The High Council has ruled that the removal of virtual goods from online is equivalent to theft. The board is of the opinion that the non-material goods have value, because time and effort were needed to obtain them.
The ruling of the supreme court following a conviction of two young people who, according to a lower court to be guilty had made it to theft. They would be in a leeftijdsgenootje under threat a few items from the mmo Runescape have captured. The duo was punished for ‘robbery with violence’; both were applicable, work penalties, and a suspended sentence is imposed.
The lawyers of the defendants, however, were of the opinion that virtual goods legally, no good. In 2008 and 2009 judgments of the district court and the Court that there was indeed a case of theft in Article 310 of the Penal Code is defined. One of the suspects was not, however, agree with this judgment on appeal and decided in cassation to the supreme court.
The supreme court has now ruled that the two judges of the law correctly interpreted by holding that the purchase of virtual goods is equivalent to theft. According to the highest court, the victim time and effort invested in the virtual property, in this case, an amulet and a mask, to obtain and represent this value can be decreased. By allowing the victim control over the objects lost as a result of the actions of the suspects, this according to the law be seen as theft.
With the judgment of the High Council is the previous conviction definitive. The High Council reports, however, that the community service of the defendant is reduced to 144 hours of service in place of the previously imposed 160 hours, because the pronunciation is so long in had to wait.