Server Legal?

[sithinfiltrator]

Hey, I want you to know I think your server is awesome!! :cool:

I've had some questions from a couple people about whether it is legal to run a private server in the US or not.

If somebody has researched this I'm curious to know the answer.

Thanks in advance :)

[[Nazzeth]]

I can't tell you how it is in the US. But:

Using an SQL server and running an application that allows online access to it over the internet is 100% legal. Thats whats happening. We are not running a "wow server" as much as simply holding an SQL database that World of Warcraft Clients connect to to allow users to play the game.

Obviously the programming is a tad more complicated then that, but it is in the simplest terms whats happening.

(as far as i understand it :))

[Achay]

I have to disagree.

Yes we are running a WoW server. If it were just an SQL database nothing would happen when people try to connect. Antrix is the WoW server. Antrix is also a reverse engineered version of the server, which you will find is highly illegal to do.

Should Blizzard find out who made Antrix itself I would imagine a court case would soon follow.

Are we breaking the law by using it? IMO yes we are, just in the same way using a pirated game is illegal, this is just on a larger scale.

Will blizzard prosecute you? Chances of them discovering your private 50 man server are slim, and if they really wanted to they probably could prosecute you as you are breaking the law. Whether they would bother or not I don't know. If you run a 2000 man server available to all then I would hazzrad a guess that blizzard are already investigating it.

So, is running this server illegal?

Yes it it illegal and yes if blizzard really wanted to they could prosecute you. Anyone who doubts this information, contact blizzard, tell them what you are doing ;)

[[Nazzeth]]

I contacted Blizzard, they are playing on my server now. Said it was a great idea. wished they had thought of it first.


We are just running an SQL database, and i guess an emulator. but if anything the People that are performing the illeagle actions are the ones who use blizzard software against the ToU (connecting to private/free servers)

Blizzard would have a hard time prosecuting people who do this, just like they people never get prosecuted for playing 1 or 2 pirated games.

Purchasing or Selling this is probably Illeagle, but i don't think what we do is. At least not here, maybe in the US of A where a 3 month old can get a Gun License...

[PvPede]

nazgulhunter, Where are you from? Got sued for 50$ for creating a server and shared it for the school :s

[[Nazzeth]]

Australia

Pretty sure blizzard doesn't realise our country exists anyway :)