just a quick question regarding the TOS - Guild Wars Forums

bradktulu · Feb 10, 2008, 01:20 AM // 01:20

well after having to renew the agreement with the canthan new year update I gave the TOS another thorough read.

Now, I know it is against the tos to sell accounts etc.

I was just wondering out of blind curiosity if it applies if you were just giving your account way for whatever reason, fully transferring all documentation etc over to person (a).

I don't plan on giving guild wars up, just wondering if I were to think about it at some point in time, if I'd be violation of the user agreement.

I'm really not great when it comes to making sense of a lot of the babble in those because, they obviously make them very vague.

Thorondor Port · Feb 10, 2008, 01:54 AM // 01:54

I dont see a problem.
This seems pretty minor with all the crazy bots and the liking in the game right now...

Darkobra · Feb 10, 2008, 01:58 AM // 01:58

Does it say "sell" or does it say "trade"? Because trade may just be the keyword that can go against it.

Curse You · Feb 10, 2008, 01:59 AM // 01:59

I'm quite certain that any transfer of an account, paid or not, is against the TOS.

tijo · Feb 10, 2008, 03:30 AM // 03:30

Technically i think it's not against the EULA not sure tough. I don't think that anet will ban an account for it. Just make sure you edit the personnal info about the account through your playNC account.

bradktulu · Feb 10, 2008, 04:47 AM // 04:47

yeah, I don't plan on doing anything of the sort because I love my guild wars and nobody is getting that haha, It's just a slight grey area I was curious about.

Though, like has been mentioned I think a transfer of accounts is the last thing ANET are worried about at this point in time.

Biostem · Feb 10, 2008, 04:52 AM // 04:52

I'm almost 100% certain that it is against the TOS to transfer an account, period. The reason is, if I wanted to sell you my account, and transferring the account for free was permitted, I could sell you a "strategy guide" for the game that just so happened to have the login and account information. Basically, the prohibition on transferring accounts is there to cover any method someone might try and use to get around a direct sale of an account...

Antheus · Feb 10, 2008, 03:39 PM // 15:39

Seller: "Giving away *FREE* account"
Buyer #1: "Sure, I'll take it"
Buyer #2: "Oh, you're such a nice person, here, take these 150k - as a gift"

What? No account trade happened here.

First reason why account trades are forbidden by EULA is to protect people from themselves. It's too easy to scam with these trades. This was discovered way back in UO times. Those eventually provided escrow service to allow people to legitimately transfer accounts for real money.

In GW, this doesn't make sense, since it's sold copies that make money.

With that in mind, and lack of realistic control over such trades, Anet can't do anything but look the other way and say: "You're not allowed to do it". There simply is no other option. Any attempt to allow limited ownership transfer opens so many problems, that they'd be flooded with various i've been scammed claims, holding Anet responsible.

Knightsaber Sith · Feb 10, 2008, 06:10 PM // 18:10

Basically, transferring your account in anyway is against the TOS. But in reality, they're not going to know unless you do something stupid like make an eBay auction that happens to include your character names.

*Darcy* · Feb 10, 2008, 06:28 PM // 18:28

In reality, it is impossible to transfer ownership of an account. You cannot change the Account Name, only the password. If a dispute arises over ownership, the person with the most proofs will retain the account. If it seems to ANet that someone was trying to sell/trade the account, the account is blocked permanently.

Abonai Laguna · Feb 10, 2008, 08:06 PM // 20:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darcy

In reality, it is impossible to transfer ownership of an account. You cannot change the Account Name, only the password. If a dispute arises over ownership, the person with the most proofs will retain the account. If it seems to ANet that someone was trying to sell/trade the account, the account is blocked permanently.

I vote against!
You can change acc name.. Change email.

Knightsaber Sith · Feb 10, 2008, 10:14 PM // 22:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darcy

In reality, it is impossible to transfer ownership of an account. You cannot change the Account Name, only the password. If a dispute arises over ownership, the person with the most proofs will retain the account. If it seems to ANet that someone was trying to sell/trade the account, the account is blocked permanently.

This statement is really beyond the scope of the question. He was just asking if say someone stopped playing and gave the login info to a friend who would then effectively assume ownership; would Anet care?

Randvek · Feb 10, 2008, 10:26 PM // 22:26

Transfer of accounts is against the Terms of Service, yes. I can't speak to why this is, but my guess is that when you transfer your account to someone else, ANet does not know this, and doesn't force the new account holder to agree to the new ToS, so it's to prevent players from saying "I didn't agree to that" and being right.

If you're just giving the account away, however, I doubt sincerely that any action would be taken against them, but it is a technical violation, yes.

