| San Francisco - Online auctions giant eBay has begun to remove all auctions for virtual items from online games ranging from "World of Warcraft" to "Neopets," Slashdot reported. |
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| The company has decided to ban auctions for all virtual characters, currency, weapons, attire and accounts within online games. The real-world market for virtual game items is estimated at more than $250 million a year. |
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| eBay spokesman Hani Durzy told Slashdot the company's decision was based on the "legal complexities" surrounding virtual property. |
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| Many publishers of online games ban the real-world sales of virtual items, although outside of eBay a healthy market exists on sites like Internet Gaming Entertainment (IGE); Sony has also launched a legitimate exchange for virtual items within its online games called Station Exchange. |
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| An exception to the eBay ban is the auction of items from the virtual world "Second Life." |
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| "We think there is an open question about whether Second Life should be regarded as a game," Durzy told CNET News.com |
