| Lots of online game players spend a lot of time | | | | through eBay without risking your account being |
| and effort getting their game characters rare and | | | | banned or suspended. (Provided you are not |
| valuable items. These are generally referred to as | | | | violating any other poilicy.) |
| virtual items. Because of their value, some players | | | | OTHER STUFF |
| are willing to pay a lot of money to get them, or | | | | Is there anything else that isn't prohibited by the |
| want to make money by selling them. But for | | | | virtual item policy? There are some clear areas |
| eBay users, buying and selling these items is not | | | | and some not-so-clear areas. Take a look at the |
| allowed. In this guide you'll learn what is and isn't | | | | following list: |
| allowed when it comes to listing your game goods | | | | * GAME CODES: Some games (like EVE Online), |
| on eBay and other places. | | | | require players to buy time-codes in order to play. |
| WHAT ARE VIRTUAL ITEMS? | | | | Players can buy time-codes for specific time |
| Virtual items includes the following: game currency, | | | | periods (30, 60, 90 days or longer) and use them |
| game items and game accounts/characters. | | | | when they desire, kind of like a gift-card. These |
| Basically, if you use it in the game or if it only | | | | listings are commonly found on eBay and don't |
| exists in the game it is a virtual item. Generally, | | | | appear to be included in the virtual item |
| game developers maintain the rights to all of the | | | | restrictions. |
| in-game items. (Remember that big list of 'terms | | | | * GAME GUIDES: If you own a game manual or |
| and conditions' you agreed to when you installed | | | | write a guide about an online game, you can sell |
| the software? That was the game developer | | | | these through eBay. Whether you are selling a |
| telling you the game stuff is theirs and not yours.) | | | | digitally delivered product like an e-book, or a |
| No matter how much time you spend playing the | | | | bound, printed book, such items are not prohibited. |
| game or how much you pay in subscription fees, | | | | You do have to make sure you comply with all |
| you, as a gamer, are generally considered a | | | | other related eBay policies, especially those that |
| renter of these virtual items, not an owner. That | | | | deal with copyright and intellectual property laws. |
| is why selling or buying game gold from online | | | | * NON-VIRTUAL ITEMS: If you have an |
| services can get you banned from the game. | | | | Everquest figurine, World of Warcraft wall |
| (See this guide for reasons why it's a bad idea to | | | | posters, game disks or other non-virtual items, |
| buy game gold online. Though the guide covers | | | | there is no problem if you want to sell them. You |
| Runescape gold, it is generally applicable to most | | | | can buy and sell these just like anything else on |
| online games.) | | | | eBay, but like everything else you have to |
| VIRTUAL ITEMS ON EBAY | | | | comply with all other related policies. |
| In January, 2007, eBay began removing all virtual | | | | * SCRIPTS AND BOTS: If you write your own |
| item listings. The sale of such items is prohibited | | | | script or program intended to be used for |
| and anyone violating this policy can find their | | | | someone in a game (commonly called a bot) you |
| account limited or suspended. | | | | can probably sell it on eBay. Though bots are |
| Why is the sale of virtual items prohibited? The | | | | prohibited by most game developers, if they are |
| short answer is because it violates eBay's | | | | not illegal or otherwise in violation of eBay policies, |
| intellectual property rules, while the longer answer | | | | you can list your creations to other eBayers. |
| involves the currently complicated legal status of | | | | OUTSIDE EBAY |
| virtual items. Generally with items like this, Ebay's | | | | Even though most games prohibit the sale of |
| policy is that anyone selling an item must be the | | | | virtual items, there are some places where this |
| owner of the underlying intellectual property. Since | | | | happens. There are lots of sites out there that sell |
| it is somewhat unclear who exactly owns a virtual | | | | game gold and other virtual-items, and though |
| item like a World of Warcraft weapon or gold, | | | | they are generally thought to be at least unethical |
| eBay decided that it would no longer allow the | | | | if not outright illegal, they do exist. Buying and |
| sale of any of them. | | | | selling items on these sites is very risky, and not |
| What this means for eBayers is that you can't sell | | | | something you want to try. (Again, see this guide |
| all that stuff you got in the game. If you do, your | | | | for reasons why this is a bad idea.) |
| eBay account can be restricted or suspended. | | | | However, some games allow for legal ways to sell |
| You will sometimes see a listing that advertises an | | | | your virtual items. Sony recently launched a |
| item that 'just happens' to offer a free game | | | | virtual-item auction house for its Everquest games |
| item or character with it. These listings are not | | | | called Station Exchange. ( Players can come here |
| allowed either. For example, offering to sell a joke | | | | to buy and sell their Everquest items without fear |
| that also includes a free Runescape character with | | | | of breaking the rules or being banned by Sony. |
| it is against eBay policy. These listings are | | | | Other games may or may not have (or soon |
| attempting to sell otherwise prohibited items by | | | | introduce) similar services. Given the popularity of |
| including them with non-prohibited ones. Ebay can | | | | trading in virtual items, it seems reasonable that |
| remove listings that contain prohibited content, | | | | game developers will allow for some kind of trade |
| even if that content is offered as a free gift. | | | | between players. If you are unsure what the |
| EXCEPTION: SECOND LIFE | | | | rules are with the game you play, just read them |
| Though trading in virtual items is prohibited, there | | | | or go to the game website and search for their |
| are some virtual item sales that eBay allows. The | | | | terms and conditions page. |
| eBay policy against the sale of virtual items is | | | | CONCLUSIONS |
| based on their intellectual property rules. Because | | | | In the end, it's up to you to be sure whether or |
| of this, if you actually are the owner of the | | | | not what you want to buy or sell is allowed. Even |
| intellectual property, you can (theoretically) buy or | | | | if it is allowed by the game, it may not be allowed |
| sell these virtual items. | | | | by Ebay, or vice versa. If you are considering |
| The best known example of this is Second Life. | | | | selling a virtual item on eBay, the safest bet is not |
| According to eBay Second Life is not considered | | | | to. In only a few areas are virtual, or |
| a game, and thus the sale of Second Life virtual | | | | virtual-related items allowed. And even if you |
| items is not prohibited. Though this statement | | | | successfully sell or buy a virtual item on eBay, |
| seems dependent upon what the definition of a | | | | that doesn't mean it's allowed, it just means no |
| 'game' is, there may also be an additional basis to | | | | one noticed. You can sell multiple items that, even |
| this. Linden Lab, the company that owns Second | | | | though they are against eBay policy, don't get |
| Life, maintains that all virtual items created by the | | | | you caught. Never the less, they are against the |
| players are the property of the players, not | | | | rules and can result in you losing your eBay |
| Linden Lab. | | | | account. You are better off not dealing in them at |
| Either way, eBay has decided that listing Second | | | | all rather than risking suspension. |
| Life virtual items is not a violation of the | | | | Making sure you know the rules is the easiest |
| intellectual property or virtual item restrictions. | | | | way to ensure you don't run into trouble. If you |
| Though this policy is always subject to change, | | | | always make sure your listings comply with eBay |
| you can currently buy and sell Second Life items | | | | policies, you shouldn't have any trouble. |