Revisiting the use of game assets in criminal activity
Anton A. Dyachenko, Sergei V. Plokhov · Russian Journal of Legal Studies (Moscow) · 2024
The article discusses the problem of using game assets in criminal activity. The study presents the main types of these assets, provides the procedure for determining their value, and also examines existing examples and possible risks of using game assets and in-game trading for criminal purposes. The work contains a detailed analysis of the legislation of the Russian Federation and foreign states in the designated field. Particular emphasis is placed on the study of various legal approaches to loot boxes, including in terms of their regulation for the purposes of gambling legislation. The study examines a number of examples from Russian and international judicial practice in civil and criminal cases in this field. Based on the study conducted, the author’s approach to solving problems arising in connection with the use of game assets has been developed, including specific proposals for amending Russian legislation in order to protect the rights of citizens and minimize the risks of criminal use of computer games.