The San Jose, California-based Internet auction site has decided to bar sales of virtual goods in video games due to "legal complexities" regarding ownership. The policy has been in place for the past few weeks: the company frequently removes virtual game related auctions. Enterprising young gamers have earned livings playing games like WoW and selling their weaponry, armor and other items. eBay has decided, however, not to ban the auctioning of items from virtual societies. ebay spokesman Hani Durzy compared this ban to the firm"s decisions to bar sales of alcohol or tobacco, which are lawful products controlled by complex governmental regulations.
"We decided it was best to just not allow sales of them. We are not saying they are legal and we are not saying they are illegal. Right now, Second Life is not considered a game so we are not applying the restriction to it. Remember, our policies are ever evolving. We will change them if the communities, state of the culture, or laws dictate such," said Durzy.