eBay to delist all virtual items?

[Sabyn]

Slashdot | eBay Delisting All Auctions for Virtual Property

From the article:

The growing popularity of Massively Multiplayer games has brought the issue of ownership rights in virtual worlds, and the appropriateness of what is called 'real money transfer' (RMT) into an increasingly public light. The success of the company IGE, as well as the launch of Sony Online Entertainment's 'Station Exchange' service would seem to indicate that RMT is now an acceptable part of Massive gaming. The well-known auction site eBay has recently made a policy decision that may throw these assumptions into a different light. Following up on a rumour that's been going around I spoke today with a media representative for the company, who confirmed that eBay is now delisting all auctions for 'virtual artifacts' from the site. This includes currency, items, and accounts/characters; not even the 'neopoints' used in the popular Neopets service is exempt from this decision. Read on below for the company's rationale for this decision, and a few words on the impact this could have on future RMT sales.
Mr. Hani Durzy, speaking for eBay, explained that the decision to pull these items was due to the 'legal complexities' surrounding virtual property. "For the overall health of the marketplace" the company felt that the proper course of action, after considerable contemplation, was to ban the sale of these items outright. While he couldn't give me a specific date when the delistings began, he estimated that they've been coming down for about a month or so. Mr. Durzy pointed out that in reality, the company is just now following through with a pre-existing policy, as opposed to creating a new one. The policy on digitally delivered goods states: "The seller must be the owner of the underlying intellectual property, or authorized to distribute it by the intellectual property owner." Given the nebulous nature of ownership in online games, eBay has decided the prudent decision is to remove the possibility for players to sell what might be the IP of other parties via their service. Mr. Durzy made it a point to say that initial listings of virtual property would not have punitive actions. Their assumption, he said, is that most users break with policies because they're unaware of them, rather than maliciously. Initial infractions will result in a delisting of items, and an attempt to educate the user on the policy. Persistent disregard for the policies, of course, will result in a removal of the seller's account.

We've spoken before on the possibility of taxation of virtual goods in the U.S. and abroad, as well as the economic impact these sales can have. With the removal of a very popular, very public source of virtual currency and goods from the market, what does this mean for the future of RMT? Will small businessmen who previously worked via eBay now turn to larger independent sites like IGE? Given that eBay is ipso facto declaring virtual goods to be the property of the game makers and not the players who 'earn' them, what does this mean for the future of virtual rights in general?

Significant?

[WarderX]

Seems like a "to cover our asses" kind of thing

[Jait]

Feels like a flashback to 1999.

Didn't e-bay say way the fuck back then they would do it too? All Sony had to do was request it, or some BS like that?

[Gallenite]

Originally Posted by Jait

Feels like a flashback to 1999.

Didn't e-bay say way the fuck back then they would do it too? All Sony had to do was request it, or some BS like that?

(Disclaimer: IANA Lawyer or anyone else who has ever contacted EBay to remove anything. These are personal, non-official opinions.)

If I understand the way it worked, it had to be done auction-by-auction.

Making it a requirement that 1) all auctions be caught individually and 2) while they're still open.

In other words, babysitting an external website in perpetuity.

In fewer words, a solution on paper only.

[Ahnkosis]

Originally Posted by Gallenite

(Disclaimer: IANA Lawyer or anyone else who has ever contacted EBay to remove anything. These are personal, non-official opinions.)

If I understand the way it worked, it had to be done auction-by-auction.

Making it a requirement that 1) all auctions be caught individually and 2) while they're still open.

In other words, babysitting an external website in perpetuity.

In fewer words, a solution on paper only.

I remember it being similar also. Even still, if eBay disallows/delists the auctions of online/virtual goods, people will find an alternate means (PlayerAuctions anyone?).

[Awanka]

Originally Posted by Ahnkosis

I remember it being similar also. Even still, if eBay disallows/delists the auctions of online/virtual goods, people will find an alternate means (PlayerAuctions anyone?).

Yes, PlayerAuctions, or some other clever bunch of people will reap the benefits.

I wish I wasn't so lazy.

[Mkopec1]

Originally Posted by Gallenite

(Disclaimer: IANA Lawyer or anyone else who has ever contacted EBay to remove anything. These are personal, non-official opinions.)

If I understand the way it worked, it had to be done auction-by-auction.

Making it a requirement that 1) all auctions be caught individually and 2) while they're still open.

In other words, babysitting an external website in perpetuity.

In fewer words, a solution on paper only.

Yeah this is how I remeber it. They were removing them, but Ebay was still flooded with them, and in fact I sold one of my characters on Ebay, back in those times /ducks.

[mek]

eBay implemented a filter system for auctions a little while back. I was listing a WoW character to sell, and when attempting to hit the list button, it was all "wtf virtual item nothx," automatically detecting it somehow. I placed a space between WarCraft, making it War Craft, in the listing title, and it then accepted it without a problem. It sold before it was delisted, too.

So, I don't know if eBay is actually taking significant action, but if it is, sales will just move to another website.

[Sabyn]

Player Auctions has been going on all this time, so will it see a resurgence now? I think people prefer having a rating type economy. It adds confidence to a shady type business.

[Warrik]

Doesnt everyone just buy virtual items through IGE now anyway?

[Wizerud]

If they did this thread wouldn't exist.

[Badass]

Virtual property will soon be legally recognized and it should be. It may come at the cost of such property being taxed in much the same way investments are.

Some MMO people (Brad M. from sigil comes to mind) are against this, but im telling you right now it will happen. A line of seminal cases are around the corner.

MMO developers will have two choices: 1) adapt and take advantage of this by recognizing the amazing possibilities that come along with it; or 2) fight it, lose and get left behind.

Developers make a lot of good arguments for their continued position that they own everything but they need to start thinking outside the box. It IS doable and If anyone wants to contact me in regards to any further thoughts on the issue PM me. I am an attorney (as are some others that post here i am sure) in Cal. which doesnt make me special, its just that im good and understand these particular issues quite well.

[xmod2]

God I'm starting to hate the Internet.

[Aethn Anvel]

Wasnt PlayerAuctions created as a result of the early decision of EBay to delist Everquest virtual auctions?

[Itzena]

It wasn't eBay deciding to remove EQ auctions out of the goodness of their hearts - it was SOE saying "delist them all right now or we send in the lawyers"