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Dutch court convicts teens of virtual theft

The 15 and 14-year old culprits sentenced to 360 hours of community service between them

A court in Holland has convicted two teenagers of stealing virtual items in the popular MMO, RuneScape.

Yahoo reports that the 15 and 14-year-old culprits forced a 13-year-old boy into a transferring a "virtual amulet and a virtual mask" to their accounts in RuneScape.

The two were convicted to 360 hours of community service between them. "These virtual goods are goods [under Dutch law], so this is theft," said the court in its ruling.

Eurogamer.nl provided extra details for the crime, relaying local newspaper reports that the errant teens beat up and kicked the victim, and threatened him with a knife.

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Oli Welsh avatar

Oli Welsh

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Oli was Eurogamer's MMO Editor before a seven-year stint as Editor. He worked here for a colossal 14 years, shaping the website and leading it.