Professional EthicsMälardalens högskolaVästerås, 2007-11-28Mikael Svensson

Often refered to as MMORPGs (massive Often refered to as MMORPGs (massive multiplayer online role-playing games)multiplayer online role-playing games)Ultima Online (the first graphical mmorpg, Ultima Online (the first graphical mmorpg, also refered to as the first successful one)also refered to as the first successful one)Dark Age of Camelot, EverQuest, Eve Dark Age of Camelot, EverQuest, Eve Online, World of Warcraft, Lineage, Online, World of Warcraft, Lineage, Second Life, Lord of The Rings Online, Second Life, Lord of The Rings Online, Project EntropiaProject Entropia

Do your job, get your wages, do the Do your job, get your wages, do the normal stuff every normal citizen does. normal stuff every normal citizen does. Just like the real world, a real economy.Just like the real world, a real economy. (In (In this case it could be - go out and slay this case it could be - go out and slay monsters in some enchanted forest)monsters in some enchanted forest)Different currenciesDifferent currencies

Men and woman in all agesMen and woman in all agesPeople who want to interact online with People who want to interact online with other players instead of playing the regular other players instead of playing the regular games versus the computergames versus the computerPeople who just want to have fun and People who just want to have fun and make an escape into a world of wondersmake an escape into a world of wondersPeople who have economic interests People who have economic interests seeing this as a way to make moneyseeing this as a way to make money

It originally came from people who wanted It originally came from people who wanted to leapfrog into the game, to skip the hard to leapfrog into the game, to skip the hard parts. Game laziness more than greedparts. Game laziness more than greedThere's a growing awareness in the game There's a growing awareness in the game community that the weapons, characters, community that the weapons, characters, currencies and other virtual goods in online currencies and other virtual goods in online games can be traded for real-world cashgames can be traded for real-world cashOnline market contains about 5% scamOnline market contains about 5% scam

A scam is the act of acquiring assets from A scam is the act of acquiring assets from another player through misinformation, another player through misinformation, confusion and pressure, or by taking confusion and pressure, or by taking advantage of basic trustadvantage of basic trustMailing people with fraud informationMailing people with fraud informationSniffing traffic to obtain sensitive data Sniffing traffic to obtain sensitive data such as login information to accountssuch as login information to accountsThe use of Trojans or keyloggersThe use of Trojans or keyloggers

If it sounds too good to be true, probably isIf it sounds too good to be true, probably isDisplay trust with precautionDisplay trust with precautionBe cautious in the alliances you makeBe cautious in the alliances you makeTake note of the name of the player you Take note of the name of the player you are trading withare trading withMake sure you are talking to the correct Make sure you are talking to the correct personpersonLimit the information you give to othersLimit the information you give to others

eBay and IGS (and various other sites)eBay and IGS (and various other sites)As soon as you have assets that are As soon as you have assets that are valuable, that are electronically tradable, valuable, that are electronically tradable, then you have the opportunity for really then you have the opportunity for really massive fraud because it's worth the massive fraud because it's worth the scammers' time to try to extract those scammers' time to try to extract those assetsassets

At the moment there are no rules that can At the moment there are no rules that can be applied to the online world to decide if be applied to the online world to decide if the in-game assets really count as the in-game assets really count as personal possessions if they are owned by personal possessions if they are owned by some company creating all this datasome company creating all this dataChinese companies and organizations are Chinese companies and organizations are trying to get new laws for online worldstrying to get new laws for online worlds

Sony Online Entertainment recently Sony Online Entertainment recently overcame its longstanding resistance to overcame its longstanding resistance to trading real cash for virtual assets by trading real cash for virtual assets by Creating its own marketplace. Sony Creating its own marketplace. Sony rationalised the move by saying it could rationalised the move by saying it could control fraud in its own auction system.control fraud in its own auction system.

Killing, stealing, scamming and its Killing, stealing, scamming and its acceptanceacceptanceHow to make the rules and laws?How to make the rules and laws?Stupid is what stupid doesStupid is what stupid doesRight or wrong?Right or wrong?Separation between real and virtual worldsSeparation between real and virtual worlds