Blizzard gets $6 million from WoW bot maker

Posted on Thursday, October 02 2008 @ 0:00 CEST by Thomas De Maesschalck
BBC News reports Blizzard was granted $6 million in damages from MDY Industries, the makers of a software bot that enabled World or Warcraft (WoW) users to automate tasks. According to the article more than 100,000 people bought the program, which is named MMOGlider, for $25 a pop.
In July US District Court Judge David Campbell ruled that the MMOGlider, as the software is now known, broke the terms of the license that players agree to when they play World of Warcraft (WoW).

The Glider software is the creation of MDY founder Michael Donnelly who is thought to have sold more than 100,000 copies of the $25 (£14) program.

It proved popular with many WoW players as it helped them automate the many repetitive tasks, such as killing monsters and scavenging loot, required to turn low level characters into more powerful ones.

Although sizeable the damages award could have been bigger, say experts, if MDY had not won some of its arguments about damages in court.


About the Author

Thomas De Maesschalck

Thomas has been messing with computer since early childhood and firmly believes the Internet is the best thing since sliced bread. Enjoys playing with new tech, is fascinated by science, and passionate about financial markets. When not behind a computer, he can be found with running shoes on or lifting heavy weights in the weight room.



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