Virtual Worlds, Real Damages: The Odd Case of American Hero, the Greatest Horse that May Have Lived

Abstract

As the virtual world and the real world begin to collide, what damages exist to the owner of virtual property? What are the consequences from building a pay-to-play virtual world that accepts real world money for virtual items?

In discussing the questions articulated above, the author analyzes the example of a virtual horse named American Hero and the real world damages that appear to have occurred by virtue of his death.

Keywords: virtual, items, world, worlds, property, law, american, hero, horse, racing

JEL Classification: K1, K11, K12, K13, K19