Teens convicted of 'virtual' theft

A pair of Dutch teenagers have been convicted of theft for stealing virtual items in an online computer game and sentenced to community service.

The teenagers, aged 15 and 14, coerced a 13-year-old boy into transferring a virtual amulet and mask from the browser-based game RuneScape to their game accounts.

The identities of the culprits have not been released as they are minors.

RuneScape is a free online adventure game with around 15 million active users.

It is one of a growing number of games known as MMORPGs (Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games).

Few cases of virtual theft have ever make it to court. However, the Leeuwarden District Court said: "These virtual goods are goods (under Dutch law), so this is theft," in a summary of its ruling.

The duo were sentenced to between 160 hours and 200 hours of community service.

www.runescape.com