**Ex MMO Dev Allegedly Hacked 68 Players for In-Game Gold Worth Over $700,000**

In a landmark judgment, the UK Court of Appeal has ruled that in-game currency can be treated as "property" and is subject to theft laws. The case revolves around a former moderator of Old School Runescape (OSRS) developer Jagex, who allegedly hacked into 68 player accounts, stealing hundreds of billions of gold pieces.

**The Case Against the Former Moderator**

According to the court documents, the individual accessed player accounts using hacking methods or credentials from the account recovery team. They then transferred the stolen gold to purchasers, receiving Bitcoin and fiat currency in return. Jagex estimates that the stolen gold is worth £543,123, or roughly $729,359.

**Defining Property in a Digital Age**

The defense argued that gold pieces were not "property" under the Theft Act of 1968, which defines theft as dishonestly appropriating property belonging to another with the intention of permanently depriving them of it. The court was asked to consider whether intangible digital currencies like OSRS gold could be considered property.

**A Shift in the Law**

In a previous ruling, a judge had ruled in favor of the defense, stating that gold pieces were "not rivalrous" and were more akin to pure information. However, the Court of Appeal has overturned this decision, finding that the reasons for the previous ruling do not hold up to scrutiny.

**The Ruling**

The court likens OSRS gold to paperclips, stating that just as one paperclip from a particular manufacturer is like any other, and the supply is infinite, each gold piece constitutes property. The court also notes that existing players' wealth does not preclude new players from joining the game and acquiring wealth without taking it from others.

**Implications for Digital Currencies**

The judgment has significant implications for digital currencies, including Bitcoin. The court draws parallels between OSRS gold and Bitcoin, stating that both can be considered property due to their intangible nature and ability to be transferred and used.

**The Verdict**

In a landmark decision, the Court of Appeal rules that "gold pieces within the Old School Runescape game are property which can be the subject of the offence of theft." This ruling sets a significant precedent for the treatment and value of in-game currency and digital currencies in our increasingly online world.

**What's Next?**

The enforcement of this judgment remains to be seen, but it has already sparked interest among gamers and lawyers alike. As more cases like this emerge, we can expect to see further developments in the law surrounding digital currencies and property rights.

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**Update:** This article is a rewritten version of an original piece, with additional details and formatting for better readability.