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Battle Forming Over World of Warcraft Bot
Blizzard, the makers of the online multiplayer role-playing game World of Warcraft (“WOW”) are in the midst of a legal dispute with a software firm that has produced a software tool (known in the industry as a “bot”) to automate many player actions in the virtual game world. Blizzard is suing Michael Donnelly, the creator of the MMO Glider program (formerly known as “WOW Glider”), which automatically performs tasks in the game, such as fighting, without the need for any user input or even attendance. Both sides have made submissions for summary judgment in the matter to the District Court of Arizona.
Blizzard is alleging that the MMO Glider program infringes its copyright in the WOW software by acting as a launch program and loading a copy of the WOW software into the RAM of the user’s computer. Blizzard is further alleging that the MMO Glider software violates the WOW End User License Agreement (EULA) and Terms of Usage (TOU) by circumventing anti-bot and anti-cheat controls in the WOW software. Blizzard is also claiming significant damages as a result of disruption of the WOW in-game economy, as well as reduced player participation, as a result of ongoing usage of the MMO Glider by current players.
Michael Donnelly claims that over 100,000 copies of MMO Glider have been sold, and the purpose of the software is to ease more tedious aspects of the game that arise when players reach high levels. The suit was initially filed by Donnelly seeking a declaratory judgment that the MMO Glider does not violate any of Blizzard’s intellectual property rights.
For additional information, visit:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/7314353.stm