"I've actually done this "in-game" while playing World of Warcraft. Me and several other people started brand new characters on a Role Playing server and we started up a guild of Gnome Rogues and ran around town demanding Gold in exchange for the safety of their families. Some people gave up the money, some people told us to beat it. In the end we made about 40 gold in an hour before we got reported to a Game Moderator for "Not Role Playing according to Warcraft lore" and then booted from the server. I'm just glad I didn't get jail time for it. I didn't even know it was illegal. "

rofl xD

omfg a game is a "game". Dutch laws just seem very stupid

The punishment was also so severe coz they manhandled him and beat him up, he had to take them to his house and he had to give up his password and account and they beat him up more when he refused.
They also took all his gold i believe.
they ruled so severe because they the court said that he had to put alot of time and energy into getting the virtual money and more moeny ment that you could buy more powerfull items and thus enhancing your character to recieve a higher status in the game.
And because virtual good become more and more a part of everyday life and will become more a part of life in the future.
i think they wanted to make an example of this case to scare off other people from doing the same.

Someone.
a.k.a. The Dutch Heretic a.k.a. Chaos Lord