RuneScape gold is real property and can be stolen, UK judge rules

A UK appeals court has ruled that gold, a virtual currency found in the popular MMORPG RuneScape, constitutes real property that can be legally stolen, a decision that could change how courts worldwide approach cases involving in-game assets.

The details:

• Andrew Lakeman, a former developer at RuneScape studio Jagex, was accused of stealing 705 billion in-game gold pieces, which is valued at approximately $750,000 USD, from a total of 68 players. It’s claimed that Lakeman accessed the accounts while working as a content developer in 2018, then proceeded to sell the currency for Bitcoin on online storefronts.
• Last year, a judge ruled in Lakeman's favor, arguing that RuneScape gold has no real value since Jagex can create more of it at any point. However, this has since been overturned, with the Court of Appeal ruling that virtual currency has legitimate value and meets the legal definition of property.
• In its decision, the court stated that the in-game gold "properly [constitutes] something which can be stolen," noting that the gold pieces are "identifiable and distinct" items with recognizable monetary value both within the game and through external trading outside of Jagex's platform. It was also noted that gold is frequently exchanged for real-world currency, with players from low-income countries like Venezuela earning more than a full-time salary by selling the currency.
• This precedent allows Lakeman's prosecution to proceed through the UK legal system, potentially making him the first person to face jail time and/or an enforced fine solely for stealing virtual currency.