The Ministery Of Cookies (MC) Profession: W/Mo	Is this illegal I was searching on Ebay to day for a collectors edition of prophices and to my amazement I saw loads of people selling in-game items. To my amazement I decided to contacted ebay and asked them about people selling them all they said was it is not hurting no one should i query this to anet ? I'm 100% sure they shouldn't be doing this. Again if this has been answered ignore me and close as my searching sucks.

Jan 18, 2011, 12:27 AM // 00:27	#2
Marty Silverblade Administrator Join Date: Jun 2006	Selling in game items for real money is illegal. Contact ArenaNet if you want. I wouldn't bother, but if you really want to, go ahead. EDIT: Also, EBay should be your last resort for games with a one use code. You're running the risk of buying a used CD-key, which is useless. __________________

Jan 18, 2011, 03:52 PM // 15:52	#5
Quaker Hell's Protector Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Canada Guild: Brothers Disgruntled	It is not "illegal" to sell in-game items - it's against the GW EULA (End User Licensing Agreement). There is also nothing "illegal" (in most countries) about the items being on eBay, and it's not up to eBay to keep track of all the assorted EULAs out there. Being "against the EULA" means that ANet has the right to ban accounts and take other measures to counteract the sales, but it does not mean that the sales become "illegal" in the sense that you can be charged for selling the items. Think of it this way. Let's say you were to give your old iPod to a friend with the agreement that he not give it away or sell it to anyone else. If he was to sell it anyway, it wouldn't be illegal - the cops wouldn't come to his door to arrest him for selling the iPod. But you could legally sue him for "breach of contract". With GW and ANet it's the same sort of thing. You agreed to an agreement not to buy or sell in-game items for real-world money (when you clicked "I accept" on the EULA). This doesn't make the sale "illegal", but it does give ANet the legal right to take action against you. Last edited by Quaker; Jan 18, 2011 at 03:55 PM // 15:55..

Jan 18, 2011, 12:38 AM // 00:38	#3
MisterB Furnace Stoker Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Planet Earth, Sol system, Milky Way galaxy Guild: [ban] Profession: W/	It's not against the law in many parts of the world, no. It's against ANet's rules in the EULA and RoC to trade items or gold in game for money, and they will take action (possibly including, but not limited to: temporary suspension, account termination, item and/or gold deletion) in game if they catch you. They are not going to file any legal charges against you.

Jan 18, 2011, 12:43 AM // 00:43	#4
loopysnoopy Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: England Guild: The Ministery Of Cookies (MC) Profession: W/Mo	I only have baught Eotn collectors edition brand new I don't buy if it's second hand. But you may have a point as if Arenanet doesn't already know about it; it may be the case where they can't stop it shame really. As it makes all titles easy to get.

Jan 18, 2011, 09:24 PM // 21:24	#6
Just Sai Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: aotearoa Profession: Mo/	narc on them go man, do it

Jan 18, 2011, 10:04 PM // 22:04	#7
Cool Name Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: Nov 2008 Guild: Shadowed Ones Profession: E/A	I just looked now and I couldn't find any Guild Wars items, on ebay.com or ebay.co.uk.. maybe they did take them down? Or can I just not find them?

Jan 18, 2011, 10:31 PM // 22:31	#8
Lithril Ashwalker Jungle Guide Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Alabama Profession: A/	lol IN GAME items for REAL world items(example:money) is wrong and CAN result in a ban. against EULA. u CAN buy the GAMES online like collectors eotn because the game itself had to first come from a distributor which anet WOULD get the MONEY for putting it on the shelves in order to be put on ebay in the first place

Jan 19, 2011, 12:00 AM // 00:00	#9
Voodoo Rage Desert Nomad Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Sacramento, CA Guild: Geezers Profession: R/	I bought Factions Collectors Edition on ebay for a pretty decent price, so you CAN get it there. Obviously buy from a reputable seller and do it at your own risk.

Jan 19, 2011, 12:25 AM // 00:25	#10
killerbot3009 Jungle Guide Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: the beaster Guild: the Gold Fish [GOLD] Profession: W/	lol, ebay rules that In game items and accounts can not be sold, as they are not yours to sell and they remain the property of the Game company...However there is nothing stopping you from selling an item eg a sheet of a4 paper with a free game account/item. It is a very good way of getting around it as many WoW players use it. EDIT: but be warned, i do not think this is a good idea lol. as it ruins game economies

Jan 19, 2011, 01:15 AM // 01:15	#11
loopysnoopy Lion's Arch Merchant Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: England Guild: The Ministery Of Cookies (MC) Profession: W/Mo	Yup i understand now it's just that i thought it was weird to see these on ebay of all places and to the person who could not fine them i was on .uk and clicked world wide then up popped 250 ectos for ??40 and mini polar bear for ??144. But tbh with you would have to be insane to buy these items for your hard earned cash I think I have got all info from this as far as I am going to get cos I don't want to start a flame war I have contacted Anet about this with a few pictures of the actual things been sold I hope they do something about it Can be closed now thanks guys