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Exactly who owns virtual game items that can be acquired, sold and exchanged online is a real-world ambiguity that has forced eBay.co.uk into action. Speaking yesterday, the auctioneer told Contractor UK that it no longer allows the sale of virtual items from internet games such as World of Warcraft and EverQuest. An eBay spokesperson said synthetic objects from such titles like game characters, currency and points present too much of "legal complexity" to be permitted. The move follows warnings from unhappy publishers of MMORPG titles that they take a dim view of individuals, and presumably supporting websites, that sell their "in-game property." Blizzard, makers of World of Warcraft, have urged players not to trade in virtual items outside the realm of Azeroth, and have already shut down 1,000 gamers who refused to comply. Also concerned about the trade in virtual goods - seen by most gamers as part of the online fun - is Sony Online Entertainment. The makers of EverQuest were quoted as telling The Sunday Telegraph: "Our standpoint is that everything in our games is the property of Sony Online Entertainment." Although the same report claimed eBay has gone on record saying it "can't say definitely if the sale of virtual items is illegal," the auctioneer is clearly unwilling to put it to a test case. An eBay spokeswoman said: "The sale of 'virtual game items' is now banned on eBay.co.uk. "This includes the sale of game accounts, game characters, game currency, game points or other similar game items," she said, before adding "eBay is committed to making the site a safe place to trade." eBay's ban on virtual vendors, some of whom have earnt lucrative sums, coincides with the US-headquartered company's decision to move its tax base from Britain to Luxembourg. No longer will the Treasury earn £25million-a-year from eBay thanks, in part, to an unclosed loophole in the European VAT regime, which allows online retailers to 'shop around' for the lowest tax rates. The move will also deal a blow to Gordon Brown and the government's Small Business Service, both of whom are tasked with making the UK the best place in the world to do business. Asked yesterday what Luxembourg offers that Britain doesn't, a spokesperson for eBay responded: "Luxembourg offered a number of specific advantages, including advantageous geographical position and availability of multi-lingual resources. "This change will [also] help us create a level playing field with all EU-based sellers becoming subject to the same rate of tax on their eBay selling fees - the Luxembourg VAT rate of 15 per cent." Feb 6, 2007 Email this article Printer friendly page Previous Page
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