Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

UK Court Declares RuneScape Gold as Property, Criminalizes Theft

1/26/2026

50 7 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

The UK Court of Appeal ruled that RuneScape in-game currency is property, making its theft criminal.
The ruling stems from a case against a former Jagex developer who accessed 68 player accounts to steal gold valued at £543,123.
The court rejected the view that currency is non-rivalrous information, noting that in-game gold has tangible value and can be traded for real money, raising regulatory questions.

1 of 1

Story summary

The UK Court of Appeal ruled that RuneScape in-game currency is property, making its theft criminal.
The ruling stems from a case against a former Jagex developer who accessed 68 player accounts to steal gold valued at £543,123.
The court rejected the view that currency is non-rivalrous information, noting that in-game gold has tangible value and can be traded for real money, raising regulatory questions.