Consumer Protection Laws and Virtual Goods

Last edited by on Tue Feb 10, 2009 4:58 am; edited 1 time in total

Consumer Protection Laws and Virtual Goods:

There are MAJOR differences between commerce laws for real goods and virtual goods. For IMVU members to make constructive suggestions to IMVU for improvement, it is probably helpful if we understand some of the applicable laws, issues both sides face (company vs. customer), and how the virtual realms are changing. The information below was compiled while I was researching the net the past week or so, and all articles except one have already been sent to Joepez at IMVU.

[For anyone interested, I have also compiled a list of current Customer Bill of Rights and related documents from other companies: http://www.imvu.com/catalog/modules.php?op=modload&name=phpbb2&file=viewtopic.php&p=3202797#3202797. ]

Summary of US consumer protection laws and virtual goods:

Consumer protection laws have NOT caught up with the internet, mainly because of current virtual world legal ability to claim “game” status even though they may promote virtual economies driven by cash and major investments into virtual businesses by users. The articles linked below touch on many issues such as:

[These links were copied from “Recommended Class Readings”, Law and Games Seminar, May 27, 2007: http://games07.umlaw.net/2007/05/27/recommended-class-readings/ . Check this link for other articles on other related topics of interest!]

LAW AND LIBERTY IN VIRTUAL WORLDS, 2004 (Old but GREAT introductory article!):
http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/jbalkin/articles/virtual_liberty1.pdf*

Virtual Worlds, Virtual Economies, Virtual Institutions (May 2007)
http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=962501(may download full article)

Virtual Worlds, Real Damages: The Odd Case of American Hero, the Greatest Horse that May Have Lived (Gaming Law Review, Vol. 11, No. 1, 2007)
http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=905043 (may download full article)

Asset Creation, Seclusion And Money Laundering In The Virtual World:
http://www.drakefordkane.com/articles/Virtual%20Money%20Laundering%20Article.pdf

*Edited to update new location of article.
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Goose 76 Joined: 30 Nov 2005 Posts: 3303 Location: USA

Thanks again for your awesome research!
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Na na Nana Hey Hey Hey... Goose bye!
Goose- Ex IMVU developer
Goose Bechir - SL Developer, Designer and Rental Agent

Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2007 11:07 am Post subject:

Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2007 12:19 pm Post subject:

Awesome AT.

Some good information there.
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Posted: Tue Sep 18, 2007 12:29 pm Post subject:

Thank you Anaka thank you for posting this I have it bookmarked!
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Posted: Sun Feb 17, 2008 7:40 pm Post subject:

Been waiting a long time to see some hard info on virtual consumer rights. Much appreciated!!!!!!!

Very Happy

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