Feb 10, 2008, 06:28 PM // 18:28	#10
Darcy Never Too Old Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Rhode Island where there are no GW contests Guild: Order of First Profession: W/R	In reality, it is impossible to transfer ownership of an account. You cannot change the Account Name, only the password. If a dispute arises over ownership, the person with the most proofs will retain the account. If it seems to ANet that someone was trying to sell/trade the account, the account is blocked permanently. __________________ That's me, the old stick-in-the-mud non-fun moderator. (and non-understanding, also)

Feb 10, 2008, 01:20 AM // 01:20	#1
bradktulu Ascalonian Squire Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Newfoundland, Canada Guild: Dark Knights of Blue Moon [Fear] Profession: N/Me	just a quick question regarding the TOS well after having to renew the agreement with the canthan new year update I gave the TOS another thorough read. Now, I know it is against the tos to sell accounts etc. I was just wondering out of blind curiosity if it applies if you were just giving your account way for whatever reason, fully transferring all documentation etc over to person (a). I don't plan on giving guild wars up, just wondering if I were to think about it at some point in time, if I'd be violation of the user agreement. I'm really not great when it comes to making sense of a lot of the babble in those because, they obviously make them very vague.

Feb 10, 2008, 01:54 AM // 01:54	#2
Thorondor Port Krytan Explorer Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: British Columbia Profession: W/	I dont see a problem. This seems pretty minor with all the crazy bots and the liking in the game right now...

Feb 10, 2008, 01:58 AM // 01:58	#3
Darkobra Forge Runner Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Scotland Guild: Type like an idiot, I'll treat you like an idiot Profession: E/Me	Does it say "sell" or does it say "trade"? Because trade may just be the keyword that can go against it.

Feb 10, 2008, 01:59 AM // 01:59	#4
Curse You Furnace Stoker Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: South Pole Guild: The Magus Order Profession: N/Mo	I'm quite certain that any transfer of an account, paid or not, is against the TOS.

Feb 10, 2008, 03:30 AM // 03:30	#5
tijo Jungle Guide Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Montreal Guild: [CDDR] Profession: R/	Technically i think it's not against the EULA not sure tough. I don't think that anet will ban an account for it. Just make sure you edit the personnal info about the account through your playNC account.

Feb 10, 2008, 04:47 AM // 04:47	#6
bradktulu Ascalonian Squire Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Newfoundland, Canada Guild: Dark Knights of Blue Moon [Fear] Profession: N/Me	yeah, I don't plan on doing anything of the sort because I love my guild wars and nobody is getting that haha, It's just a slight grey area I was curious about. Though, like has been mentioned I think a transfer of accounts is the last thing ANET are worried about at this point in time.

Feb 10, 2008, 04:52 AM // 04:52	#7
Biostem Jungle Guide Join Date: Oct 2007	I'm almost 100% certain that it is against the TOS to transfer an account, period. The reason is, if I wanted to sell you my account, and transferring the account for free was permitted, I could sell you a "strategy guide" for the game that just so happened to have the login and account information. Basically, the prohibition on transferring accounts is there to cover any method someone might try and use to get around a direct sale of an account...

Feb 10, 2008, 03:39 PM // 15:39	#8
Antheus Forge Runner Join Date: Jan 2006	Seller: "Giving away FREE account" Buyer #1: "Sure, I'll take it" Buyer #2: "Oh, you're such a nice person, here, take these 150k - as a gift" What? No account trade happened here. First reason why account trades are forbidden by EULA is to protect people from themselves. It's too easy to scam with these trades. This was discovered way back in UO times. Those eventually provided escrow service to allow people to legitimately transfer accounts for real money. In GW, this doesn't make sense, since it's sold copies that make money. With that in mind, and lack of realistic control over such trades, Anet can't do anything but look the other way and say: "You're not allowed to do it". There simply is no other option. Any attempt to allow limited ownership transfer opens so many problems, that they'd be flooded with various i've been scammed claims, holding Anet responsible.

Feb 10, 2008, 06:10 PM // 18:10	#9
Knightsaber Sith Furnace Stoker Join Date: Aug 2006 Guild: Few Fallen Heroes [FFH] Profession: W/E	Basically, transferring your account in anyway is against the TOS. But in reality, they're not going to know unless you do something stupid like make an eBay auction that happens to include your character names.

Feb 10, 2008, 10:26 PM // 22:26	#13
Randvek Krytan Explorer Join Date: Sep 2006 Guild: Rise From the Ashes [phnx] Profession: W/	Transfer of accounts is against the Terms of Service, yes. I can't speak to why this is, but my guess is that when you transfer your account to someone else, ANet does not know this, and doesn't force the new account holder to agree to the new ToS, so it's to prevent players from saying "I didn't agree to that" and being right. If you're just giving the account away, however, I doubt sincerely that any action would be taken against them, but it is a technical violation, yes.