AfterDawn: News

Blizzard blocks WoW virtual currency sellers from using PayPal

World of Warcraft maker Blizzard has taken the next step to blocking virtual currency sellers, filing complaints with PayPal to block all 'gold sellers.'

A number of outfits make a living selling WoW virtual goods for real money, which is not endorsed by Blizzard.



Virtual goods include gold, characters, power-leveling and other rare items.

Most of these sellers accept payment through PayPal, but that will no longer be the case as Blizzard has filed complaints with PayPal claiming "Intellectual Properties violation" for the "sale of World of Warcraft Merchandise."

The large online transaction service has sent notices to all affected sellers and they now have three choices. Either give up selling that merchandise, lose your PayPal account permanently, or fight Blizzard in court.

Reads the notice (via Curse):

You were reported to PayPal as an Intellectual Properties violation by Blizzard Entertainment Inc. for the sale of World of Warcraft Merchandise.

If you feel your sales do not infringe upon the intellectual property rights of the Reporting Party, please complette the attached Objection to Infringement Report by January 21, 2011.

The completed form should be faxed to the attention of the Acceptable Use Policy Department at [number removed] or emailed to [email removed].

Should you choose not to object to the report, you will be required to remove all World of Warcraft Merchandise from the website [url removed] in order to comply with the Acceptable Use Policy.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 1 Feb 2011 0:49

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• 8 comments

• ROMaster2

  Quote:Bawwwww we wanted money from your gold farming, but we couldn't have it so now no money for you either bawwwww.

  1.2.2011 01:15 #1

• KillerBug

  It is just paypal...there are plenty of alternatives.
  

  1.2.2011 01:29 #2

• Mysttic

  But it could take precedence. If this did go to court and the courts ruled in Blizzards' favor then they could effectively shut down all sales by any medium. It's probably as big a pain in the ass as it is to fight piracy, and I honestly shocked Blizzard should care; I mean why now? As this has been going on for decades, even through MMOs like EverQuest. Dah well.

  1.2.2011 08:35 #3

• KillerBug

  I'm guessing that these people will be moving to the kinds of companies that still work with WikiLeaks & the various pirate bay holdings.
  

  1.2.2011 10:50 #4

• philosoweed

  Honestly, I believe this to be a good thing. Now people can stop buying gold and actually play the game and farm for it like the game was designed. Work for what you want, you will enjoy it more.

  1.2.2011 15:57 #5

• Bozobub

  Whether or not you like gold farming and the like, this move will simply drive the affected customers to another online payment system. There's quite a few that are NOT based in the US, or in any copyright-signatory nation, that'll work ju-u-ust fine. Hell, if they have to, UPS and FedEx will deliver data CDs/DVDs, no problem.

  3.2.2011 09:59 #6

• Necrosaro

  Ive played WoW for years. People bitch and complain that buying gold hurts the game, when in my opinion it really does not. Once you get level 15, which you can get in a day, you can do dungeons, and get all the items from there that you cant buy with gold and are even better. Gold is pretty useless in warcraft to begin with.

  3.2.2011 10:04 #7

• Bozobub

  True enough, but this lets Blizzard show some kind of action against gold farmers and the like, so the whiners are appeased.

  3.2.2011 10:13 #8