He wants justice in the mystical world of Azeroth, protecting warriors, warlocks and rogues from what he calls a conspiracy threatening their way of life.
Antonio Hernandez plays World of Warcraft. It's the most popular online role-playing game in the world, with more than 10 million subscribers paying to create characters who go on quests, kill monsters and earn "virtual gold" in fantastical realms. The world, a direct descendant of J.R.R. Tolkien's Lord of the Rings, even has its own carefully calibrated economy. But an outside force threatens the game's integrity, Hernandez says. He has called on his fellow adventurers to join him as he takes a stand. The battle won't be fought with wands or swords.
It will be waged in the Fort Lauderdale federal courthouse. The former assistant manager at an Orlando-area video game store is suing a company he says sells "virtual gold" from the World of Warcraft for real money. He wants IGE U.S. banned from selling gold, a practice commonly called "gold farming" or "real money trading", because it hurts the game's economy and ruins the entertainment experience, according to the lawsuit. Virtual gold, earned within the game, can be used for such things as buying and repairing equipment or learning new skills.
The case is thought to be the first of its kind, a lawsuit filed by a player seeking to ban "real money trading" within a virtual world. Hernandez wants a judge to certify the case as a class-action lawsuit, another potential first when it comes to lawsuits involving online role-playing games.
The legal fight is being closely watched by the fledgling field of "virtual law" and passionate World of Warcraft players.
"The real significance of this case is, 'What are the rights of the [virtual world] community members when they go online?'" said C. Richard Newsome, Hernandez's attorney.
Devout World of Warcraft players argue that people who buy gold are akin to baseball players who take steroids. Gold should be earned by each player by doing such things as completing quests and slaying monsters, not with a checkbook or credit card, they argue.
Attorneys for IGE U.S. have argued in court papers that Hernandez and other players have no standing to sue because they have no ownership or property rights within World of Warcraft. Hernandez's lawsuit fails to show how he suffered actual damages, according to legal filings by IGE U.S.
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