Brad's statement:

Jeff Stephens wrote:

> Just sell players the items. You already have their credit card info. Just
> add a button to the server selection screens that says "Aradune's Equipment
> Shop" or something where players can do a little online shopping for that
> executioner's axe or ghoulbane or SMR or FB earring.
> Talk about increased cash flow...

I agree that games should either embrace real money transactions for in-game
goods (and thus be built from the ground up with that in mind) or forbid it
(like EQ).

> Doesn't fit your idea of how the game should be?

No, it doesn't -- personally I don't think it's fair and I think it disrupts
the immersiveness and integrity of the game. Others disagree.

> Then why allow players to
> do it?

We don't -- it expressly forbidden as per our licensing agreement and we've
also posted messages reminding our players of the problems associated with such
transactions. That said, we lack the resources to police the internet.

--

---------------------------------------------
Brad McQuaid
Producer, EverQuest www.everquest.com
Vice President, Verant Interactive Inc.
---------------------------------------------

All well and good, but a few minutes of looking around ebay and you see:

That's why Ebay offers help with this sort of infringement. Pasted from
http://pages.ebay.com/help/community/vero-program.html:

eBay's Verified Rights Owner (VeRO)TM Program:
Protecting Intellectual Property
In keeping with its status as the internet's largest venue for
person-to-person trading, eBay does not and cannot verify that sellers have
the right or ability to sell or distribute their listed items. However, eBay
is committed to removing prohibited or unlicensed items once an authorized
representative of the owner reports them to us.

eBay's Verified Rights Owner (VeRO) Program works to ensure that items
listed for auction do not infringe upon the copyright, trademark or other
intellectual property rights of third parties. We offer two forms of
participation in VeRO—regular membership and VeRO PlusTM membership. All
VeRO Program participants have the ability to request removal of allegedly
infringing materials. However, VeRO Plus Members receive additional
benefits. Any person or company who holds intellectual property rights (such
as a copyright, trademark or patent) which may be infringed by eBay auction
postings or items sold on eBay is encouraged to become a VeRO Plus Member.
Program Members presently include individuals, local, state and federal law
enforcement, and intellectual property owners from a wide array of
industries.

Program membership entitles you to the following benefits:

Dedicated eBay staff to assist you in getting the most out of the Program
Rapid response by eBay in ending auctions reported by you as allegedly
infringing, pursuant to the VeRO Plus Program Agreement
Dedicated priority email queues for reporting alleged infringements
The ability to obtain detailed identifying information about eBay users
eBay member rights and privileges as described in the eBay User Agreement
Future benefits, like automated searching (using terms provided by Members)
and notification re: "flagged" items, and expedited identification and
removal of alledgedly infringing items.
Automatic updates on new benefits available under the Program
How to Become a VeRO Plus Program Member

To join the VeRO Plus Program, we require that you sign and return the VeRO
Plus Program Agreement. Click here to download complete details of eBay's
VeRO Plus Program and a copy of the VeRO Plus Program Agreement. You will
need Adobe® Acrobat® Reader to view and print these documents. You can
download this software product for free from Adobe's Web site by clicking
this button:

How To Report Allegedly Infringing Items Without Becoming A VeRO Plus
Program Member

If you are not a VeRO Plus Program Member, but wish to report an infringing
item, we can still accommodate you as a regular member of our VeRO Program.
We require that you fill out a Notice of Infringement form and send it to us
for each occurrence of an alleged act of infringement, complete with an
original authorized signature. The information requested by the Notice of
Infringement form substantially complies with the Digital Millennium
Copyright Act, amending Chapter 512 of title 17 U.S.C. Click here to
download the Notice of Infringement and explanatory materials only. You will
need Adobe® Acrobat® Reader to view and print these documents. You can
download this software product for free from Adobe's Web site by clicking
this button:

How to Report Items if You are Not an Intellectual Property Owner

If you are not an intellectual property owner, you will not be able to join
our VeRO Program or file a Notice of Infringement. However, you can still
help by getting in touch with the relevant rights owner and encouraging them
to contact us. Also, if you want to contact eBay regarding suspected
infringing items, write to Community Watch. We are happy to receive such
information, but must advise that we may be limited in our ability to
respond to your request absent formal notice from an authorized rights
owner.

For More Information

If you are an IP owner and have any questions about infringing items
programs, please contact us at infringement@ebay.com.
To view eBay's Digital Millennium Copyright Act registered agent information
For additional information about prohibited, questionable, and infringing
items on eBay, click here.

Now, Brad, are you going to take action on this or are your words just words with no meaning behind them?

I took action, other players can to. Just fill out the form at http://pages.ebay.com/services/safeharbor/report-infringing.html
and also email Brad with a copy of the Ebay's VERO program.