Virtual Sword Kills for Real

BEIJING (Reuters) – A Shanghai online game player stabbed to death a
competitor who sold his cyber-sword, the China Daily said Wednesday, creating
a dilemma in China where no law exists for the ownership of virtual weapons.

Qiu Chengwei, 41, stabbed competitor Zhu Caoyuan repeatedly in the chest
after he was told Zhu had sold his "dragon saber," used in the
popular online game, "Legend of Mir 3," the newspaper said
a Shanghai court was told Tuesday.

Qiu and a friend jointly won their weapon last February, and lent it to
Zhu who then sold it for 7,200 yuan (US$870), the newspaper said.

Qui went to the police to report the "theft" but was told the
weapon was not real property protected by law.

from Reuters