Blizzard Entertaiment Inc.'s Battle.Net TOU - Discussion

MusicDemon

MusicDemon

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Hello,

For those who do not know me: I am MusicDemon. .Net Programmer and working on Warcraft IV - EoE.

A few weeks/months ago, I had a chat with a Blizzard/Battle.net/WoW representative about the rights/restrictions on hosting private server(s) and using bots.

What the Blizzard representative sent me said:
It has been brought to our attention that some providers of so-called "private servers" offer tools that modify Windows systems files or files that are a part of our Blizzard products. We would like to remind you, that only Blizzard Entertainment or its licensees have the right to host Battle.net server. Therefore, a connection to an illegal server (or hosting) is considered a violation of our Terms of Use and the License Agreement. For more information, please see the section "Legal Documents" on our website: http://www.wow-europe.com/en/legal/
Click to expand...

While reading some of the classic Battle.net pages I found the following piece:

http://classic.battle.net/info/faq.shtml said:
We have received many complaints about people abusing their right to use a bot on Battle.net. The most common problems were bots spamming chat channels, and the use of bots to "steal" private channels. Blizzard feels strongly about this issue. If the need for further action should arise, Blizzard will take additional steps to ensure the integrity of the Battle.net community and to ensure that Battle.net is a fun experience for our users, not a frustrating one.
Click to expand...

I found this really against to what I was "learned" so, I checked it on the TOU on the classic page, it said the following:
http://classic.battle.net/tou.shtml said:
(v) Use any third-party software to modify Battle.net to change game play, including, but not limited to cheats and/or hacks;
Click to expand...
I could not find any reference to "bots" whatsoever...

Yet, for the third time, I read the new Battle.net TOU page, it said:
http://eu.blizzard.com/en-gb/company/about/termsofuse.html said:
2.1 create or use cheats, automation software (bots), hacks, mods or any other unauthorized third-party software designed to modify the Service, any Game or any Game experience;
Click to expand...

I suppose that, if a Blizzard Representative sees this, their comment would be:
Random Blizzard representative said:
Dear MusicDemon,

What you posted is correct, though, we reserve the right the change our TOU without any notice, you cannot and may not use any older version of the TOU to proof us wrong.

If you have any further questions or problems, please do not hesitate to contact us again.

Best Regards,

Blizzard
Entertainment Europe
<His name>
Technical Support
http://eu.blizzard.com/support/
Click to expand...

This, however, explains why Blizzard started that massive ban attack on +/-3000 CdKeys of all clients after the launch of their new website. Still, if you would put a representative for one day (actively) on bot spotting (even for Custom Games) then I'd think they'd catch 25% of the "bot plague".

Going back to what this representative said, as I interpreted it:
First sentence: People may host private server, but be warned: they can change your computer.
Second sentence: That doesn't mean that YOU have the right to do it! Only our friends and us!
Fourth sentence: But, IF YOU DON'T TRUST ME, CHECK IT YOURSELF!

To go even further into this "weird" ongoing of Blizzard's changes.
There are several big servers (Between 4000-1200 users) and yet, they don't close them! Why? My thoughts on it are:
1. Keep an eye on the big ones, small ones will die soon.
2. The more there are, the less we can control it.

Just a small political question: Is Blizzard "helping" their own TOU/TOS into vain? As I understood, Blizzard had only sent an official warning once! To a server that wasn't even big. (Which, however, had a restart soon after.)

Blizzard has several tools available to trace whether or not a server is being hosted on an IP address, they can even use a PUBLIC accessible page with, nearly, ALL private servers. Big and small. Made by "us" the people who'd like to promote “our” servers.

I don’t actually see where Blizzard is going but, they left gates open too long, and let people get used to unofficial features. Time for some inheritance, Blizzard?
 
sqrage

sqrage

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Different countries have different laws so as long as the servers are located in a country where it can't be taken down through legal action, it wont be taken down.
 
The Helper

The Helper

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TheHelper.net fully supports Blizzard in its effort to keep people from having their own private servers if Blizzard does not want them to have them. They have every right to enforce there copyrights and try to run their business the way they want to. The last time someone tried to emulate Battle.net (bnetd) see how that turned out

http://www.google.com/search?rlz=1C1CHNV_enUS387US387&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8&q=bnetd

The law is on there side. Bypass it at your own risk.

Good Luck with it!
 
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