Class Action Filed Against IGE Gold Farmers

Gold farming is an underground industry which generates hundreds of millions of dollars each year through the sale of virtual assets and currency inside massively multiplayer online games, or “MMOs.” IGE, a company based in Hong Kong, sells virtual gold and other virtual assets in a number of MMOs including Everquest, Lord of the Rings Online, and World of Warcraft through its company website.

The class action law suit was filed in U.S. District Court in Miami, Florida by consumer attorney Richard Newsome. The complaint alleges that IGE hires employees in third world countries to spend up to 12 hours per day collecting or “farming” gold and other virtual assets inside MMOs which it then sells for real money on its website. Newsome filed the case on behalf of Antonio Hernandez, a World of Warcraft® subscriber, and a nationwide class of all consumers in the United States who subscribe to World of Warcraft®. Although IGE is based in Hong Kong, it has an office in Miami, Florida.

World of Warcraft® is the most popular MMO in history with over 7.5 million subscribers world wide. There are over 2 million subscribers in North America alone. Like other MMOs, World of Warcraft® is a persistent, virtual world in which players create “avatars” to interact with the environment, perform quests, and interact with other subscribers. Like other MMOs, World of Warcraft® also has a virtual economy, in which subscribers buy and sell virtual assets for virtual gold.

The complaint alleges that IGE’s practice of selling World of Warcraft® virtual gold runs afoul of the World of Warcraft® license agreement that prohibits the sale of virtual gold for real money. The complaint alleges that this practice ruins the game for the subscribers who do not buy IGE’s gold and that IGE has engaged in an unfair trade practice by selling World of Warcraft® gold for real money. The complaint seeks an injunction to stop IGE from selling virtual gold.

Contact Information:
Richard Newsome
Newsome Law Firm
20 N. Orange Avenue
Suite 800
Orlando, Florida 32801
407.648.5977